Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC; Application To Amend Export Term Through December 31, 2050, for Existing Non-Free Trade Agreement Authorizations, 61942-61944 [2020-21681]
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61942
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 191 / Thursday, October 1, 2020 / Notices
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LaTanya Butler,
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[FR Doc. 2020–21743 Filed 9–30–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[FE Docket Nos. 10–111–LNG, 13–30–LNG,
13–42–LNG, 13–121–LNG, 15–63–LNG]
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC;
Application To Amend Export Term
Through December 31, 2050, for
Existing Non-Free Trade Agreement
Authorizations
Office of Fossil Energy,
Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of application.
AGENCY:
The Office of Fossil Energy
(FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE)
gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an
application (Application), filed on
September 3, 2020, by Sabine Pass
Liquefaction, LLC (SPL). SPL seeks to
amend the export term set forth in its
current authorizations to export
liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free
trade agreement countries, DOE/FE
Order Nos. 2961–A, 3669, and 3792, to
a term ending on December 31, 2050.
SPL filed the Application under the
Natural Gas Act (NGA) and DOE’s
policy statement entitled, ‘‘Extending
Natural Gas Export Authorizations to
Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries
Through the Year 2050’’ (Policy
Statement). Protests, motions to
intervene, notices of intervention, and
written comments on the requested term
extension are invited.
DATES: Protests, motions to intervene or
notices of intervention, as applicable,
requests for additional procedures, and
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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
16, 2020.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by email: fergas@
hq.doe.gov.
Regular Mail: U.S. Department of Energy
(FE–34), Office of Regulation,
Analysis, and 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, Analysis, and
Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy,
Forrestal Building, Room 3E–042,
1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Benjamin Nussdorf or Amy Sweeney,
U.S. Department of Energy (FE–34),
Office of Regulation, Analysis, and
Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy,
Forrestal Building, Room 3E–042,
1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586–
7893; (202) 586–2627,
benjamin.nussdorf@hq.doe.gov or
amy.sweeney@hq.doe.gov.
Cassandra Bernstein or Edward
Toyozaki, U.S. Department of Energy
(GC–76), Office of the Assistant
General Counsel for Electricity and
Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building,
Room 6D–033, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585,
(202) 586–9793; (202) 586–0126,
cassandra.bernstein@hq.doe.gov or
edward.toyozaki@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SPL is
currently authorized by DOE/FE to
export domestically produced LNG in a
total volume equivalent to 1,509.3
billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of
natural gas, pursuant to NGA section
3(a), 15 U.S.C. 717b(a), under the
following orders and their subsequent
amendments:
(i) 803 Bcf/yr under Order No. 2961–
A (FE Docket No. 10–111–LNG); 1
(ii) 503.3 Bcf/yr under Order No. 3669
(FE Docket Nos. 13–30–LNG, 13–42–
LNG, 13–121–LNG); 2 and
1 Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, DOE/FE Order
No. 2961–A, FE Docket No. 10–111–LNG, Final
Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term
Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas from
the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal to Non-Free Trade
Agreement Nations (Aug. 7, 2012), reh’g denied
DOE/FE Order No. 2961–B (Jan. 25, 2013), amended
by DOE/FE Order No. 2961–C (May 4, 2016)
(authorizing make-up period).
2 Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, DOE/FE Order
No. 3669, FE Docket Nos. 13–30–LNG, 13–42–LNG,
and 13–121–LNG, Final Opinion and Order
Granting Long-Term, Multi-Contract Authorization
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 191 / Thursday, October 1, 2020 / Notices
(iii) 203 Bcf/yr under Order No. 3792
(FE Docket No. 15–63–LNG).3
Under each order, SPL is authorized
to export this LNG by vessel from the
Sabine Pass LNG Terminal located in
Cameron Parish, Louisiana, to any
country with which the United States
has not entered into 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)
for a 20-year term. In the Application,4
SPL asks DOE to extend its export term
in each of these three orders to a term
ending on December 31, 2050, as
provided in the Policy Statement.5
Additional details can be found in the
Application, posted on the DOE/FE
website at: https://www.energy.gov/
sites/prod/files/2020/09/f78/Sabine
%20DOE%20Filing%20Package%2093-2020.pdf.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
DOE/FE Evaluation
In the Policy Statement, DOE adopted
a term through December 31, 2050
(inclusive of any make-up period), as
the standard export term for long-term
non-FTA authorizations.6 As the basis
for its decision, DOE considered its
obligations under NGA section 3(a), the
public comments supporting and
opposing the proposed Policy
Statement, and a wide range of
information bearing on the public
interest.7 DOE explained that, upon
receipt of an application under the
Policy Statement, it would conduct a
public interest analysis of the
application under NGA section 3(a).
