[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 145 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45270-45274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18594]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket No. USCG-2015-0472]
Deepwater Port License Application: Delfin LNG LLC, Delfin LNG
Deepwater Port
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public meeting; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD), in coordination with the
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), will prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS) as part of the environmental review of the Delfin LNG LLC (Delfin
LNG) deepwater port license application. The application proposes the
ownership, construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of an
offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port export facility
that would be located in Federal waters within the Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) West Cameron Area, West Addition Protraction Area (Gulf of
Mexico), approximately 37.4 to 40.8 nautical miles off the coast of
Cameron Parish, Louisiana, in water depths ranging from approximately
64 to 72 feet (19.5 to 21.9 meters). The deepwater port would consist
of four semi-permanently moored floating liquefaction natural gas
vessels (FLNGVs), and would reuse and repurpose two existing offshore
natural gas pipelines: The former U-T Operating System (UTOS) pipeline
and the High Island Operating System (HIOS) pipeline (see Summary of
the Application for additional project specifics).
The onshore components of the proposed deepwater port would be
located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana and would be reviewed by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under a separate
authorization process (see FERC Docket No. CP15-490-000; 80 FR 30226
(May 27, 2015)). The onshore facility would consist of reactivating
approximately 1.1 miles of the existing UTOS pipeline; the addition of
74,000 horsepower of new compression and associated metering and
regulation facilities; the installation of new supply header pipelines
(which would consist of 0.25 miles of new 42-inch pipeline to connect
the former UTOS line to the new meter station); and 0.6 miles of new
twin 30-inch pipelines between Transco Station 44 and the new
compressor station site. Publication of this Notice of Intent (NOI)
begins a 30 day scoping process that will help identify and determine
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the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. MARAD and
the USCG will consider both the Delfin LNG deepwater port license
application and the FERC application to be included in this review. For
your convenience, we have included the Delfin LNG application to FERC
under docket number USCG-2015-0472. This NOI requests public
participation in the scoping process, provides information on how to
participate and announces informational open houses and public meetings
in Louisiana and Texas. Pursuant to the criteria provided in the
Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. (the
Act), both Louisiana and Texas are the Adjacent Coastal States for this
application.
DATES: There will be two public scoping meetings held in connection
with the application. The first public meeting will be held in Lake
Charles, Louisiana on August 18, 2015, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The second
public meeting will be held in Beaumont, Texas on August 19, 2015, from
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both public meetings will be preceded by an
informational open house from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Each of the public meetings may end later than the stated time,
depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. Additionally,
materials submitted in response to this request for comments on the
Delfin LNG deepwater port license application must reach the Federal
Docket Management Facility as detailed below by August 28, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The open house and public meeting in Lake Charles, Louisiana
will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Drive,
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601, telephone: 337-491-1256. The open house
and public meeting in Beaumont, Texas will be held at the Holiday Inn
Beaumont Plaza, 3950 Walden Road, Beaumont, Texas 77705, telephone:
409-842-5995. Free parking is available at both the Lake Charles Civic
Center and the Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza locations.
The public docket for USCG-2015-0472 is maintained by the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, West
Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
The Federal Docket Management Facility accepts hand-delivered
submissions, and makes docket contents available for public inspection
and copying at this address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Federal Docket Management
Facility's telephone number is 202-366-9329, the fax number is 202-493-
2251 and the Web site for electronic submissions or for electronic
access to docket contents is http://www.regulations.gov. keyword search
``USCG-2015-0472''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roddy Bachman, USCG, telephone:
202-372-1451, email: [email protected], or Ms. Yvette M. Fields,
MARAD, telephone: 202-366-0926, email: [email protected]. For
questions regarding viewing the Docket, call Docket Operations,
telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Meeting and Open House
We invite you to learn about the proposed deepwater port at any of
the above informational open houses and to comment at any of the above
public meetings on environmental issues related to the proposed
deepwater port. Your comments will help us identify and refine the
scope of the environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS.
