80 FR 46966 - Texas LNG Brownsville LLC; Application for Long-Term, Multi-Contract Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations for a 25-Year Period
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 151 (August 6, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 151 (August 6, 2015)
| Page Range | 46966-46967 | |
| FR Document | 2015-19331 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 46966-46967] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-19331] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [FE Docket No. 15-62-LNG] Texas LNG Brownsville LLC; Application for Long-Term, Multi- Contract Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations for a 25-Year Period AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE. ACTION: Notice of application. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on April 15, 2015, by Texas LNG Brownsville LLC (Texas LNG), requesting long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a volume equivalent to approximately 0.55 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/d) of natural gas (200.75 Bcf per year (Bcf/yr)). On May 22, 2015, Texas LNG filed a First Amendment to the Application, increasing the requested export volume to 0.56 Bcf/d of natural gas (204.4 Bcf/yr), which it states is equivalent to 4 million metric tons per annum of LNG. Texas LNG seeks authorization to export the LNG by vessel from the proposed Texas LNG facility to be constructed at the Port of Brownsville in Brownsville, Texas, to any country with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries).\1\ Texas LNG requests the authorization for a 25-year term to commence on the earlier of the date of first export or 10 years from the date the authorization is granted. Texas LNG seeks to export this LNG on its own behalf and as agent for other entities who hold title to the LNG at the time of export. The Application was filed under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Additional details can be found in Texas LNG's Application and First Amendment to the Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web site at: http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/05/f22/15_62_lng.pdf and http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/06/f22/Amendment%20to%20Application05_22_15.pdf. Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ In FE Docket No. 13-160-LNG, DOE/FE previously issued Order No. 3443 to Texas LNG, authorizing it to export LNG in a volume equivalent to 100 Bcf/yr of natural gas (0.27 Bcf/d) to FTA countries. Texas LNG further notes that a non-FTA export application for the same volume remains pending in that docket. See App. at 7. In the current Application, Texas LNG states that ``[the] FTA authorization and non-FTA application in Docket No. 13-160-LNG shall remain in effect until the DOE/FE acts on the authorized requested in this new docket, at which time Texas LNG LLC shall request that Docket No. 13-160-LNG be novated.'' Id. Additionally, in the current Application, Texas LNG requests authorization to export LNG to any nation that currently has, or in the future may enter into, a FTA requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (FTA countries). DOE/FE will review that request for a FTA export authorization separately pursuant to NGA Sec. 3(c), 15 U.S.C. 717b(c). 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, October 5, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 [[Page 46967]] 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 Avenue 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 documents:Addendum to Environmental Review Documents Concerning Exports of Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15, 2014); and \2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The Addendum and related documents are available at: http://energy.gov/fe/draft-addendum-environmental-review-documents-concerning-exports-natural-gas-united-states. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 32260 (June 4, 2014).\3\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report is available at: http://energy.gov/fe/life-cycle-greenhouse-gas-perspective-exporting-liquefied-natural-gas-united-states. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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 proposed 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 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. 15-62-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. 15-62-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 July 31, 2015. John A. Anderson, Director, Office of Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply, Office of Oil and Natural Gas. [FR Doc. 2015-19331 Filed 8-5-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
![46966 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 151 / Thursday, August 6, 2015 / Notices
and the Secretary of Education on at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries).1
matters pertaining to the educational can view this document, as well as all Texas LNG requests the authorization
attainment of the African American other documents of this Department for a 25-year term to commence on the
community, including: (a) The published in the Federal Register, in earlier of the date of first export or 10
development, implementation, and text or Adobe Portable Document years from the date the authorization is
coordination of educational programs Format (PDF). To use PDF, you must granted. Texas LNG seeks to export this
and initiatives at the Department and have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is LNG on its own behalf and as agent for
other agencies to improve educational available free at the site. other entities who hold title to the LNG
opportunities and outcomes for African You may also access documents of the at the time of export. The Application
Americans of all ages; (2) efforts to Department published in the Federal was filed under section 3 of the Natural
increase the participation of the African Register by using the article search Gas Act (NGA). Additional details can
American community and institutions feature at: www.federalregister.gov. be found in Texas LNG’s Application
that serve the African American Specifically, through the advanced and First Amendment to the
community in the Department’s search feature at this site, you can limit Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web
programs and in education programs at your search to documents published by site at: http://energy.gov/sites/prod/
other agencies; (3) efforts to engage the the Department. files/2015/05/f22/15_62_lng.pdf and
philanthropic, business, nonprofit, and http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/
education communities in a national Authority: Executive Order 13621, dated
July 26, 2012. 06/f22/
dialogue on the mission and objectives Amendment%20to%20Application05_
of this order; and (4) the establishment Ted Mitchell, 22_15.pdf. Protests, motions to
of partnerships with public, private, Under Secretary, U.S. Department of intervene, notices of intervention, and
philanthropic, and nonprofit Education. written comments are invited.
