80 FR 36979 - Air Flow North America Corp.; Application for Long-Term, Multi-Contract Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 124 (June 29, 2015)

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed by Air Flow North America Corp. (Air Flow), on December 16, 2014, and subsequently amended. In the Application, Air Flow requests long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) by use of approved ISO IMO7-TVAC-ASME LNG (ISO) containers transported on ocean-going carriers to any country located within South America, Central America, the Caribbean, or Africa with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) that requires national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries). Air Flow seeks authorization to export the LNG on its own behalf in a volume equivalent to approximately 0.67 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per year of natural gas, or 0.002 Bcf per day. Air Flow states that it will obtain its LNG supplies from Clean Energy Fuel Corp. (Clean Energy), and seeks authorization to export the LNG by vessel from Clean Energy's existing LNG production facility located in Willis, Texas, which Air Flow states has the capability to load LNG onto trucks and ISO containers.\1\ Air Flow states that the LNG would be loaded into its ISO containers; transported via trucks to a seaport in Houston, Texas; then exported by ocean-going cargo vessel from one or more ports in the Southeastern United States (including ports in Texas, Florida, and Louisiana). Air Flow also requests authorization to load at any other U.S. port that is now or in the future will be capable of loading ISO containers. Air Flow asks for the requested authorization to be effective on the date when the order is signed, and to extend until July 31, 2021.\2\ The Application was filed under section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Additional details can be found in Air Flow's Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web site at: http://energy.gov/fe/ downloads/air-flow-north-america-corp-fe-dkt-no-14-206-lng. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36979-36980]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15882]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. 14-206-LNG]


Air Flow North America Corp.; Application for Long-Term, Multi-
Contract Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free 
Trade Agreement Countries

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy 
(DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed by 
Air Flow North America Corp. (Air Flow), on December 16, 2014, and 
subsequently amended. In the Application, Air Flow requests long-term, 
multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied 
natural gas (LNG) by use of approved ISO IMO7-TVAC-ASME LNG (ISO) 
containers transported on ocean-going carriers to any country located 
within South America, Central America, the Caribbean, or Africa with 
which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) that 
requires national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which 
trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries). Air 
Flow seeks authorization to export the LNG on its own behalf in a 
volume equivalent to approximately 0.67 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per 
year of natural gas, or 0.002 Bcf per day. Air Flow states that it will 
obtain its LNG supplies from Clean Energy Fuel Corp. (Clean Energy), 
and seeks authorization to export the LNG by vessel from Clean Energy's 
existing LNG production facility located in Willis, Texas, which Air 
Flow states has the capability to load LNG onto trucks and ISO 
containers.\1\ Air Flow states that the LNG would be loaded into its 
ISO containers; transported via trucks to a seaport in Houston, Texas; 
then exported by ocean-going cargo vessel from one or more ports in the 
Southeastern United States (including ports in Texas, Florida, and 
Louisiana). Air Flow also requests authorization to load at any other 
U.S. port that is now or in the future will be capable of loading ISO 
containers. Air Flow asks for the requested authorization to be 
effective on the date when the order is signed, and to extend until 
July 31, 2021.\2\ The Application was filed under section 3(a) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA). Additional details can be found in Air Flow's 
Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web site at: http://energy.gov/fe/downloads/air-flow-north-america-corp-fe-dkt-no-14-206-lng.
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    \1\ In an amendment to the Application filed on May 28, 2015, 
Air Flow provided additional information about the Clean Energy 
facility in Willis, Texas (also known as the Pickens Plant). 
According to Air Flow, the facility, built in 1994, produces 100,000 
gallons of LNG per day, and is able to store 1 million gallons of 
LNG on site. It has one loading rack, allowing one truck to be 
loaded with LNG at a time, and up to 12 trucks loaded with LNG per 
day. See Air Flow North America Corp., Amendment, FE Docket No. 14-
206-LNG (May 28, 2015) [Second Amendment].
    \2\ Air Flow requested this authorization period in an amendment 
to the Application filed on April 30, 2015, to ensure that the 
Application accurately reflects Air Flow's contract with Clean 
Energy. It supersedes the authorization period requested in the 
Application. See Air Flow North America Corp., Amendment, FE Docket 
No. 14-206-LNG (April 30, 2015) [First Amendment].
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    Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and 
written comments are invited.