Speaker registrations will be available at the door. Speakers at
the public scoping meetings will be recognized in the following order:
Elected officials, public agencies, individuals or groups in the sign-
up order and then anyone else who wishes to speak.
In order to allow everyone a chance to speak at a public meeting,
we may limit speaker time, extend the meeting hours or both. You must
identify yourself, and any organization you represent, by name. Your
remarks will be recorded or transcribed for inclusion in the public
docket.
You may submit written material at a public meeting, either in
place of or in addition to speaking. Written material must include your
name and address and will be included in the public docket.
Public docket materials will be made available to the public on the
Federal Docket Management Facility Web site (see Request for Comments).
Our public meeting locations are wheelchair-accessible. If you plan
to attend an open house or public meeting and need special assistance
such as sign language interpretation, non-English language translator
services or other reasonable accommodation, please notify the USCG (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 business days in advance.
Include your contact information as well as information about your
specific needs.
Request for Comments
We request public comments or other relevant information on
environmental issues related to the proposed deepwater port. The public
meeting is not the only opportunity you have to comment on the Delfin
LNG deepwater port license application. In addition to or in place of
attending a meeting, you can submit comments directly to the Federal
Docket Management Facility during the public comment period (see
DATES). We will consider all comments and material received during the
30-day scoping period. The license application, comments and associated
documentation as well as the draft and final EISs (when published) are
available for viewing at the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS)
Web site: http://www.regulations.gov under docket number USCG-2015-
0472.
Public comment submissions should include:
Docket number USCG-2015-0472.
Your name and address.
Submit comments or material using only one of the following
methods:
Electronically (preferred for processing) to the Federal
Docket Management System (FDMS) Web site: http://www.regulations.gov
under docket number USCG-2015-0472.
By mail to the Federal Docket Management Facility (USCG-
2015-0472), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-
0001
By personal delivery to the room and address listed above
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
By fax to the Federal Docket Management Facility at 202-
493-2251.
Faxed, mailed or hand delivered submissions must be unbound, no
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches and suitable for copying and electronic
scanning. The format of electronic submissions should also be no larger
than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches. If you mail your submission and want to know
when it reaches the Federal Docket Management Facility, please include
a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material,
all submissions will be posted, without change, to the FDMS Web site
(http://www.regulations.gov) and will include any personal information
you provide. Therefore, submitting this information to the docket makes
it public. You may wish to read the Privacy and Use Notice that is
available on the FDMS Web site and the Department of Transportation
Privacy Act Notice that appeared in the Federal Register on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477), see Privacy Act. You may
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view docket submissions at the Federal Docket Management Facility or
electronically on the FDMS Web site.
Background
Information about deepwater ports, the statutes, and regulations
governing their licensing, including the application review process,
and the receipt of the current application for the proposed Delfin LNG
deepwater port appears in the July 16, 2015 edition of the Federal
Register. The ``Summary of the Application'' from that publication is
reprinted below for your convenience.
Consideration of a deepwater port license application includes
review of the proposed deepwater port's impact on the natural and human
environment. For the proposed deepwater port, USCG and MARAD are the
co-lead Federal agencies for determining the scope of this review, and
in this case, it has been determined that review must include
preparation of an EIS. This NOI is required by 40 CFR 1501.7. It
briefly describes the proposed action, possible alternatives and our
proposed scoping process. You can address any questions about the
proposed action, the scoping process or the EIS to the USCG project
manager identified in this notice (see For Further Information
Contact).
Proposed Action and Alternatives
The proposed action requiring environmental review is the Federal
licensing of the proposed deepwater port described in ``Summary of the
Application'' below. The alternatives to licensing the proposed port
are: (1) Licensing with conditions (including conditions designed to
mitigate environmental impact), (2) proposed deepwater port site
alternatives or (3) denying the application, which for purposes of
environmental review is the ``no-action'' alternative.
