80 FR 72955 - Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC; Application for Blanket Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations on a Short-Term Basis

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 225 (November 23, 2015)

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on November 6, 2015, by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (Sabine Pass), requesting blanket authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) in an amount up to the equivalent of 600 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas on a cumulative basis over a two-year period commencing on the earlier of the date of first short-term export or January 15, 2016. The LNG would be exported from the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project (Liquefaction Project) located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, to any country with the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy. To date, Sabine Pass has been granted long-term, multi-contract authorization under DOE/FE Order No. 2961-A to export LNG in a volume equivalent to 803 Bcf per year of natural gas from the Liquefaction Project to non- FTA countries, for a 20-year term.\1\ Sabine Pass states that, in anticipation of the start of liquefaction operations at the Liquefaction Project, it requests this blanket authorization to engage in short-term exports of LNG produced both prior to commercial operations as well as subsequent to commercial operations if and when appropriate market opportunities arise. According to Sabine Pass, the requested blanket authorization will provide enhanced operational flexibility and the ability to export produced LNG cargoes that may be rejected by customers under long-term contracts. Sabine Pass seeks to export this LNG on its own behalf and as agent for other parties who will 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 Sabine Pass's Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web site at: http://energy.gov/fe/downloads/sabine-pass-liquefaction-llc- fe-dkt-no-15-171-lng ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 225 (Monday, November 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72955-72956]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29791]



[[Page 72955]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. 15-171-LNG]


Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC; Application for Blanket 
Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade 
Agreement Nations on a Short-Term Basis

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 
November 6, 2015, by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (Sabine Pass), 
requesting blanket authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
in an amount up to the equivalent of 600 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of 
natural gas on a cumulative basis over a two-year period commencing on 
the earlier of the date of first short-term export or January 15, 2016. 
The LNG would be exported from the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project 
(Liquefaction Project) located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, to any 
country with the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier and 
with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy. To date, 
Sabine Pass has been granted long-term, multi-contract authorization 
under DOE/FE Order No. 2961-A to export LNG in a volume equivalent to 
803 Bcf per year of natural gas from the Liquefaction Project to non-
FTA countries, for a 20-year term.\1\ Sabine Pass states that, in 
anticipation of the start of liquefaction operations at the 
Liquefaction Project, it requests this blanket authorization to engage 
in short-term exports of LNG produced both prior to commercial 
operations as well as subsequent to commercial operations if and when 
appropriate market opportunities arise. According to Sabine Pass, the 
requested blanket authorization will provide enhanced operational 
flexibility and the ability to export produced LNG cargoes that may be 
rejected by customers under long-term contracts. Sabine Pass seeks to 
export this LNG on its own behalf and as agent for other parties who 
will 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 Sabine Pass's Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web 
site at: http://energy.gov/fe/downloads/sabine-pass-liquefaction-llc-fe-dkt-no-15-171-lng
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See App. at 2-3 & n.6 (describing the various DOE/FE 
authorizations granted for the first four liquefaction trains 
comprising Stages 1 and 2 of the Liquefaction Project). In addition, 
on April 20, 2015, Sabine Pass submitted an application to DOE/FE 
requesting long-term, multi-contract authorization to export up to 
the equivalent of an additional 203 Bcf per year of natural gas from 
the Liquefaction Project to non-FTA countries for a 20-year term. 
That application is currently pending in FE Docket No. 15-63-LNG. 
See id. at 3 & n.8. 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, December 23, 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015.

ADDRESSES: 
    Electronic Filing by email: [email protected]
    Regular Mail: U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of 
Regulation and International Engagement, 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 Regulation and 
International Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building, 
Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
 Larine Moore or Ben Nussdorf, U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), 
Office of Regulation and International Engagement, Office of Fossil 
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9478; (202) 586-7893.
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 of the NGA, 
as amended, and the authority contained in DOE Delegation Order No. 00-
002.00N (July 11, 2013) and DOE Redelegation Order No. 00-006.02 (Nov. 
17, 2014). In reviewing this Application, DOE will consider domestic 
need for the natural gas, as well as any other issues determined to be 
appropriate, including whether the arrangement 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);\2\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 comment in their 
responses on these issues.

    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. Sabine Pass states 
that no changes to the Liquefaction Project facilities would be 
required for the short-term exports requested in the Application. No 
final decision will be issued in this proceeding until DOE has met its 
environmental responsibilities.
    Interested persons will be provided 30 days from the date of 
publication of this Notice in which to submit comments, protests, 
motions to intervene, notices of intervention, or motions for 
additional procedures.

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. Interested parties will be provided 30 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. 15-171-LNG 
in the title line; (2) mailing an original and three

[[Page 72956]]

paper copies of the filing to the Office of Regulation and 
International Engagement at the address listed in ADDRESSES; or (3) 
hand delivering an original and three paper copies of the filing to the 
Office of Regulation and International Engagement at the address listed 
in ADDRESSES. All filings must include a reference to FE Docket No. 15-
171-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 
Office of Regulation and International Engagement 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 November 17, 2015.
John A. Anderson,
Director, Office of Regulation and International Engagement, Office of 
Oil and Natural Gas.
[FR Doc. 2015-29791 Filed 11-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P