DOE further stated that ‘‘the public
interest analysis will be limited to the
application for the term extension—
to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by Vessel from the
Sabine Pass LNG Terminal Located in Cameron
Parish, Louisiana, to Non-Free Trade Agreement
Nations (June 26, 2015), reh’g denied DOE/FE Order
No. 3669–A (May 26, 2016), amended by DOE/FE
Order No. 3669–B (Oct. 31, 2017) (clarifying terms
of export authorization).
3 Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, DOE/FE Order
No. 3792, FE Docket No. 15–63–LNG, Final Opinion
and Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-Contract
Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by
Vessel from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal Located
in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, to Non-Free Trade
Agreement Nations (Mar. 11, 2016), reh’g denied
DOE/FE Order No. 3792–A (Oct. 20, 2016).
4 Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, Application to
Amend Export Term for Existing Long-Term
Authorizations Through December 31, 2050, FE
Docket Nos. 10–85–LNG, et al. (Sept. 3, 2020). SPL’s
requests regarding its FTA authorizations are not
subject to this Notice. See 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
5 U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Extending Natural Gas
Export Authorizations to Non-Free Trade
Agreement Countries Through the Year 2050;
Notice of Final Policy Statement and Response to
Comments, 85 FR 52237 (Aug. 25, 2020)
[hereinafter Policy Statement].
6 See id., 85 FR 52247.
7 See id., 85 FR 52247.
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22:13 Sep 30, 2020
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meaning an intervenor or protestor may
challenge the requested extension but
not the existing non-FTA order.’’ 8
Accordingly, in reviewing SPL’s
Application, DOE/FE will consider any
issues required by law or policy under
NGA section 3(a), as informed by the
Policy Statement. To the extent
appropriate, DOE will consider the
study entitled, Macroeconomic
Outcomes of Market Determined Levels
of U.S. LNG Exports (2018 LNG Export
Study),9 DOE’s response to public
comments received on that Study,10 and
the following environmental
documents:
• Addendum to Environmental Review
Documents Concerning Exports of Natural
Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132
(Aug. 15, 2014); 11
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective
on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas From the
United States, 79 FR 32260 (June 4, 2014); 12
and
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective
on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas From the
United States: 2019 Update, 84 FR 49278
(Sept. 19, 2019), and DOE/FE’s response to
public comments received on that study.13
Parties that may oppose the
Application should address these issues
and documents 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
8 Id.,
85 FR 52247.
NERA Economic Consulting,
Macroeconomic Outcomes of Market Determined
Levels of U.S. LNG Exports (June 7, 2018), available
at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/
06/f52/Macroeconomic%20LNG%20Export
%20Study%202018.pdf.
10 U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Study on Macroeconomic
Outcomes of LNG Exports: Response to Comments
Received on Study; Notice of Response to
Comments, 83 FR 67251 (Dec. 28, 2018).
11 The Addendum and related documents are
available at: https://energy.gov/fe/draft-addendumenvironmental-review-documents-concerningexports-natural-gas-united-states.
12 The 2014 Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report is
available at: https://energy.gov/fe/life-cyclegreenhouse-gas-perspective-exporting-liquefiednatural-gas-united-states.
13 U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Life Cycle Greenhouse
Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas
From the United States: 2019 Update—Response to
Comments, 85 FR 72 (Jan. 2, 2020). The 2019
Update and related documents are available at:
https://fossil.energy.gov/app/docketindex/docket/
index/21.
9 See
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
61943
intervention, as applicable, addressing
the Application. Interested parties will
be provided 15 days from the date of
publication of this Notice in which to
submit comments, protests, motions to
intervene, or notices of intervention.
The public previously was given an
opportunity to intervene in, protest, and
comment on SPL’s long-term non-FTA
applications. Therefore, DOE will not
consider comments or protests that do
not bear directly on the requested term
extension.
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 fergas@hq.doe.gov, with FE
Docket Nos. 10–111–LNG, 13–30–LNG,
13–42–LNG, 13–121–LNG, and 15–63–
LNG in the title line; (2) mailing an
original and three paper copies of the
filing to the Office of Regulation,
Analysis, and 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, Analysis, and Engagement
at the address listed in ADDRESSES. All
filings must include a reference to FE
Docket Nos. 10–111–LNG, 13–30–LNG,
13–42–LNG, 13–121–LNG, and 15–63–
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. If no party requests
additional procedures, a final Opinion
and Order may be issued based on the
E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM
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61944
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 191 / Thursday, October 1, 2020 / Notices
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, Analysis, and 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: https://
www.fe.doe.gov/programs/
gasregulation/.