DATES: Protests, motions to intervene or notices of intervention, as 
applicable, requests for additional procedures, and written comments 
are to be filed using procedures detailed in the Public Comment 
Procedures section no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, August 28, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: 
    Electronic Filing by email: [email protected].
    Regular Mail: U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Oil and 
Gas Global Security and Supply, Office of Fossil Energy, P.O. Box 
44375, Washington, DC 20026-4375.
    Hand Delivery or Private Delivery Services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, 
etc.): U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Oil and Gas Global 
Security and Supply, Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 
3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Larine Moore or Marc Talbert, U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), 
Office of Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply, Office of Fossil 
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9478; (202) 586-7991.
    Cassandra Bernstein, U.S. Department of Energy (GC-76), Office of 
the Assistant General Counsel for Electricity and Fossil Energy, 
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585, 
(202) 586-9793.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

DOE/FE Evaluation

    The Application will be reviewed pursuant to section 3(a) of the 
NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717b(a), and DOE will consider any issues required by 
law or policy. To the extent determined to be relevant, these issues 
will include the domestic need for the natural gas proposed to be 
exported, the adequacy of domestic natural gas supply, U.S. energy 
security, and the cumulative impact of the requested authorization and 
any other LNG export application(s) previously approved on domestic 
natural gas supply and demand fundamentals. DOE may also consider other 
factors bearing on the public interest, including the impact of the 
proposed exports on the U.S. economy (including GDP, consumers, and 
industry), job creation, the U.S. balance of trade, and international 
considerations; and whether the authorization is consistent with DOE's 
policy of promoting competition in the marketplace by allowing 
commercial parties to freely negotiate their own trade arrangements. 
Additionally, DOE will consider the following environmental document: 
Addendum to Environmental Review Documents Concerning Exports of 
Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15, 2014).\3\ 
Parties that may oppose this Application should address these issues in 
their comments and/or protests, as well as other issues deemed relevant 
to the Application.
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    \3\ The Addendum and related documents are available at: http://energy.gov/fe/draft-addendum-environmental-review-documents-concerning-exports-natural-gas-united-states.
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    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq., requires DOE to give appropriate consideration to the 
environmental effects of its decisions. No final decision will be 
issued in this proceeding until DOE has met its environmental 
responsibilities.

Public Comment Procedures

    In response to this Notice, any person may file a protest, 
comments, or a motion to intervene or notice of intervention, as 
applicable. Due to the complexity of the issues raised by the 
Applicant, interested persons will be

[[Page 36980]]

provided 60 days from the date of publication of this Notice in which 
to submit comments, protests, motions to intervene, or notices of 
intervention.
    Any person wishing to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene or notice of intervention. The filing of comments 
or a protest with respect to the Application will not serve to make the 
commenter or protestant a party to the proceeding, although protests 
and comments received from persons who are not parties will be 
considered in determining the appropriate action to be taken on the 
Application. All protests, comments, motions to intervene, or notices 
of intervention must meet the requirements specified by the regulations 
in 10 CFR part 590.
    Filings may be submitted using one of the following methods: (1) 
Emailing the filing to [email protected], with FE Docket No. 14-206-LNG 
in the title line; (2) mailing an original and three paper copies of 
the filing to the Office of Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply at 
the address listed in ADDRESSES; or (3) hand delivering an original and 
three paper copies of the filing to the Office of Oil and Gas Global 
Supply at the address listed in ADDRESSES. All filings must include a 
reference to FE Docket No. 14-206-LNG. Please Note: If submitting a 
filing via email, please include all related documents and attachments 
(e.g., exhibits) in the original email correspondence. Please do not 
include any active hyperlinks or password protection in any of the 
documents or attachments related to the filing. All electronic filings 
submitted to DOE must follow these guidelines to ensure that all 
documents are filed in a timely manner. Any hardcopy filing submitted 
greater in length than 50 pages must also include, at the time of the 
filing, a digital copy on disk of the entire submission.
    A decisional record on the Application will be developed through 
responses to this notice by parties, including the parties' written 
comments and replies thereto. Additional procedures will be used as 
necessary to achieve a complete understanding of the facts and issues. 
If an additional procedure is scheduled, notice will be provided to all 
parties. If no party requests additional procedures, a final Opinion 
and Order may be issued based on the official record, including the 
Application and responses filed by parties pursuant to this notice, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 590.316.
    The Application is available for inspection and copying in the 
Division of Natural Gas Regulatory Activities docket room, Room 3E-042, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585. The docket room is 
open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Application and any filed 
protests, motions to intervene or notice of interventions, and comments 
will also be available electronically by going to the following DOE/FE 
Web address: http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/gasregulation/index.html.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2015.
John A. Anderson,
Director, Office of Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply, Office of 
Oil and Natural Gas.
[FR Doc. 2015-15882 Filed 6-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P