stakeholders to meet the mission and [FR Doc. 2015–19340 Filed 8–5–15; 8:45 am] DATES: Protests, motions to intervene or
policy objectives of its Executive Order. BILLING CODE P notices of intervention, as applicable,
Meeting Agenda requests for additional procedures, and
The Commission will meet to review written comments are to be filed using
strategic goals and discuss progress to procedures detailed in the Public
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Comment Procedures section no later
date; learn about any new federal or
department priorities and initiatives than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, October 5,
impacting the learning and development [FE Docket No. 15–62–LNG] 2015.
of African American students of all ages; ADDRESSES:
Texas LNG Brownsville LLC; Electronic Filing by email: fergas@
and discuss recommendations to be
Application for Long-Term, Multi- hq.doe.gov.
made to the President of the United
Contract Authorization To Export Regular Mail: U.S. Department of
States and to the U.S. Secretary of
Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Energy (FE–34), Office of Oil and Gas
Education consistent with Executive
Trade Agreement Nations for a 25-Year Global Security and Supply, Office of
Order 13621.
Access to Records of the Meeting: The Period Fossil Energy, P.O. Box 44375,
Department will post the official report AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE. Washington, DC 20026–4375.
of the meeting on the Committee’s Web Hand Delivery or Private Delivery
site 90 days after the meeting. Pursuant ACTION: Notice of application. Services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, etc.): U.S.
to the FACA, the public may also Department of Energy (FE–34), Office of
inspect the materials at 400 Maryland SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply,
Avenue SW., Washington, DC, by (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal
emailing AfAmEvents@ed.gov or by gives notice of receipt of an application Building, Room 3E–042, 1000
calling (202) 453–5721 to schedule an (Application), filed on April 15, 2015, Independence Avenue SW.,
appointment. by Texas LNG Brownsville LLC (Texas Washington, DC 20585.
Reasonable Accommodations: The LNG), requesting long-term, multi-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
meeting site is accessible to individuals contract authorization to export
Larine Moore or Marc Talbert, U.S.
with disabilities. If you will need an domestically produced liquefied natural
Department of Energy (FE–34), Office of
auxiliary aid or service to participate in gas (LNG) in a volume equivalent to
the meeting (e.g., interpreting service, approximately 0.55 billion cubic feet 1 In FE Docket No. 13–160–LNG, DOE/FE
assistive listening device, or materials in per year (Bcf/d) of natural gas (200.75 previously issued Order No. 3443 to Texas LNG,
an alternate format), notify the contact Bcf per year (Bcf/yr)). On May 22, 2015, authorizing it to export LNG in a volume equivalent
Texas LNG filed a First Amendment to to 100 Bcf/yr of natural gas (0.27 Bcf/d) to FTA
person listed in this notice at least two countries. Texas LNG further notes that a non-FTA
weeks before the scheduled meeting the Application, increasing the export application for the same volume remains
date. Although we will attempt to meet requested export volume to 0.56 Bcf/d pending in that docket. See App. at 7. In the current
a request received after that date, we of natural gas (204.4 Bcf/yr), which it Application, Texas LNG states that ‘‘[the] FTA
states is equivalent to 4 million metric authorization and non-FTA application in Docket
may not be able to make available the No. 13–160–LNG shall remain in effect until the
requested auxiliary aid or service tons per annum of LNG. Texas LNG DOE/FE acts on the authorized requested in this
because of insufficient time to arrange seeks authorization to export the LNG new docket, at which time Texas LNG LLC shall
it. by vessel from the proposed Texas LNG request that Docket No. 13–160–LNG be novated.’’
facility to be constructed at the Port of Id. Additionally, in the current Application, Texas
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Electronic Access To This Document: LNG requests authorization to export LNG to any
The official version of this document is Brownsville in Brownsville, Texas, to nation that currently has, or in the future may enter
the document published in the Federal any country with which the United into, a FTA requiring national treatment for trade
Register. Free Internet access to the States does not have a free trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not
agreement (FTA) requiring national prohibited by U.S. law or policy (FTA countries).
official edition of the Federal Register DOE/FE will review that request for a FTA export
and the Code of Federal Regulations is treatment for trade in natural gas, and authorization separately pursuant to NGA § 3(c), 15
available via the Federal Digital System with which trade is not prohibited by U.S.C. 717b(c).
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 151 / Thursday, August 6, 2015 / Notices 46967
Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply, final decision will be issued in this provided to all parties. If no party
Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal proceeding until DOE has met its requests additional procedures, a final
Building, Room 3E–042, 1000 environmental responsibilities. Opinion and Order may be issued based
Independence Avenue SW., on the official record, including the
Public Comment Procedures
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586–9478; Application and responses filed by
(202) 586–7991. In response to this Notice, any person parties pursuant to this notice, in
Cassandra Bernstein, U.S. Department may file a protest, comments, or a accordance with 10 CFR 590.316.