Scoping Process
Public scoping is an early and open process for identifying and
determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. Scoping
begins with this notice, continues through the public comment period
(see DATES), and ends when USCG and MARAD have completed the following
actions:
Invites the participation of Federal, state, and local
agencies, any affected Indian tribe, the applicant, in this case Delfin
LNG, and other interested persons;
Determines the actions, alternatives and impacts described
in 40 CFR 1508.25;
Identifies and eliminates from detailed study, those
issues that are not significant or that have been covered elsewhere;
Identifies other relevant permitting, environmental review
and consultation requirements;
Indicates the relationship between timing of the
environmental review and other aspects of the application process; and
At its discretion, exercises the options provided in 40
CFR 1501.7(b).
Once the scoping process is complete, USCG will prepare a draft EIS
in conjunction with MARAD. Also, MARAD will publish a Federal Register
notice announcing public availability of the draft EIS. (If you want
that notice to be sent to you, please contact the USCG project manager
identified in For Further Information Contact). You will have an
opportunity to review and comment on the draft EIS. USCG will consider
those comments and then prepare the final EIS. As with the draft EIS,
we will announce the availability of the final EIS and once again, give
you an opportunity for review and comment and include final public
hearings as required by the Act.
Summary of the Application
Delfin LNG is proposing to construct, own, operate, and eventually
decommission a deepwater port (referred to hereafter as the Delfin
deepwater port) in the Gulf of Mexico to liquefy domestically-sourced
natural gas for export to nations with which the United States has a
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and with non-FTA nations.
The proposed Delfin deepwater port has both onshore and offshore
components. As previously described, the proposed Delfin deepwater port
would be located in Federal waters within the OCS West Cameron Area,
West Addition Protraction Area (Gulf of Mexico) approximately 37.4 to
40.8 nautical miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, in
water depths ranging from approximately 64 to 72 feet (19.5 to 21.9
meters). The Delfin deepwater port would consist of four semi-
permanently moored FLNGVs located as follows: #1 (29[deg]8'13.1'' N./
93[deg]32'2.2'' W.), #2 (29[deg]6'13.6''N./93[deg]32'42.4'' W.), #3
(29[deg]6'40.7'' N./93[deg]30'10.1'' W.), and #4 (29[deg]4'40.9'' N./
93[deg]30'51.8'' W.) located in West Cameron (WC) lease blocks 319,
327, 328, and 334, respectively. Delfin LNG would reuse and repurpose
two existing offshore natural gas pipelines, the former UTOS pipeline
and the HIOS pipeline. Four new 30-inch diameter pipeline laterals,
each approximately 6,400 feet in length, connecting the HIOS pipeline
to each of the FLNGVs, would be constructed. In addition, a 700-foot
42-inch diameter new pipeline would be constructed to bypass a platform
at WC lease block 167 (WC 167) and connect the UTOS and HIOS pipelines.
Feed gas would be supplied through the new pipeline laterals to each of
the FLNGVs where it would be super cooled to produce LNG. The LNG would
be stored onboard the FLNGVs and transferred via ship-to-ship transfer
to properly certified LNG trading carriers. Each of the FLNGVs would be
semi-permanently moored to four new weathervaning tower yoke mooring
systems (TYMS).
The onshore components in Cameron Parish, Louisiana are described
specifically in an application submitted to FERC. The onshore
components of the Delfin deepwater port will consist of constructing
and operating a new natural gas compressor station, gas supply header
and a metering station at an existing gas facility (see the FERC
Application referenced below). The proposal would require: (1)
Reactivation of approximately 1.1 miles of existing 42-inch pipeline,
formerly owned by UTOS, which runs from Transcontinental Gas Pipeline
Company Station No. 44 (Transco Station 44) to the mean highwater mark
along the Cameron Parish Coast; (2) installation of 74,000 horsepower
of new compression; (3) construction of 0.25 miles of 42-inch pipeline
to connect the former UTOS line to the new meter station; and (4)
construction of 0.6 miles of twin 30-inch pipelines between Transco
Station 44 and the new compressor station.
