2024 LNG Export Study: Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports, 104132-104137 [2024-30370]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 104132-104137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30370]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


2024 LNG Export Study: Energy, Economic, and Environmental 
Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports

Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC [Docket No. 13-69-LNG, 14-88-
LNG, & 15-25-LNG]; Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC [Docket No. 16-
28-LNG]; Commonwealth LNG, LLC [Docket No. 19-134-LNG]; Port Arthur LNG 
Phase II, LLC [Docket No. 20-23-LNG]; Venture Global CP2 LNG, LLC 
[Docket No. 21-131-LNG]; New Fortress Energy Louisiana FLNG LLC [Docket 
No. 22-39-LNG]; Mexico Pacific Limited LLC [Docket No. 22-167-LNG]; 
Gulfstream LNG Development, LLC [Docket No. 23-34-LNG]; Corpus Christi 
Liquefaction, LLC; CCL Midscale 8-9, LLC; and Cheniere Marketing, LLC 
[Docket No. 23-46-LNG]; Lake Charles Exports, LLC [Docket No. 23-87-
LNG]; Southern LNG Company, L.L.C. [Docket No. 23-109-LNG]; Magnolia 
LNG, LLC [Docket No. 23-137-LNG]; Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC and 
Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage V, LLC [Docket No. 24-27-LNG]; Gato 
Negro Permitium Dos, S.A.P.I. de C.V. [Docket No. 24-87-LNG].

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy & Carbon Management, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the 2024 LNG Export Study and request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy & Carbon Management (FECM) of the 
Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of availability of a multi-
volume study updating DOE's understanding of the potential effects of 
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports on the domestic economy; U.S. 
households and consumers; communities that live near locations where 
natural gas is produced or exported; domestic and international energy 
security, including effects on U.S. trading partners; and the 
environment and climate (Study or 2024 LNG Export Study). The Study is 
composed of a summary report and four appendices containing three 
coordinated modeled analyses and a qualitative literature review. The 
Study materials are available on the DOE/FECM website at https://www.energy.gov/fecm/regulation. DOE intends to use the Study to inform 
its public interest review of, and ultimately decisions in, certain 
applications to export LNG to countries 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 applications), including decisions in the above-
referenced proceedings and future proceedings, and for other purposes. 
DOE invites the submission of comments regarding the Study. DOE does 
not intend to revise the Study upon receipt of comments. Rather, 
comments received will inform DOE's public interest determination in 
each of the above-listed non-FTA application proceedings and future 
non-FTA export proceedings. Comments submitted in compliance with the 
instructions in this Notice will be placed in the administrative record 
for all of the above-listed proceedings and need only be submitted 
once.

DATES: Comments are to be filed pursuant to the procedures detailed in 
the Public Comment Procedures section no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern 
time, February 18, 2025. DOE will not accept reply comments (i.e., 
comments responding to other commenter's comments).

ADDRESSES: 
    Electronic Filing of Comments Using Online Form (Strongly 
encouraged): https://fossil.energy.gov/app/docketindex/docket/index/30.
    Postal Mail, Hand Delivery, or Private Delivery Services (e.g., 
FedEx, UPS, etc.): U.S. Department of Energy (FE-

[[Page 104133]]

34), Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Fossil 
Energy and Carbon Management, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-056, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.
    Due to potential delays in DOE's receipt and processing of mail 
sent through the U.S. Postal Service, we encourage respondents to 
submit comments electronically to ensure timely receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ms. Beverly Howard, Docket Room 
Manager, U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Regulation, 
Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Resource Sustainability, Office of 
Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 
1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9478, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    DOE is responsible for authorizing exports of domestically produced 
natural gas, including LNG, to foreign countries under section 3 of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA), 15 U.S.C. 717b.\1\ Under the NGA, an application 
to export domestically produced natural gas as LNG to countries that 
have an FTA with the United States is deemed to be consistent with the 
public interest by statute and must be granted without modification or 
delay. As for an application to export domestically produced natural 
gas, including LNG, to countries that have no FTA with the United 
States, but with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy 
(non-FTA countries), DOE must grant the application, unless it finds 
that the proposed exportation will not be consistent with the public 
interest.
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    \1\ The authority to regulate the imports and exports of natural 
gas, including LNG, under section 3 of the NGA has been delegated to 
the Assistant Secretary for FECM in Redelegation Order No. S4-DEL-
FE1-2023, issued on April 10, 2023.
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    Since 2012, to inform its public interest determination, DOE has 
commissioned multiple studies to help assess the various facets of the 
public interest that are affected by U.S. LNG exports, including how 
different levels of LNG exports could impact the U.S. economy, 
environmental and climate considerations, and energy security and 
international considerations. DOE's most recent economic and 
environmental analyses of U.S. LNG exports were published in 2018 and 
2019, respectively. At that time, U.S. LNG exports were just getting 
underway and U.S. export capacity was 4 billion cubic feet per day, 
less than one-third of what it is today. Since then, both the world as 
well as the global natural gas sector have changed significantly. The 
purpose of the 2024 LNG Export Study is to provide an update to DOE's 
prior analyses and understanding of how varying levels of U.S. LNG 
exports impact and inform DOE's statutory public interest 
determination.

