00-931. Southern LNG Inc.; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Elba Island Terminal Recommissioning Project

[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2386-2387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-931]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP99-579-000 and CP99-580-000]


Southern LNG Inc.; Notice of Availability of the Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed Elba Island Terminal Recommissioning 
Project

January 10, 2000.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 
natural gas facilities proposed by Southern LNG Inc. (Southern LNG) in 
the above-referenced docket.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.

[[Page 2387]]

    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of facilities by Southern LNG. The project 
involves returning to active service Southern LNG's existing, 
certificated liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine import terminal near 
Savannah, Georgia (Elba Island Terminal). The existing authorized 
facilities at the Elba Island Terminal include the following:
     LNG unloading facilities, including marine berth, pier, 
and arms for unloading LNG from vessels;
     LNG storage facilities, including three double-wall 
storage tanks, each with the capacity of 400,000 barrels (4 billion 
cubic feet vaporized equivalent);
     LNG sendout facilities, including pumps and vaporizers 
with a maximum capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day;
     Boil-off compressors;
     Pressure relief, vent, and disposal systems;
     Spill containment facilities, including a 400,000-barrel 
capacity main spill containment for each LNG storage tank; and
     Fire water system sourced from a fresh-water pond and 
river water.
    The storage and vaporization facilities would not be significantly 
altered, replaced or relocated. The storage and throughput capacity of 
the facilities would remain the same as originally placed in service in 
1978. The recommissioning work will include the following:
     Install suction drum level control and minimum flow 
piping;
     Replace two LNG pumps;
     Install LNG recirculation piping;
     Install an additional boil-off compressor (1,000-
horsepower);
     Install LNG tank level, density and temperature gauges;
     Upgrade fire protection system;
     Upgrade hazard detection system;
     Install intrusion detection system;
     Renew dredging of berthing area and turning basin;
     Increase dredged material basin capacity;
     Modify power distribution switchgear to allow parallel 
operation with utility (under consideration); and
     Install distributed control and data acquisition system.

The proposed improvements would bring the facilities into compliance 
with applicable current code requirements and would update the safety, 
security, operability and reliability of the terminal.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to provide open-
access service to shippers desiring to contract for receipt, storage, 
and vaporization of LNG and delivery of vaporized LNG at the existing 
point of interconnect with the interstate pipeline of Southern Natural 
Gas Company. The Elba Island Terminal has an average design natural gas 
sendout rate of 322 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), with 
a maximum capacity of 540 MMSCFD.
    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited 
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public 
inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference 
and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, NE, Room 2A, 
Washington, DC 20426, [phone].
    Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, state and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, 
and parties to this proceeding.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure 
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is 
important that we receive your comments before the date specified 
below. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your 
comments are received in time and properly recorded:
     Send two copies of your comments to: Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE, Room 1A, Washington, 
DC 20426;
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the 
Environmental Review and Compliance Branch, PR-11.1;
     Reference Docket Nos. CP99-579-000 and CP99-588-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before February 11, 2000.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission 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 Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).
    The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding 
has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file later interventions 
must show good cause, as required by section 385.214(b)(3), why this 
time limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have been viewed 
as good cause for later intervention. You do not need intervenor status 
to have your comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 
208-1088 or on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the 
``RIMS'' link to information in this docket number. Click on the 
``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the RIMS Menu, and follow the 
instructions. For assistance with access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can 
be reached at [phone].
    Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides 
access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such 
as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website, 
click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and 
follow the instructions. For assistance with access to CIPS, the CIPS 
helpline can be reached at [phone].
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-931 Filed 1-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M