Onshore pipeline quality natural gas from the interstate grid would
be sent to the existing, but currently idle, 42-inch UTOS pipeline. The
gas transported through the UTOS pipeline would then bypass the
existing manifold platform located at WC 167 via a newly installed
pipeline segment, 700 feet in length, connecting to the existing 42-
inch HIOS pipeline.
The bypass of the WC 167 platform would be trenched so that the top
of the pipe is a minimum of 3 feet below the seafloor. From the bypass,
the feed gas would then be transported further offshore using the HIOS
pipeline portion leased by Delfin LNG between WC 167 and High Island
A264. The existing UTOS and HIOS pipelines transect OCS Lease Blocks WC
314, 318, 319, 327, and 335, and would transport feed gas from onshore
to offshore (one-directional flow). Delfin LNG proposes to install four
new lateral pipelines along the HIOS pipeline, starting approximately
16.0 nautical miles south of the WC 167 platform. Each subsea lateral
pipeline would be 30 inches in
[[Page 45273]]
diameter and approximately 6,400 feet in length, extending from the
HIOS pipeline to the Delfin deepwater port. The maximum allowable
operating pressure of the pipeline system (UTOS, bypass, HIOS and
laterals) would be 1,250 pounds per square inch gauge (psig).
The FLNGVs would receive pipeline quality natural gas via the
laterals and TYMS where it would be cooled sufficiently to completely
condense the gas and produce LNG. The produced LNG would be stored in
International Maritime Organization (IMO) type B, prismatic,
independent LNG storage tanks aboard each of the FLNGVs. Each vessel
would have a total LNG storage capacity of 165,000 cubic meters (m\3\).
An offloading mooring system would be provided on each FLNGV to
moor an LNG trading carrier side-by-side for cargo transfer of LNG
through loading arms or cryogenic hoses using ship-to-ship transfer
procedures. LNG carriers would be moored with pilot and tug assist. The
FLNGVs would be equipped with fenders and quick-release hooks to
facilitate mooring operations. The offloading system would be capable
of accommodating standard LNG trading carriers with nominal cargo
capacities up to 170,000 m\3\. Delfin LNG estimates that the typical
LNG cargo transfer operation would be carried out within 24 hours,
including LNG trading carrier berthing, cargo transfer and sail-away.
Approximately 31 LNG trading carriers are expected to visit each of the
four FLNGVs per year for a total of up to 124 cargo transfer operations
per year. Each LNG trading carrier would be assisted by up to three
tugs during approach and mooring and up to two tugs while departing the
Delfin deepwater port.
The FLNGVs would be self-propelled vessels and have the ability to
disconnect from the TYMS and set sail to avoid hurricanes or to
facilitate required inspections, maintenance and repairs.
In the nominal design case, each of the four FLNGVs would process
approximately 330 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd), which
would total 1.32 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscf/d) of input
feed gas for all four of the FLNGVs. Based on an estimated availability
of 92 percent and allowance for consumption of feed gas during the
liquefaction process, each FLNGV would produce approximately 97.5
billion standard cubic feet per year (Bscf/y) of gas (or approximately
2.0 million metric tonnes per annum [MMtpa]) for export in the form of
LNG. Together, the four FLNGVs are designed to have the capability to
export 390.1 Bscf/y of gas (or approximately 8.0 MMtpa) in the form of
LNG.
As detailed engineering and equipment specification advances during
the design process and operating efficiencies are gained post-
commissioning, the liquefaction process could perform better than this
nominal design case. It is therefore anticipated that LNG output, based
on the high-side design case of 375 MMscfd of input feed gas, would be
as much as approximately 110.8 Bscf/y of gas (or approximately 2.3
MMtpa) for each FLNGV. Taken together, the four FLNGVs would be capable
of exporting the equivalent of 443.3 Bscf/y of natural gas in the form
of LNG. Therefore, Delfin LNG is requesting authorization to construct
and operate facilities capable of exporting up to 443.3 Bscf/y of
natural gas in the form of LNG (which equates to approximately 9.2
MMtpa).