2024 LNG Export Study

    The Study comprises a summary report and four appendices.
    First, Appendix A: Global Energy and Greenhouse Gas Implications of 
U.S. LNG Exports presents an analysis of the global market demand for 
U.S. LNG exports across a range of scenarios and the global emissions 
impacts of increased U.S. LNG exports through 2050. The three defining 
variables in the scenario design are (1) global climate policies and 
policy ambition, (2) technology availability, and (3) U.S. LNG export 
levels. This analysis uses the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM), 
which is an integrated multisector model of global energy, economy, 
agriculture, land use, water, and climate systems. DOE's Pacific 
Northwest National Laboratory conducted the principal modeling work in 
Appendix A.
    Second, Appendix B: Domestic Energy, Economic, and Greenhouse Gas 
Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports presents an analysis of the implications 
of the various U.S. LNG export levels on the U.S. economy and 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis in Appendix B was 
conducted using an updated and adapted version of the U.S. Energy 
Information Administration's National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) and 
Industrial Economics' Household Energy Impact Distribution Model. 
OnLocation, Inc. and Industrial Economics, Incorporated performed the 
principal modeling work in Appendix B.
    Third, Appendix C: Consequential Greenhouse Gas Analysis of U.S. 
LNG Exports is an analysis of global GHG emissions in response to 
increased U.S. LNG Exports. DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory 
(NETL) performed the principal modeling work in Appendix C.
    Finally, Appendix D: Addendum on Environmental and Community 
Effects of U.S. LNG Exports is a literature review of the effects of 
upstream, midstream, and downstream natural gas production and exports 
on the environment and on local communities. This appendix summarizes 
key findings from peer-reviewed scientific literature, as well as 
publications from industry and non-governmental organizations. Staff in 
DOE headquarters, with support from NETL, prepared the summary 
information in Appendix D.
    Appendices A, B, and C present scenarios that evaluate the impact 
of different levels of U.S. LNG exports on global and domestic energy 
systems. This Study does not attach probabilities to any of these 
scenarios and is not intended to serve as a forecast of U.S. LNG 
exports and associated impacts. Rather, the 2024 LNG Export Study 
explores a range of conditions that rely on the described assumptions. 
The primary reference for comparison in this Study is the level of U.S. 
LNG exports as it moves from levels associated with facilities that are 
operating or under construction pursuant to a final investment decision 
(FID) as of December 2023 (referred to as Existing/FID Exports levels) 
to levels determined by the global energy model (GCAM) in response to 
policy and technology assumptions (referred to as Model Resolved 
levels).
    Key U.S. natural gas supply and economic impact findings include:
     The price of natural gas at the Henry Hub in Louisiana, a 
main trading hub for natural gas in the U.S., increases in scenarios 
where the export level is Model Resolved (i.e., based on modeled global 
demand and unconstrained U.S. LNG exports) when compared with Existing/
FID Exports.