Signed in Washington, DC, on September
25, 2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and
Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020–21681 Filed 9–30–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[FE Docket No. 15–96–LNG]
Port Arthur LNG, LLC; Application To
Amend Export Term Through
December 31, 2050, for Existing NonFree Trade Agreement Authorization
Office of Fossil Energy,
Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of application.
AGENCY:
The Office of Fossil Energy
(FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE)
gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an
application (Application), filed on
September 18, 2020, by Port Arthur
LNG, LLC (Port Arthur LNG). Port
Arthur LNG seeks to amend the export
term set forth in its current
authorization to export liquefied natural
gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement
countries, DOE/FE Order No. 4372, to a
term ending on December 31, 2050. Port
Arthur LNG filed the Application under
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and DOE’s
policy statement entitled, ‘‘Extending
Natural Gas Export Authorizations to
Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries
Through the Year 2050’’ (Policy
Statement). Protests, motions to
intervene, notices of intervention, and
written comments on the requested term
extension 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
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
22:13 Sep 30, 2020
Jkt 253001
Comment Procedures section no later
than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, October
16, 2020.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by Email: fergas@
hq.doe.gov.
Regular Mail: U.S. Department of
Energy (FE–34), Office of Regulation,
Analysis, and 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, Analysis, and Engagement,
Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal
Building, Room 3E–042, 1000
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Benjamin Nussdorf or Amy Sweeney,
U.S. Department of Energy (FE–34),
Office of Regulation, Analysis, and
Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy,
Forrestal Building, Room 3E–042,
1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586–
7893; (202) 586–2627,
benjamin.nussdorf@hq.doe.gov or
amy.sweeney@hq.doe.gov
Cassandra Bernstein or Edward
Toyozaki, U.S. Department of Energy
(GC–76), Office of the Assistant
General Counsel for Electricity and
Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building,
Room 6D–033, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585,
(202) 586–9793; (202) 586–0126,
cassandra.bernstein@hq.doe.gov or
edward.toyozaki@hq.doe.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 2,
2019, in Order No. 4372, DOE/FE
authorized Port Arthur LNG to export
domestically produced LNG in a volume
equivalent to 698 billion cubic feet per
year of natural gas, pursuant to NGA
section 3(a), 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).1 Port
Arthur LNG is authorized to export this
LNG by vessel from the proposed Port
Arthur LNG Project to be located in Port
Arthur, Texas, to any country with
which the United States has not entered
into 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 (nonFTA countries) for a 20-year term. In the
Application,2 Port Arthur LNG asks
1 Port Arthur LNG, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4372,
FE Docket No. 15–96–LNG, Opinion and Order
Granting Long-Term Authorization to Export
Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement
Nations (May 2, 2019).
2 Port Arthur LNG, LLC, Application to Amend
Export Term for Existing Long-Term Authorizations
Through December 31, 2050, FE Docket Nos. 15–
53–LNG, et al. (Sept. 18, 2020). Port Arthur LNG’s
request regarding its FTA authorization is not
subject to this Notice. See 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
DOE to extend its current export term to
a term ending on December 31, 2050, as
provided in the Policy Statement.3
Additional details can be found in the
Application, posted on the DOE/FE
website at: https://www.energy.gov/
sites/prod/files/2020/09/f78/Port
%20Arthur%20LNG%20LLC%20Application%20for%20Term
%20Extensions.pdf.
DOE/FE Evaluation
In the Policy Statement, DOE adopted
a term through December 31, 2050
(inclusive of any make-up period), as
the standard export term for long-term
non-FTA authorizations.4 As the basis
for its decision, DOE considered its
obligations under NGA section 3(a), the
public comments supporting and
opposing the proposed Policy
Statement, and a wide range of
information bearing on the public
interest.5 DOE explained that, upon
receipt of an application under the
Policy Statement, it would conduct a
public interest analysis of the
application under NGA section 3(a).
