Notice2026-22161
Longboard TerminalCo, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Longboard LNG Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions
Primary source
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Published
October 30, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68507-68510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22161]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF26-10-000]
Longboard TerminalCo, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting
Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Longboard LNG Project,
and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss
the environmental impacts of the Longboard LNG Project involving
construction and operation of facilities by Longboard TerminalCo, LLC
(Longboard LNG) in Honolulu County, Hawai'i. The Commission will use
this environmental document in its decision-making process to determine
whether the project is in the public interest.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies regarding the project. As part of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the Commission takes into account
concerns the public may have about proposals and the environmental
impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the
issuance of an authorization. This gathering of public input is
referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to
focus the analysis in the environmental document on the important
environmental issues. Additional information about the Commission's
NEPA process is described below in the NEPA Process and Environmental
Document section of this notice.
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. To ensure
that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your
comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or
before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 27, 2026. Comments may be
submitted in written or oral form. Further details on how to submit
comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this
notice.
Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects,
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impacts. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what
issues they need to evaluate in the environmental document. Commission
staff will consider all written or oral comments during the preparation
of the environmental document.
If you submitted comments on this project to the Commission before
the opening of this docket on May 15, 2026, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. PF26-10-000 to ensure they are considered.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' addresses typically
asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to
participate in the Commission's proceedings. This fact sheet along with
other landowner topics of interest are available for viewing on the
FERC website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) under the Natural Gas, Landowner Topics
link.
Public Participation
There are four methods you can use to submit your comments to the
Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic
filing of comments and has staff available to
[[Page 68508]]
assist you at (866) 208-3676 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abedced9c8e4c5c7c2c5cef8dedbdbc4d9dfebcdced9c885ccc4dd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1d5b786f7e5273717473784e686d6d726f695d7b786f7e337a726b">[email protected]</span></a>.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>)
under the link to FERC Online. Using eComment is an easy method for
submitting brief, text-only comments on a project;
(2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>)
under the link to FERC Online. With eFiling, you can provide comments
in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking
on ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment
on a Filing'';
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (PF26-
10-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the United States Postal
Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington,
DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to:
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852; or
(4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you
to attend one of the public scoping sessions its staff will conduct in
the project area, scheduled as follows:
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Date and time Location
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Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 5:00 p.m.- Imin International Conference
7:00 p.m.. Center, 1777 East-West Road,
Honolulu, HI 96848, 808-944-
7159.
Thursday, November 19, 2026, 5:00 p.m.- Kroc Center Hawai'i, 91-3257
7:00 p.m.. Kualaka'i Parkway, Ewa Beach,
HI 96706, 808-682-5505.
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The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be
considered in the environmental document. The sessions are not public
hearings to solicit discussions. They present an opportunity for
attendees to provide oral rather than written input on the
environmental review that FERC staff will conduct. Individual oral
comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter.
This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of oral comments
in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted.
Each scoping session is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Hawai'i. Standard Time. You may arrive at any time after 5:00 p.m.
There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the
session opens. If you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out
numbers in the order of your arrival. Comments will be taken until 7:00
p.m. However, if no additional numbers have been handed out and all
individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do
so, staff may conclude the session at 6:30 p.m. Please see appendix 1
for additional information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at
<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a> using the link called ``eLibrary.'' For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. For
assistance, contact FERC at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6e0e3f4e5e9c8cacfc8c3f5d3d6d6c9d4d2e6c0c3d4c588c1c9d0">[email protected]</a> or call toll
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Your scoping comments will be recorded by a court reporter (with
FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on
FERC's eLibrary system (see the last page of this notice for
instructions on using eLibrary). If a significant number of people are
interested in providing oral comments in the one-on-one settings, a
time limit of 3 minutes may be implemented for each commentor.
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided orally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a
formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the
scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review
process. Representatives from Longboard LNG will also be present to
answer project-specific questions.
Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription, which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances
and submittals regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe.
These instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive
notification and provide a link to the document files which can reduce
the amount of time you spend researching proceedings. Go to <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview">https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview</a> to register for eSubscription.
For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office
of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c689969686a0a3b4a5e8a1a9b0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="77382727371112051459101801">[email protected]</span></a>.
Summary of the Planned Project
Longboard LNG plans to construct and operate a liquefied natural
gas (LNG) import terminal and related natural gas facilities in state
waters offshore Kalaeloa (Barbers Point), and onshore near Campbell
Industrial Park, on O'ahu, Hawai'i.
FERC jurisdictional facilities include:
<bullet> a single point mooring system;
<bullet> an approximately 3-mile-long, 16-inch-diameter subsea
natural gas pipeline;
<bullet> an approximately 2-acre onshore receiving facility
connecting the subsea pipeline to onshore pipelines; and
<bullet> other appurtenant and ancillary facilities.
