[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 29201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11877]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8328]


Notice of Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact for 
the Proposed Vantage Pipeline US LP Ethane Pipeline Project

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the 
availability of the Department of State's Finding of No Significant 
Impact on the proposed Vantage Pipeline US LP Ethane Pipeline Project. 
Under E.O. 13337, the Secretary of State is authorized to issue 
Presidential Permits for the construction, connection, operation, or 
maintenance at the borders of the United States, of facilities for the 
exportation or importation of liquid petroleum, petroleum products, or 
other non-gaseous fuels to or from a foreign country. Vantage Pipeline 
US LP (Vantage) has applied to the Department of State (the Department) 
for a Presidential Permit authorizing it to develop and maintain a new 
pipeline facility at the U.S.-Canada international boundary, a Cross 
Border Facility, near Fortuna, Divide County, North Dakota.
    Vantage proposes to construct, operate, and maintain a high vapor 
pressure pipeline that would carry ethane from a source near Tioga, 
North Dakota, United States, northwest through Saskatchewan, Canada, to 
a site near Empress, Alberta, Canada. The pipeline would link a growing 
supply of ethane from North Dakota to markets in Alberta, Canada. The 
entire proposed Vantage Pipeline in the United States would consist of 
the installation of approximately 79.8 miles of new 10-inch-diameter 
pipeline in Williams and Divide Counties, North Dakota; the 
installation of associated aboveground mainline block valves; and the 
use of access roads and pipe storage and contractor yards.
    Consistent with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the regulations of 
the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the 
Department's implementing regulations (22 CFR part 161, and in 
particular 22 CFR 161.7(c)), the Department of State has found that 
issuance of a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction, 
connection, operation, and maintenance of the Cross Border Facility 
would not have a significant impact on the quality of the human 
environment. The Finding of No Significant Impact was signed by the 
Department on May 13, 2013.
    This Finding of No Significant Impact is not a decision on the 
Presidential Permit application. In accordance with E.O. 13337, the 
Department will now proceed to make a determination as to whether 
issuance of a Presidential Permit for the border facilities of 
Vantage's proposed Ethane Pipeline Project would serve the national 
interest.
    The Finding of No Significant Impact is available from the 
Department on the Vantage Pipeline Project Web site. The following link 
leads to the posted Vantage Finding of No Significant Impact: http://www.vantagepipeline.state.gov/dosdocuments.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Genevieve Walker, Office of 
Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, Department of State, 
2201 C Street NW., Washington DC 20520, Tel: 202-647-9798; EMAIL: 
[email protected].
    Persons with access to the Internet may view this notice by going 
to the regulations.gov Web site and searching on docket number DOS-
2013-0010.

    Dated: May 13, 2013.
George N. Sibley,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2013-11877 Filed 5-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P