DOE further stated that ‘‘the public
interest analysis will be limited to the
application for the term extension—
meaning an intervenor or protestor may
challenge the requested extension but
not the existing non-FTA order.’’ 6
Accordingly, in reviewing Port Arthur
LNG’s Application, DOE/FE will
consider any issues required by law or
policy under NGA section 3(a), as
informed by the Policy Statement. To
the extent appropriate, DOE will
consider the study entitled,
Macroeconomic Outcomes of Market
Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports
(2018 LNG Export Study),7 DOE’s
response to public comments received
on that Study,8 and the following
environmental documents:
• Addendum to Environmental
Review Documents Concerning Exports
3 U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Extending Natural Gas
Export Authorizations to Non-Free Trade
Agreement Countries Through the Year 2050;
Notice of Final Policy Statement and Response to
Comments, 85 FR 52237 (Aug. 25, 2020)
[hereinafter Policy Statement].
4 See id., 85 FR 52247.
5 See id., 85 FR 52247.
6 Id., 85 FR 52247.
7 See NERA Economic Consulting,
Macroeconomic Outcomes of Market Determined
Levels of U.S. LNG Exports (June 7, 2018), available
at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/
06/f52/Macroeconomic%20LNG%20Export
%20Study%202018.pdf.
8 U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Study on Macroeconomic
Outcomes of LNG Exports: Response to Comments
Received on Study; Notice of Response to
Comments, 83 FR 67251 (Dec. 28, 2018).
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 191 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61942-61944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21681]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[FE Docket Nos. 10-111-LNG, 13-30-LNG, 13-42-LNG, 13-121-LNG, 15-63-
LNG]
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC; Application To Amend Export Term
Through December 31, 2050, for Existing Non-Free Trade Agreement
Authorizations
AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy
(DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application (Application),
filed on September 3, 2020, by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (SPL). SPL
seeks to amend the export term set forth in its current authorizations
to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement
countries, DOE/FE Order Nos. 2961-A, 3669, and 3792, to a term ending
on December 31, 2050. SPL filed the Application under the Natural Gas
Act (NGA) and DOE's policy statement entitled, ``Extending Natural Gas
Export Authorizations to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries Through the
Year 2050'' (Policy Statement). Protests, motions to intervene, notices
of intervention, and written comments on the requested term extension
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, October 16,
2020.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by email: [email protected].
Regular Mail: U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Regulation,
Analysis, and 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, Analysis, and
Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042,
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Benjamin Nussdorf or Amy Sweeney, U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34),
Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Fossil
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7893; (202) 586-2627,
benjamin.nus[email protected] or [email protected].
Cassandra Bernstein or Edward Toyozaki, U.S. Department of Energy (GC-
76), Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Electricity and Fossil
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 6D-033, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9793; (202) 586-0126,
[email protected] or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SPL is currently authorized by DOE/FE to
export domestically produced LNG in a total volume equivalent to
1,509.3 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas, pursuant
to NGA section 3(a), 15 U.S.C. 717b(a), under the following orders and
their subsequent amendments:
(i) 803 Bcf/yr under Order No. 2961-A (FE Docket No. 10-111-LNG);
\1\
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\1\ Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 2961-A, FE
Docket No. 10-111-LNG, Final Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term
Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas from the Sabine Pass
LNG Terminal to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Aug. 7, 2012),
reh'g denied DOE/FE Order No. 2961-B (Jan. 25, 2013), amended by
DOE/FE Order No. 2961-C (May 4, 2016) (authorizing make-up period).
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(ii) 503.3 Bcf/yr under Order No. 3669 (FE Docket Nos. 13-30-LNG,
13-42-LNG, 13-121-LNG); \2\ and
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\2\ Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3669, FE
Docket Nos. 13-30-LNG, 13-42-LNG, and 13-121-LNG, Final Opinion and
Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-Contract Authorization to Export
Liquefied Natural Gas by Vessel from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal
Located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, to Non-Free Trade Agreement
Nations (June 26, 2015), reh'g denied DOE/FE Order No. 3669-A (May
26, 2016), amended by DOE/FE Order No. 3669-B (Oct. 31, 2017)
(clarifying terms of export authorization).
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[[Page 61943]]
(iii) 203 Bcf/yr under Order No. 3792 (FE Docket No. 15-63-LNG).\3\
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\3\ Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3792, FE
Docket No. 15-63-LNG, Final Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term,
Multi-Contract Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by
Vessel from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal Located in Cameron Parish,
Louisiana, to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Mar. 11, 2016),
reh'g denied DOE/FE Order No. 3792-A (Oct. 20, 2016).
