[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 57580-57581] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-28286] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC Docket No. CP95-35-000 and PRPB Docket No. 94-62-1219-JPM] EcoElectrica, L.P., Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Preliminary Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed EcoElectrica LNG Import Terminal and Cogeneration Project in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico November 9, 1995. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Puerto Rico Planning Board (PRPB) have prepared this joint draft environmental impact statement/preliminary environmental impact statement (DEIS/PEIS) on the natural gas facilities proposed by EcoElectrica, L.P. (EcoElectrica) in the above dockets. The joint EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and Puerto Rico's law requiring an EIS under the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board Regulations (Article 4[c] of law No. 9). The FERC and PRPB believe, subject to public comment, that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigation measures including receipt of necessary permits and approvals, would have limited adverse environmental impact. The joint EIS evaluates alternatives to the proposal. [[Page 57581]] The joint EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the proposed EcoElectrica LNG Import Terminal and Cogeneration Project, which includes the following facilities:A marine terminal for unloading liquified natural gas (LNG) tankers, two 1,000,000-barrel LNG storage tanks, an LNG vaporization system, and a natural gas accumulator pipeline. A 461-megawatt electric cogeneration facility that would use the vaporized LNG as a fuel source. The power plant facility would consist of two gas turbines fueled by natural gas and one steam generator. The gas turbines could also use propane (LPG) as a secondary fuel and number 2 oil as an emergency fuel. A desalination facility that could generate up to 4,000,000 gallons of potable water per day. The multistage flash system would use the surplus heat from power production to produce freshwater. The power plant would require up to 1,000,000 gallons per day for operating needs. The surplus would be sold for public use. Other facilities necessary for operation of the cogeneration facility include a 2.3-mile-long, 230-kilovolt transmission line connecting the plant substation to an existing Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) substation; a 1.1-mile-long, 8- inch-diameter natural gas pipeline to the PREPA power plant; a 3.5- mile-long, 10-inch-diameter pipeline to supply LGP to the cogeneration facility; and a 1.2-mile-long, 8-inch-diameter water pipeline to connect to an existing offsite water supply or to outside delivery systems. The joint EIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is available for public inspection at: Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426-1119, (202) 208-1371 Puerto Rico Planning Board, P.O. Box 41119, Santurce, Puerto Rico 00940, (809) 727-4444 Copies have been mailed to Federal, commonwealth and local agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, public libraries, newspapers, and parties to this proceeding. A limited number of copies of the joint EIS are available from either: Mr. Chris Zerby, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC EIS Project Manager, Office of Pipeline Regulation, Room 7312, 825 North Capitol Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-0111. Mrs. Maria Gordillo, Puerto Rico Planning Board, PRPB EIS Project Manager, P.O. Box 41119, Santurce, Puerto Rico 00940-1119, (809) 727- 4444 Any person wishing to comment on the joint EIS may do so. Written comments must reference FERC Docket No. CP95-35-000 and PRPB Docket No. 94-62-1219-JPM. Comments should be addressed to: Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426 Luis Frias, Secretary, Secretary PRPB, P.O. Box 41119, Santurce, P.R. 00940-1119 Comments should be filed as soon as possible, but must be received no later than December 26, 1995,\1\ to ensure consideration prior to a FERC or PRPB decision on this proposal. A copy of any comments should also be sent to Mr. Chris Zerby, FERC EIS Project Manager, or Mrs. Maria Gordillo, PRPB EIS Project Manager at the above addresses. \1\ The ``to the party addressed'' letter in the EIS stated that comments must be received by December 18, 1995. However, we are extending this date to December 26, 1995. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments will be considered by the FERC and PRPB but will not serve to make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the FERC's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214). In addition to asking for written comments, we invite you to attend any of the joint public meetings the FERC and PRPB will conduct to solicit comments on the draft EIS. The locations and times for these meetings are listed below. The public meetings will be designed to give you more detailed information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the proposed project. Those wanting to speak at the meetings can call the EIS Project Manager to preregister their names on the speaker list. Those people on the speaker list before the date of the meeting will be allowed to speak first. A second speaker list will be developed at each meeting. Priority will be given to people representing groups. A transcript of each meeting will be made so that your comments will be accurately recorded. This transcript will be available in both Spanish and English. Schedule for Joint EIS Public Scoping Meetings December 11, 1995 (10:00 am) San Juan, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Planning Board, Minillas Building, 14th floor December 12, 1995 (10:00 am) Penuelas, Puerto Rico, Alcaldia (Municipal Building) December 13, 1995 (10:00 am) Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, Centro Cultural Maria Arzola Additional information about this project is available from Mr. Chris Zerby, FERC EIS Project Manager, at (202) 208-0111. Information concerning the involvement of the Puerto Rico Planning Board can be obtained from Mrs. Maria Gordillo, PRPB EIS Project Manager at (809) 727-4444. Lois D. Cashell, Secretary. [FR Doc. 95-28286 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M