--Across the Defined Policies with reference U.S. supply assumptions, 
the 2050 Henry Hub natural gas price increases 31% in 2022 dollars 
(from $3.53/MMBtu to $4.62/MMBtu), as U.S. LNG exports increase in 
response to the modeled global demand level. The modeled price increase 
is equivalent to about $0.03/MMBtu for every billion cubic feet/day 
(Bcf/d) of increased LNG export above existing and FID levels.\2\
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    \2\ For comparison, Henry Hub prices in 2022 and 2023 were 
$6.45/MMBtu and $2.53/MMBtu, respectively.
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--This study does not include forward-looking modeling on the impacts 
of increasing LNG exports on natural gas price volatility. Given the 
unique role of the U.S. as the largest global producer, consumer, and, 
more recently, exporter of natural gas, there is uncertainty in how 
rising export levels will affect the domestic market. While there has 
not been a consistent relationship between domestic prices and export 
levels to date, that could change as a larger percentage of U.S. 
natural gas is exported. Current authorized export levels (over 48 Bcf/
d) are equivalent to approximately

[[Page 104134]]

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45% of current U.S. natural gas production.

     The impacts of increasing U.S. LNG exports on domestic 
natural gas prices vary by region. Within the model, LNG export 
facilities are assumed to be centered in the Gulf Coast region. While 
gas is sourced from regions around the country, the Gulf Coast and 
Southwest regions experience the greatest price impacts from increased 
LNG exports in model projections.
     Higher U.S. LNG export levels in 2050 are associated with 
higher U.S. residential natural gas prices.

--In the Defined Policies scenarios, U.S. residential natural gas 
prices are 4% higher in 2050 in 2022 dollars when the scenario assumes 
Model Resolved levels of exports compared to Existing/FID Exports 
levels.
--When sensitivity scenarios assume low U.S. natural gas supply, the 
higher level of U.S. LNG exports under Model Resolved assumptions 
compared to Existing/FID Exports assumptions results in 7% higher 
residential gas prices in 2050. When the sensitivity scenarios assume 
high U.S. natural gas supply, the higher level of U.S. LNG exports 
results in 3% higher prices in 2050.

     Under the Defined Policies scenario with the reference 
U.S. supply assumption, the estimated annual energy expenditure impacts 
of the increased 2050 natural gas prices across all socioeconomic 
levels and census divisions are:

--Up to a $122.54 per year average increase for natural gas plus 
electricity expenditures across all households, with average household 
expenditure impacts up to 0.50% of average annual income and 3.4% of 
natural gas and electricity bills,\3\ including:
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    \3\ Due to regional differences, the per year average increase 
for natural gas plus electricity is less than the sum of the per 
year average increase for natural gas and electricity expenditures.

    [ssquf] Up to a $46.52 per year average increase for natural gas 
expenditures at natural gas households (households identified in the 
National Energy Modeling System, or NEMS model, as using natural gas 
for space heating), with an average natural gas household expenditure 
impact of up to 0.24% of average annual income and 6.7% of average 
natural gas bills; and
    [ssquf] Up to a $118.37 per year average increase for electricity 
expenditures across all households, with an average household 
expenditure impact of up to 0.5% of average annual income and 3.5% of 
average electricity bills.

--This analysis did not explore the impact of increased natural gas and 
electricity prices on broader consumer and industrial goods, which 
could have an additional impact on consumer expenditures.

     NEMS includes granular detail about the energy system, 
such as prices, and a separate macroeconomic module that provides 
feedback on changes in the broader economy. One result of the model's 
configuration is that increases in energy production in response to LNG 
exports generally yield increases in gross domestic product (GDP) in 
the modeling framework, but secondary effects (e.g., effects resulting 
from changes in the price of consumer goods) may moderate this 
relationship.\4\ As an example of this effect, in the Defined Policies 
scenario with reference U.S. supply assumptions, increasing exports 
from existing and FID levels to Model Resolved levels results in a 0.2% 
increase in GDP in 2050 ($80 billion, 2022 dollars), and cumulatively 
from 2020 to 2050, GDP increases $410 billion (2022 dollars discounted 
at 3%). GDP is one of several measures of economic activity, and an 
increase in GDP does not necessarily correlate with a positive effect 
on broader public and consumer welfare.
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    \4\ See Appendix B for further discussion of how NEMS models 
GDP.
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     Across all scenarios, modeled U.S. domestic natural gas 
supply is sufficient to meet modeled global demand for U.S. LNG while 
continuing to meet domestic demand. This result holds across 
sensitivity scenarios on U.S. oil and gas supply.
    Key energy security findings include:
     The global market for LNG has been increasing for several 
years, and LNG re- gasification and associated import infrastructure is 
being built out globally, but future demand for natural gas and LNG is 
uncertain and the demand centers are expected to shift.
     DOE natural gas export authorizations do not include 
destination restrictions beyond a prohibition to exporting to 
sanctioned countries. Accordingly, U.S. LNG generally follows global 
market demand.