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Under each order, SPL is authorized to export this LNG by vessel
from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana,
to any country with which the United States has not entered into 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) for a 20-year term. In the Application,\4\ SPL asks DOE
to extend its export term in each of these three orders to a term
ending on December 31, 2050, as provided in the Policy Statement.\5\
Additional details can be found in the Application, posted on the DOE/
FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/09/f78/Sabine%20DOE%20Filing%20Package%209-3-2020.pdf.
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\4\ Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, Application to Amend Export
Term for Existing Long-Term Authorizations Through December 31,
2050, FE Docket Nos. 10-85-LNG, et al. (Sept. 3, 2020). SPL's
requests regarding its FTA authorizations are not subject to this
Notice. See 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
\5\ U.S. Dep't of Energy, Extending Natural Gas Export
Authorizations to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries Through the
Year 2050; Notice of Final Policy Statement and Response to
Comments, 85 FR 52237 (Aug. 25, 2020) [hereinafter Policy
Statement].
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DOE/FE Evaluation
In the Policy Statement, DOE adopted a term through December 31,
2050 (inclusive of any make-up period), as the standard export term for
long-term non-FTA authorizations.\6\ As the basis for its decision, DOE
considered its obligations under NGA section 3(a), the public comments
supporting and opposing the proposed Policy Statement, and a wide range
of information bearing on the public interest.\7\ DOE explained that,
upon receipt of an application under the Policy Statement, it would
conduct a public interest analysis of the application under NGA section
3(a). DOE further stated that ``the public interest analysis will be
limited to the application for the term extension--meaning an
intervenor or protestor may challenge the requested extension but not
the existing non-FTA order.'' \8\
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\6\ See id., 85 FR 52247.
\7\ See id., 85 FR 52247.
\8\ Id., 85 FR 52247.
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Accordingly, in reviewing SPL's Application, DOE/FE will consider
any issues required by law or policy under NGA section 3(a), as
informed by the Policy Statement. To the extent appropriate, DOE will
consider the study entitled, Macroeconomic Outcomes of Market
Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports (2018 LNG Export Study),\9\ DOE's
response to public comments received on that Study,\10\ and the
following environmental documents:
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\9\ See NERA Economic Consulting, Macroeconomic Outcomes of
Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports (June 7, 2018),
available at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/06/f52/Macroeconomic%20LNG%20Export%20Study%202018.pdf.
\10\ U.S. Dep't of Energy, Study on Macroeconomic Outcomes of
LNG Exports: Response to Comments Received on Study; Notice of
Response to Comments, 83 FR 67251 (Dec. 28, 2018).
Addendum to Environmental Review Documents Concerning
Exports of Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15,
2014); \11\
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\11\ The Addendum and related documents are available at: https://energy.gov/fe/draft-addendum-environmental-review-documents-concerning-exports-natural-gas-united-states.
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Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting
Liquefied Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 32260 (June 4,
2014); \12\ and
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\12\ The 2014 Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report is available at:
https://energy.gov/fe/life-cycle-greenhouse-gas-perspective-exporting-liquefied-natural-gas-united-states.
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Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting
Liquefied Natural Gas From the United States: 2019 Update, 84 FR
49278 (Sept. 19, 2019), and DOE/FE's response to public comments
received on that study.\13\
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\13\ U.S. Dep't of Energy, Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective
on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas From the United States: 2019
Update--Response to Comments, 85 FR 72 (Jan. 2, 2020). The 2019
Update and related documents are available at: https://fossil.energy.gov/app/docketindex/docket/index/21.
Parties that may oppose the Application should address these issues
and documents 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, addressing the Application. Interested parties will be
provided 15 days from the date of publication of this Notice in which
to submit comments, protests, motions to intervene, or notices of
intervention. The public previously was given an opportunity to
intervene in, protest, and comment on SPL's long-term non-FTA
applications. Therefore, DOE will not consider comments or protests
that do not bear directly on the requested term extension.
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 Nos. 10-111-
LNG, 13-30-LNG, 13-42-LNG, 13-121-LNG, and 15-63-LNG in the title line;
(2) mailing an original and three paper copies of the filing to the
Office of Regulation, Analysis, and 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, Analysis, and Engagement at the
address listed in ADDRESSES. All filings must include a reference to FE
Docket Nos. 10-111-LNG, 13-30-LNG, 13-42-LNG, 13-121-LNG, and 15-63-
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. If no party requests additional
procedures, a final Opinion and Order may be issued based on the
[[Page 61944]]
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, Analysis, and 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: https://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/gasregulation/.
Signed in Washington, DC, on September 25, 2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of
Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-21681 Filed 9-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P