
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 12088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03840]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD16-3-000]


Notice of Availability of the Final Guidance Manual for 
Environmental Report Preparation

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC or 
Commission) Office of Energy Projects has finalized its revised 
Guidance Manual for Environmental Report Preparation (Guidance Manual), 
which was issued in draft form on December 18, 2015, for comment. The 
Guidance Manual has been revised to incorporate changed regulations; 
provide updated guidance on how to prepare resource reports and how 
interstate and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects may demonstrate 
compliance with certain regulatory requirements; and address 
substantive comments received on the draft Guidance Manual.
    The Guidance Manual can be found in Docket Number AD16-3-000. The 
full text of the Guidance Manual can be viewed on the Commission's Web 
site at http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/guidelines.asp.
    Applicable sections of Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
are referenced or summarized throughout the Guidance Manual. The 
Guidance Manual is intended to provide guidance to the industry. This 
manual does not substitute for, amend, or supersede the Commission's 
regulations under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 or the Commission's and 
Council on Environmental Quality's regulations under the National 
Environmental Policy Act. It imposes no new legal obligations and 
grants no additional rights. Comments on the draft Guidance Manual that 
addressed only the text of regulations were not incorporated in the 
final Guidance Manual.
    In response to the draft Guidance Manual, Commission staff received 
comments from a variety of industry representatives, trade 
associations, federal and state agencies, non-governmental 
organizations, public interest groups, consultants, and other 
interested parties. Staff reviewed and considered each comment and 
modified several portions of the document in response. Staff declined 
to modify the document where comments either were too project- or 
location-specific to be included in general guidance, were already 
adequately/accurately addressed as written, or regarded topics that 
were not relevant to the Guidance Manual or resource report 
preparation.
    The Guidance Manual is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 relates 
to the preparation of resource reports for both interstate natural gas 
projects and Commission-jurisdictional LNG facilities. Volume 2 is 
specific to LNG facilities and is intended to replace a series of 
staff's previously developed guidance documents about the preparation 
and review of LNG applications: Draft Guidance on Resource Report 11 
and 13 issued on December 15, 2005, Draft Preferred Format Submittal 
Guidance issued on April 12, 2006, and Draft FERC Seismic Design 
Guidelines and Data Submittal Requirements for LNG Facilities issued on 
January 23, 2007. These documents should be considered obsolete.
    All of the information related to the proposed updates to the 
Guidance Manual and submitted comments can be found on the FERC Web 
site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary 
link, click on ``Docket Search'' and in the Docket Number field enter 
the docket number ``AD16-3,'' excluding the last three digits. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to 
formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and 
rulemakings.

    Dated: February 22, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-03840 Filed 2-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


