83 FR 39431 - BP Energy Company; Application for Blanket Authorization To Export Previously Imported Liquefied Natural Gas on a Short-Term Basis

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 154 (August 9, 2018)

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on June 15, 2018, by BP Energy Company (BPEC), requesting blanket authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) previously imported into the United States from foreign sources in an amount up to the equivalent of 30 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas on a short- term or spot market basis. BPEC requests this authorization for a two- year period commencing on July 15, 2018, or as soon thereafter as the requested authorization is granted. BPEC seeks authorization to export the LNG from the Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG, LP Terminal (Cove Point Terminal) located in Calvert County, Maryland, 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. BPEC states that it is authorized in DOE/FE Order No. 4199 to import the equivalent of up to 1,200 Bcf of natural gas from various international sources by vessel for a two-year period beginning on August 22, 2018, and extending through August 21, 2020. BPEC further states that it does not seek authorization to export any domestically produced natural gas or LNG. BPEC is requesting this authorization on its own behalf and as agent for other parties 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 BPEC's Application, posted on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/07/f53/ 18-69-LNG.pdf. Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39431-39432]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17046]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. 18-69-LNG]


BP Energy Company; Application for Blanket Authorization To 
Export Previously Imported Liquefied Natural Gas on a Short-Term Basis

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 on 
June 15, 2018, by BP Energy Company (BPEC), requesting blanket 
authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) previously imported 
into the United States from foreign sources in an amount up to the 
equivalent of 30 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas on a short-
term or spot market basis. BPEC requests this authorization for a two-
year period commencing on July 15, 2018, or as soon thereafter as the 
requested authorization is granted. BPEC seeks authorization to export 
the LNG from the Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG, LP Terminal (Cove 
Point Terminal) located in Calvert County, Maryland, 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. BPEC states that it is 
authorized in DOE/FE Order No. 4199 to import the equivalent of up to 
1,200 Bcf of natural gas from various international sources by vessel 
for a two-year period beginning on August 22, 2018, and extending 
through August 21, 2020. BPEC further states that it does not seek 
authorization to export any domestically produced natural gas or LNG. 
BPEC is requesting this authorization on its own behalf and as agent 
for other parties 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 BPEC's Application, posted on the 
DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/07/f53/18-69-LNG.pdf. 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, September 10, 
2018.

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: 
Beverly Howard or Larine Moore, 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) 586-9387; (202) 586-9478.
Cassandra Bernstein or R.J. Colwell, U.S. Department of Energy, Office 
of the Assistant General Counsel for Electricity and Fossil Energy 
Forrestal Building, Room 6D-033, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, 
DC 20585, (202) 586-9793 or 586-8499.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

DOE/FE Evaluation

    The Application will be reviewed pursuant to section 3 of the NGA, 
15 U.S.C. 717b. 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. 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. No final decision will 
be issued in this

[[Page 39432]]

proceeding until DOE has met its NEPA 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. 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. 18-69-LNG 
in the title line; (2) mailing an original and three 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. 18-69-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.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2018.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Division of Natural Gas Regulation, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2018-17046 Filed 8-8-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P