Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC; Application To Amend Export Term Through December 31, 2050, for Existing Non-Free Trade Agreement Authorization, 65392-65394 [2020-22873]
Download as PDF
65392
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 200 / Thursday, October 15, 2020 / Notices
LNG).3 If no interested person protests
the change in control and DOE takes no
action on its own motion, the proposed
change in control will be deemed
granted 30 days after publication in the
Federal Register. If one or more protests
are submitted, DOE will review any
motions to intervene, protests, and
answers, and will issue a determination
as to whether the proposed change in
control has been demonstrated to render
the underlying authorization
inconsistent with the public interest.
Public Comment Procedures
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Interested persons will be provided 15
days from the date of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register in order
to move to intervene, protest, and
answer SPL’s Notice.4 Protests, motions
to intervene, notices of intervention,
and written comments are invited in
response to this notice only as to the
change in control described in SPL’s
Notice. All protests, comments, motions
to intervene, or notices of intervention
must meet the requirements specified by
DOE’s regulations in 10 CFR part 590.
Filings may be submitted using one of
the following methods: (1) Preferred
method: Emailing the filing to fergas@
hq.doe.gov; (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 the
individual FE Docket Number(s) in the
title line, or Sabine Pass Liquefaction,
LLC Change in Control in the title line.
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
3 SPL’s Notice also applies to its existing
authorizations to export LNG to FTA countries and
to import natural gas from various international
sources, but DOE/FE will respond to those portions
of the document separately pursuant to the CIC
Procedures, 79 FR 65542. Further, SPL’s application
to export LNG to non-FTA countries in FE Docket
No. 19–125 remains pending.
4 Intervention, if granted, would constitute
intervention only in the change in control portion
of this proceeding, as described herein.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:41 Oct 14, 2020
Jkt 253001
digital copy on disk of the entire
submission.
SPL’s Notice, and any filed protests,
motions to intervene, notices of
intervention, and comments, are
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.
SPL’s Notice, and any filed protests,
motions to intervene, notices of
intervention, and comments, will also
be available electronically by going to
the following DOE/FE web address:
https://fossil.energy.gov/ng_regulation/.
Signed in Washington, DC, on October 8,
2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and
Engagement, Office of Oil and Natural Gas.
[FR Doc. 2020–22771 Filed 10–14–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[FE Docket No. 12–156–LNG]
Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC;
Application To Amend Export Term
Through December 31, 2050, for
Existing Non-Free 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
October 2, 2020, by Golden Pass LNG
Terminal LLC (Golden Pass LNG).
Golden Pass 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. 3978, as
amended, to a term ending on December
31, 2050. Golden Pass 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.
SUMMARY:
Protests, motions to intervene or
notices of intervention, as applicable,
requests for additional procedures, and
written comments are to be filed using
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
procedures detailed in the Public
Comment Procedures section no later
than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, October
30, 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:
Beverly Howard 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) 586–9387; (202) 586–
2627, beverly.howard@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.
On April
25, 2017, in Order No. 3978, DOE/FE
authorized Golden Pass LNG (then
Golden Pass Products, LLC) to export
domestically produced LNG in a volume
equivalent to 808 billion cubic feet per
year of natural gas, pursuant to NGA
section 3(a), 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).1 Golden
Pass LNG is authorized to export this
LNG by vessel from the Golden Pass
LNG Terminal—which is currently
under construction in Sabine Pass,
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
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1 Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, DOE/FE Order
No. 3978, FE Docket No. 12–156–LNG, Opinion and
Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-Contract
Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by
Vessel from the Golden Pass LNG Terminal Located
in Jefferson County, Texas, to Non-Free Trade
Agreement Nations (Apr. 25, 2017), reh’g denied,
DOE/FE Order No. 3978–A (Mar. 30, 2018),
amended by DOE/FE Order No. 3978–B (Mar. 4,
2020) (transferring authorization from Golden Pass
Products LLC to Golden Pass LNG), DOE/FE Order
No. 3978–C (Mar. 24, 2020) (extending export
commencement deadline).
E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM
15OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 200 / Thursday, October 15, 2020 / Notices
prohibited by U.S. law or policy (nonFTA countries) for a 20-year term. In the
Application,2 Golden Pass LNG asks
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/2020/10/f79/FE12-156LNG%20GPLNG%20
Term%20Extension%20
Application%20FINAL10-2-20.pdf.