--During the five years before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, from 2016 
through 2021, South Korea, Japan, and China were the top three 
importers of U.S. LNG, collectively importing 34% of U.S. exports, 
while Europe imported 28%.
--From 2022 through 2023, that mix changed, with the share delivered to 
Europe growing to more than 63% of total U.S. LNG exports, while 
exports to Asia were reduced to over 24% of the total.

     While Europe has been the primary destination for U.S. LNG 
from 2016 to present, global demand and the destination of U.S. LNG in 
the future are less certain.

--European policies aim to reduce the use of fossil fuels, including 
natural gas. Demand for natural gas and LNG in Asia is expected to 
increase in most scenarios.
--China has recently become the largest global importer of LNG and has 
signed several contracts with operating or proposed U.S. LNG projects.
--China is expected to have the highest LNG imports of any country 
across all scenarios in 2050.
--Countries' decarbonization policies and the availability of more 
cost-competitive energy sources, such as coal and renewables, will 
determine the outlook for U.S. LNG's role in the global energy market 
and the energy transition.

    Key GHG emission findings include:
     The ultimate global GHG consequences of U.S. LNG exports 
depend on market effects such as changes in energy demand and the 
sources used to meet that demand for electricity and other uses of 
natural gas. A consequential lifecycle analysis enables an examination 
of how the availability of U.S. LNG may affect global energy 
consumption, what types of energy U.S. LNG would displace, and the 
resulting global greenhouse gas implications.\5\ When comparing Model 
Resolved to Existing/FID scenarios, increased availability of U.S. LNG 
from 23.7 Bcf/d to 56.3 Bcf/d in 2050 results in an additional 0.08% in 
cumulative (2020-2050) global services and an increase of 711 million 
metric tons (MMT) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) or 0.05% in 
cumulative global GHG emissions.\6\
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    \5\ Past DOE and NETL life cycle studies of natural gas, 
including LNG, have been attributional studies that estimate 
emissions associated with units of natural gas, LNG, or other fuels 
used to generate a megawatt-hour (MWh) of baseload electricity. A 
consequential LCA accounts for the direct emissions from production, 
delivery, and use of the U.S. exported natural gas and the indirect 
emissions from changes in market behavior, such as substitution of 
natural gas for other sources of energy or additional energy use. 
The consequential GHG intensity calculated in this study is 
therefore the total effect (direct and indirect market effects) of 
U.S. LNG on global GHG emissions per unit of U.S. LNG exported.
    \6\ Global services are defined as those products of the global 
economy that provide services to consumers, such as energy, 
commodities, fertilizers, etc.
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     Attributional studies estimate direct emissions associated 
with use of natural

[[Page 104135]]

gas, LNG, or other fuels used to generate electricity. These studies do 
not directly consider market effects of the exported gas but are used 
to compare the potential environmental profiles of alternatives. 
Comparing Model Resolved to Existing/FID Exports levels in the Defined 
Policies scenario, the direct life cycle GHG emissions from production, 
export, and end use (assuming 100% combustion without carbon capture 
and storage, or CCS) of increased U.S. LNG exports, before accounting 
for market effects, would cumulatively (2020-2050) contribute 8,588 MMT 
CO2e based on an attributional life cycle GHG profile of 76 g CO2e/
megajoule (MJ). In 2050, direct life cycle GHG emissions from all U.S. 
LNG would be approximately 1,500 MMT CO2e before accounting for market 
effects.
     The additional GHG emissions per unit of additional U.S. 
LNG exported, or the consequential GHG emissions intensity, varies by 
scenario as shown in the table below.