The proposed Delfin deepwater port would take a modular
implementation approach to allow for early market entry and accommodate
market shifts. Offshore construction activities are proposed to begin
at the end of first quarter of 2018 and would be completed in four
stages, with each stage corresponding to the commissioning and
operation of an FLNGV. The anticipated commissioning of FLNGV 1 is the
third quarter of 2019 with start-up of commercial operation of FLNGV 1
by the end of 2019. It is anticipated that FLNGVs 2 through 4 would be
commissioned 12 months apart. Following this schedule and barring
unforeseen events, the Delfin deepwater port would be completed and all
four FLNGVs would be fully operational by the summer of 2022.
FERC Application
The onshore component and nearshore pipeline component of the
proposed Delfin deepwater port falls under the jurisdiction of and is
processed under a separate authorization by FERC. On May 8, 2015,
Delfin LNG filed an application with FERC to construct and operate the
onshore/nearshore components of the proposed deepwater port. This
application was noticed on FERC's Docket: No. CP15-490-000 on May 20,
2015, and in the Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 101/Wednesday, May 27,
2015/Notices. The following is an excerpt from FERC's Federal Register
Notice:
Take notice that on May 8, 2015 Delfin LNG LLC (Delfin LNG),
1100 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002, filed in Docket No.
CP15-490-000, an Application pursuant to section 7(c) of the
Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act and Parts 157 of
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) regulations
requesting authorization to (1) reactivate approximately 1.1 miles
of existing 42-inch pipeline formerly owned by U-T Offshore System
(UTOS), which runs from Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company
Station No. 44 (Transco Station 44) to the mean highwater mark along
the Cameron Parish Coast; (2) install 74,000 horsepower of new
compression; (3) construct 0.25 miles of 42-inch pipeline to connect
the former UTOS line to the new meter station; and (4) construct 0.6
miles of twin 30-inch pipelines between Transco Station 44 and the
new compressor station in Cameron Parrish, Louisiana that comprise
the onshore portion of Delfin LNG's proposed deepwater port (DWP),
an offshore liquefied natural gas facility located off the coast of
Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, all as more fully set forth in the
application, which is on file with the Commission and open to public
inspection. Additionally, Delfin LNG requests a blanket construction
certificate under Part 17, Subpart F of the Commission's
regulations. This filing may be viewed on the Web at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number
(excluding the last three digits) in the docket number field to
access the document. For assistance, please contact FERC at
[email protected] or call toll-free (866) 208-3676 or TYY,
(202) 502-8659.
It is important to note that the onshore facilities will connect
with the offshore deepwater port facilities which are subject to the
jurisdiction of MARAD and USCG. As previously discussed, Delfin LNG
proposes to lease a segment of pipeline from HIOS that extends from the
terminus of the UTOS pipeline offshore. Delfin LNG states in its
application that HIOS will submit a separate application with FERC
seeking authorization to abandon by lease its facilities to Delfin LNG.
Because the review of the deepwater port proposal is the jurisdiction
of MARAD and USCG, FERC has acknowledged receipt of the Delfin LNG
application, provided under Docket No. CP15-490-000 on May 8, 2015;
however, FERC will not begin processing the Delfin LNG application
until such time that HIOS submits an abandonment application to FERC
for review and processing. Accordingly, although the USCG and MARAD
will commence review and processing of the Delfin deepwater port
license application, upon the publication of this Notice of Intent,
MARAD and USCG will not publish the draft EIS until FERC has received
an application for abandonment of the HIOS pipeline and has begun to
process Delfin's application for the construction and operation of the
onshore components of the proposed deepwater port.
Privacy Act
The electronic form of all comments received into the FDMS can be
searched
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by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the
comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor
union, etc.). The Department of Transportation Privacy Act Statement
can be viewed in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000
(Volume 65, Number 70, pages 19477-78) or by visiting http://www.regulations.gov.
(Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1501, et seq., 49 CFR 1.93(h)).
Dated: July 24, 2015.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-18594 Filed 7-28-15; 8:45 am]
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