DOE/FE Evaluation
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
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 Golden
Pass 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
2 Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Application to
Amend Export Term for Existing Long-Term
Authorization Through December 31, 2050, FE
Docket Nos. 12–156–LNG and 12–88–LNG (Oct. 2,
2020). Golden Pass LNG’s request regarding its FTA
authorization is not subject to this Notice. See 15
U.S.C. 717b(c).
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%20
Study%202018.pdf.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:41 Oct 14, 2020
Jkt 253001
on that Study,8 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); 9
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas
Perspective on Exporting Liquefied
Natural Gas From the United States, 79
FR 32260 (June 4, 2014); 10 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.11
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 Golden Pass LNG’s longterm non-FTA application. 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
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).
9 The Addendum and related documents are
available at: https://energy.gov/fe/draft-addendumenvironmental-review-documents-concerningexports-natural-gas-united-states.
10 The 2014 Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report is
available at: https://energy.gov/fe/life-cyclegreenhouse-gas-perspective-exporting-liquefiednatural-gas-united-states.
11 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
65393
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 No. 12–156–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
No. 12–156–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
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/.
E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM
15OCN1
65394
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 200 / Thursday, October 15, 2020 / Notices
Signed in Washington, DC, on October 9,
2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and
Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020–22873 Filed 10–14–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board, Idaho
Cleanup Project
Office of Environmental
Management, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of cancellation of open
in-person/virtual hybrid meeting.
AGENCY:
On October 1, 2020, the
Department of Energy published a
notice of open meeting announcing an
in-person/virtual hybrid meeting on
October 22, 2020, of the Environmental
Management Site-Specific Advisory
Board, Idaho Cleanup Project. This
notice announces the cancellation of
this in-person/virtual hybrid meeting.
DATES: The in-person/virtual hybrid
meeting scheduled for October 22, 2020,
announced in the October 1, 2020, issue
of the Federal Register (FR Doc. 2020–
21743, 85 FR 61941), is cancelled.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Danielle Miller, Federal Coordinator,
U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho
Operations Office, 1955 Fremont
Avenue, MS–1203, Idaho Falls, Idaho
83415. Phone (208) 526–5709; or email:
millerdc@id.doe.gov or visit the Board’s
internet home page at: https://
www.energy.gov/em/icpcab/.
SUMMARY:
Signed in Washington, DC, on October 9,
2020.
LaTanya Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–22796 Filed 10–14–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6405–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP20–527–000]
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC;
Notice of Application and Establishing
Intervention Deadline
Take notice that on September 24,
2020, Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC
(Columbia Gulf), 700 Louisiana Street,
Suite 700, Houston, TX 77002–2700,
filed an application under section 7(c)
of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), and Part
157 of the Commission’s regulations
requesting authorization of its East
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:41 Oct 14, 2020
Jkt 253001
Lateral XPress Project (Project). The
Project consists of the construction: (i)
Two new compressor stations, (ii) a new
point of delivery meter station, (iii)
approximately 8 miles of new 30-inchdiameter natural gas pipeline lateral,
(iv) two new mainline valves, a tie-in
facility, launcher and receiver facilities,
and other auxiliary appurtenant
facilities all located in St. Mary,
Lafourche, Jefferson, and Plaquemines
Parishes, Louisiana. The Project will
create 183,000 dekatherms per day
(Dth/d) of incremental capacity. The
incremental capacity created by the
Project, in conjunction with the
utilization of existing capacity, will
allow for open access firm
transportation service on approximately
725,000 Dth/d on Columbia Gulf’s East
Lateral. Columbia Gulf estimates the
total cost of the Project to be
$363,898,548 and proposes a new
incremental recourse rate to apply to the
Project capacity, all as more fully set
forth in the application which is on file
with the Commission and open for
public inspection.
In addition to publishing the full text
of this document in the Federal
Register, the Commission provides all
interested persons an opportunity to
view and/or print the contents of this
document via the internet through the
Commission’s Home Page (https://
ferc.gov) using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link.
Enter the docket number excluding the
last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. At this
time, the Commission has suspended
access to the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, due to the
proclamation declaring a National
Emergency concerning the Novel
Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19), issued
by the President on March 13, 2020. For
assistance, contact the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TYY, (202)
502–8659.
Any questions regarding the proposed
project should be directed to Alexander
Kass, Legal Counsel, Columbia Gulf
Transmission, LLC, 700 Louisiana
Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas, by
phone at (832) 320–5226, or by email at
alexander_kass@tcenergy.com.