Longboard LNG plans to use horizontal directional drilling to
install the nearshore portion of the subsea pipeline beneath the
shoreline and seabed, extending from the onshore receiving facility to
an offshore exit point approximately 0.8 mile from shore, to minimize
disturbance to coastal areas and sensitive marine habitats. A non-
jurisdictional, internationally flagged, waterborne Floating Storage
and Regasification Unit (FSRU), leased under a long-term time charter,
would accept LNG carriers making deliveries via ship-to-ship transfer.
The FSRU would be subject to regulation by the United States Coast
Guard and would not be part of the LNG terminal facilities subject to
the Commission's jurisdiction under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
2.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 270
acres of land and seabed for the planned facilities. Following
construction, Longboard LNG would maintain about 27.3 acres for
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permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage
would be restored.
NEPA Process and the Environmental Document
Any environmental document issued by Commission staff will discuss
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation
of the jurisdictional components of the planned project under the
relevant general resource areas:
<bullet> geology and soils;
<bullet> water resources and wetlands;
<bullet> vegetation and wildlife;
<bullet> threatened and endangered species;
<bullet> cultural resources;
<bullet> socioeconomics;
<bullet> land use;
<bullet> visual;
<bullet> air quality and noise; and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Commission staff have already identified several issues that
deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the planned
facilities and the environmental information provided by Longboard LNG.
This preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and
our analysis:
<bullet> marine and oceanographic conditions;
<bullet> marine transportation; and
<bullet> facility construction and effects on water resources and
marine species.
Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the
planned project or portions of the project and make recommendations on
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your
comments will help Commission staff identify and focus on the issues
that might have an effect on the human environment and potentially
eliminate others from further study and discussion in the environmental
document.
Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff
have already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing
process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve
issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the
pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact federal and state
agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the
preparation of the environmental document.
If a formal application is filed, Commission staff will then
determine whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present
Commission staff's independent analysis of the environmental issues. If
Commission staff prepares an EA, a Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment will be issued. The EA may
be issued for an allotted public comment period. The Commission would
consider timely comments on the EA before making its determination on
the proposed project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of
Intent to Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued once an
application is filed, which will open an additional public comment
period. Staff will then prepare a draft EIS that will be issued for
public comment. Commission staff will consider all timely comments
received during the comment period on the draft EIS, and revise the
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any EA or draft and
final EIS will be available in electronic format in the public record
through eLibrary \2\ and the Commission's natural gas environmental
documents web page (<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents">https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents</a>). If eSubscribed, you will receive
instant email notification when the environmental document is issued.
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\2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues related to this project to formally cooperate in
the preparation of the environmental document.\3\ Agencies that would
like to request cooperating agency status should follow the
instructions for filing comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this notice. Currently, the United States
Coast Guard and United States Environmental Protection Agency have
expressed their intention to participate as cooperating agencies in the
preparation of the environmental document.
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\3\ Cooperating agency responsibilities are addressed in section
107(a)(3) of NEPA (42 U.S. Code 4336(a)(3)).
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Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act
In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, the Commission is using this notice to initiate
consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s),
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies,
interested Native Hawaiian organizations, and the public on the
project's potential effects on historic properties.\4\ The
environmental document for this project will document our findings on
the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of
consultations under section 106.
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\4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
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Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; Native
Hawaiian organizations; environmental and public interest groups; other
interested parties; and local libraries and media outlets. This list
also includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the project and includes a mailing address with their
comments. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices related to
this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations,
and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by
the planned project.
If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of
the following steps:
(1) Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d7a5c4e6d4f5257585e497c59594f584e4e7e555c535a587d5b584f5e135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2067415370524f4a454354614444524553536348414e474560464552430e474f56">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number PF26-10-000 in your
request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure
to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to
delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and
address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to
accept comments.
OR
(2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 3).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Longboard LNG files its application with the Commission, you
may want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the
Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to seek
[[Page 68510]]
rehearing of the Commission's decision and be heard by the courts if
they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor
formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to
intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully
described at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene">https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene</a>. Please note that the
Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this time.
You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application for
the project, after which the Commission will issue a public notice that
establishes an intervention deadline.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available on the FERC
website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary
link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number in the
``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date
range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c187a4b3a28eafada8afa492b4b1b1aeb3b581a7a4b3a2efa6aeb7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="60260512032f0e0c090e05331510100f121420060512034e070f16">[email protected]</span></a> or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events">https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events</a> along with
other related information.
(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)
Dated: October 26, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-22161 Filed 10-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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