of Energy (GC–76), Office of the motion to intervene or notice of The Application is available for
Assistant General Counsel for Electricity intervention, as applicable. Due to the inspection and copying in the Division
and Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building, complexity of the issues raised by the of Natural Gas Regulatory Activities
1000 Independence Avenue SW., Applicant, interested persons will be docket room, Room 3E–042, 1000
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586–9793. provided 60 days from the date of Independence Avenue SW.,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: publication of this Notice in which to Washington, DC 20585. The docket
submit comments, protests, motions to room is open between the hours of 8:00
DOE/FE Evaluation intervene, or notices of intervention. a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through
The Application will be reviewed Any person wishing to become a party Friday, except Federal holidays. The
pursuant to section 3(a) of the NGA, 15 to the proceeding must file a motion to Application and any filed protests,
U.S.C. 717b(a), and DOE will consider intervene or notice of intervention. The motions to intervene or notice of
any issues required by law or policy. To filing of comments or a protest with interventions, and comments will also
the extent determined to be relevant, respect to the Application will not serve be available electronically by going to
these issues will include the domestic to make the commenter or protestant a the following DOE/FE Web address:
need for the natural gas proposed to be party to the proceeding, although http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/
exported, the adequacy of domestic protests and comments received from
gasregulation/index.html.
natural gas supply, U.S. energy security, persons who are not parties will be
considered in determining the Issued in Washington, DC, on July 31,
and the cumulative impact of the 2015.
requested authorization and any other appropriate action to be taken on the
Application. All protests, comments, John A. Anderson,
LNG export application(s) previously
motions to intervene, or notices of Director, Office of Oil and Gas Global Security
approved on domestic natural gas and Supply, Office of Oil and Natural Gas.
supply and demand fundamentals. DOE intervention must meet the
may also consider other factors bearing requirements specified by the [FR Doc. 2015–19331 Filed 8–5–15; 8:45 am]
on the public interest, including the regulations in 10 CFR part 590. BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
Filings may be submitted using one of
impact of the proposed exports on the
the following methods: (1) Emailing the
U.S. economy (including GDP,
filing to fergas@hq.doe.gov, with FE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
consumers, and industry), job creation,
Docket No. 15–62–LNG in the title line;
the U.S. balance of trade, and [FE Docket No. 15–67–LNG]
(2) mailing an original and three paper
international considerations; and
copies of the filing to the Office of Oil Cameron LNG, LLC; Application for
whether the authorization is consistent
and Gas Global Security and Supply at Long-Term, Multi-Contract
with DOE’s policy of promoting the address listed in ADDRESSES; or (3)
competition in the marketplace by Authorization To Export Liquefied
hand delivering an original and three Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade
allowing commercial parties to freely paper copies of the filing to the Office
negotiate their own trade arrangements. Agreement Nations for a 20-Year
of Oil and Gas Global Supply at the Period
Additionally, DOE will consider the address listed in ADDRESSES. All filings
following environmental documents: must include a reference to FE Docket AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.
• Addendum to Environmental
No. 15–62–LNG. PLEASE NOTE: If ACTION: Notice of application.
Review Documents Concerning Exports
submitting a filing via email, please
of Natural Gas From the United States, SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy
include all related documents and
79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15, 2014); and 2 (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE)
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas attachments (e.g., exhibits) in the
original email correspondence. Please gives notice of receipt of an application
Perspective on Exporting Liquefied
do not include any active hyperlinks or (Application), filed on April 3, 2015, by
Natural Gas From the United States, 79
password protection in any of the Cameron LNG, LLC (Cameron LNG),
FR 32260 (June 4, 2014).3
Parties that may oppose this documents or attachments related to the requesting long-term, multi-contract
Application should address these issues filing. All electronic filings submitted to authorization to export domestically
in their comments and/or protests, as DOE must follow these guidelines to produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) in
well as other issues deemed relevant to ensure that all documents are filed in a a volume equivalent to approximately
the Application. timely manner. Any hardcopy filing 152 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr)
The National Environmental Policy submitted greater in length than 50 of natural gas (0.42 Bcf per day).
Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., pages must also include, at the time of Cameron LNG seeks authorization to
requires DOE to give appropriate the filing, a digital copy on disk of the export the LNG by vessel from the
consideration to the environmental entire submission. Cameron LNG Terminal, which
effects of its proposed decisions. No A decisional record on the Cameron owns and operates in Cameron
Application will be developed through and Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
2 The Addendum and related documents are responses to this notice by parties, (Cameron Terminal). Cameron LNG
available at: http://energy.gov/fe/draft-addendum- including the parties’ written comments requests authorization to export this
environmental-review-documents-concerning- and replies thereto. Additional LNG to any country with which the
exports-natural-gas-united-states. procedures will be used as necessary to United States does not have a free trade
3 The Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report is
available at: http://energy.gov/fe/life-cycle-
achieve a complete understanding of the agreement (FTA) requiring national
greenhouse-gas-perspective-exporting-liquefied- facts and issues. If an additional treatment for trade in natural gas, and
natural-gas-united-states. procedure is scheduled, notice will be with which trade is not prohibited by
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Document Created: 2018-02-23 10:55:51
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 10:55:51
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of application. | |
| 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, October 5, | |
| 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. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 46966 |
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