Pursuant to Section 157.9 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure,1 within 90 days of this
Notice the Commission staff will either:
Complete its environmental review and
place it into the Commission’s public
record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or
issue a Notice of Schedule for
Environmental Review. If a Notice of
1 18
PO 00000
CFR 157.9.
Frm 00056
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Schedule for Environmental Review is
issued, it will indicate, among other
milestones, the anticipated date for the
Commission staff’s issuance of the final
environmental impact statement (FEIS)
or environmental assessment (EA) for
this proposal. The filing of an EA in the
Commission’s public record for this
proceeding or the issuance of a Notice
of Schedule for Environmental Review
will serve to notify federal and state
agencies of the timing for the
completion of all necessary reviews, and
the subsequent need to complete all
federal authorizations within 90 days of
the date of issuance of the Commission
staff’s FEIS or EA.
Public Participation
There are two ways to become
involved in the Commission’s review of
this project: You can file comments on
the project, and you can file a motion
to intervene in the proceeding. There is
no fee or cost for filing comments or
intervening. The deadline for filing a
motion to intervene is 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on October 29, 2020.
Comments
Any person wishing to comment on
the project may do so. Comments may
include statements of support or
objections to the project as a whole or
specific aspects of the project. The more
specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly
recorded, please submit your comments
on or before October 29, 2020.
There are three methods you can use
to submit your comments to the
Commission. In all instances, please
reference the Project docket number
CP20–527–000 in your submission.
(1) You may file your comments
electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s website at www.ferc.gov
under the link to Documents and
Filings. Using eComment is an easy
method for interested persons to submit
brief, text-only comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
under the link to Documents and
Filings. With eFiling, you can provide
comments in a variety of formats by
attaching them as a file with your
submission. New eFiling users must
first create an account by clicking on
eRegister. You will be asked to select
the type of filing you are making; first
select General and then select Comment
on a Filing; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your
comments by mailing them to the
E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM
15OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 200 (Thursday, October 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65392-65394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22873]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[FE Docket No. 12-156-LNG]
Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC; Application To Amend Export Term
Through December 31, 2050, for Existing Non-Free Trade Agreement
Authorization
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 October 2, 2020, by Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC (Golden Pass
LNG). Golden Pass 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. 3978, as amended, to a term
ending on December 31, 2050. Golden Pass 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 Comment
Procedures section no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, October 30,
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:
Beverly Howard 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) 586-9387; (202) 586-2627,
[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: On April 25, 2017, in Order No. 3978, DOE/FE
authorized Golden Pass LNG (then Golden Pass Products, LLC) to export
domestically produced LNG in a volume equivalent to 808 billion cubic
feet per year of natural gas, pursuant to NGA section 3(a), 15 U.S.C.
717b(a).\1\ Golden Pass LNG is authorized to export this LNG by vessel
from the Golden Pass LNG Terminal--which is currently under
construction in Sabine Pass, 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
[[Page 65393]]
prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries) for a 20-year
term. In the Application,\2\ Golden Pass LNG asks 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/2020/10/f79/FE12-156-LNG%20GPLNG%20Term%20Extension%20Application%20FINAL10-2-20.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3978, FE
Docket No. 12-156-LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-
Contract Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by Vessel
from the Golden Pass LNG Terminal Located in Jefferson County,
Texas, to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Apr. 25, 2017), reh'g
denied, DOE/FE Order No. 3978-A (Mar. 30, 2018), amended by DOE/FE
Order No. 3978-B (Mar. 4, 2020) (transferring authorization from
Golden Pass Products LLC to Golden Pass LNG), DOE/FE Order No. 3978-
C (Mar. 24, 2020) (extending export commencement deadline).
\2\ Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Application to Amend Export
Term for Existing Long-Term Authorization Through December 31, 2050,
FE Docket Nos. 12-156-LNG and 12-88-LNG (Oct. 2, 2020). Golden Pass
LNG's request regarding its FTA authorization is not subject to this
Notice. See 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
\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].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See id., 85 FR 52247.
\5\ See id., 85 FR 52247.
\6\ Id., 85 FR 52247.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accordingly, in reviewing Golden Pass 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:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Addendum to Environmental Review Documents Concerning
Exports of Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15,
2014); \9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ The Addendum and related documents are available at: https://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); \10\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ 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 Golden Pass LNG's long-term non-
FTA application. 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 No. 12-156-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 No. 12-156-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
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/.
[[Page 65394]]
Signed in Washington, DC, on October 9, 2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of
Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-22873 Filed 10-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P