                                        Cumulative (2020-2050) Consequential GHG Intensities of U.S. LNG Exports
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                                                                                           Cumulative (2020-2050) change in . . .
                                                                                   -----------------------------------------------------    Cumulative
                                                                   2050 U.S. LNG                        GHG emissions (MMT                consequential
       Comparison of scenarios                 Scenario         exports  (Exajoule   U.S. LNG exports    CO2e) [% increase     Global     GHG emissions
                                                                or EJ) [Bcf/d] \a\   (EJ) [% increase   from existing/FID]    services     intensity (g
                                                                                    from existing/FID]          \b\             (%)          CO2e/MJ)
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Existing/FID Exports to Model          Defined Policies.......         20.3 [56.3]           113 [50%]         711 [0.05%]         0.08              6.3
 Resolved.
                                       Commitments (High CCS).         11.9 [33.1]            31 [14%]          97 [0.01%]         0.02              3.1
                                       Commitments (Mod CCS)..          9.7 [26.8]             11 [5%]          67 [0.01%]         0.01              5.9
                                       Net Zero (High CCS)....         10.3 [28.5]             17 [8%]         21 [0.002%]         0.01              1.2
                                       Net Zero (Mod CCS) \c\.          6.2 [17.2]                   0                  NA           NA               NA
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\a\ 2050 U.S. LNG export levels for Model Resolved scenarios.
\b\ Cumulative change in GHG emissions (2020-2050) are 1.2% higher than the GCAM results to align the upstream emission estimates with NETL estimates
  that are used to explore upstream and liquefaction facility contributions to the consequential results (see Appendix C for additional details).
\c\ Net Zero (Mod CCS) U.S. LNG export levels do not change between the Existing/FID Exports to Model Resolved scenarios resulting in no change in
  global emissions or services, the results are listed as ``NA'' or Not Applicable.

     Across scenarios in which U.S. LNG exports are assumed to 
exceed model-resolved levels (up to +20 Bcf/d by 2050, corresponding to 
the High Exports assumption for U.S. LNG exports), global cumulative 
GHG emissions (2020-2050) are 324 MMT CO2e to 1,452 MMT CO2e higher 
than their counterparts with model-resolved levels of U.S. LNG exports. 
With respect to cumulative consequential GHG emissions intensity, that 
is equivalent to a range of 3.5 g CO2e/MJ to 12.6 CO2e/MJ for 
additional U.S. LNG exports.
     The increase in global GHG emissions between the Defined 
Policies: Model Resolved and Defined Policies: Existing/FID scenarios 
is estimated to result in a cumulative social cost of GHG (SC-GHG) 
impact of $84 billion using a discount rate of 2.5%, $140 billion using 
a discount rate of 2.0%, and $250 billion using a discount rate of 1.5% 
(all in 2022$). The cumulative SC-GHG of the increase in global 
emissions across the study scenarios ranges from $3 billion to $170 
billion (2.5%) to $13 billion to $500 billion (1.5%) in 2022 dollars.
    Key environmental and community effects findings include:
     The production and transportation of natural gas in the 
U.S., including natural gas for export, has energy, labor/workforce, 
economic, environmental, and social justice implications, among others.
     Production and upstream impacts

--Increased U.S. natural gas production increases upstream 
environmental impacts, including on water, air, and land.
--Natural gas production and processing emits pollutants that are 
harmful to human health.
--Researchers have found spatial and temporal (i.e., location and 
timing) correlations between seismic events and the disposal of 
produced water from oil and gas production through underground 
injection into saltwater disposal wells in several states including 
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Arkansas, and Ohio. Various means 
are underway to reduce the impact, such as recycling produced water, 
rather than disposing of it.

     Community Effects

--Natural gas production and processing impacts upstream, midstream, 
and downstream communities in harmful and beneficial ways. Additional 
research is needed on the impact of LNG exportation on local 
communities. In particular, in areas with existing heavy industry, the 
cumulative impact of LNG exports has yet to be determined.
--From an economic perspective, natural gas production and the 
development of natural gas export infrastructure tends to increase 
employment and wages in regions and communities where it occurs, but 
some evidence indicates that higher-wage jobs often go to people who 
either move to the area or commute, rather than to long-term residents.
--Growth in oil and gas production brings new revenues to local 
governments, but it can also bring additional burdens such as increased 
emergency services and police, expansion of water and wastewater 
infrastructure, and potential damage due to increased heavy road usage.
--Mineral rights owners receive royalties from oil and gas production, 
though such recipients are not always local residents.
--Quality of life impacts from natural gas development include noise, 
light pollution, dust, increased traffic, crime, and social disruptions 
due to the cyclical nature of an industry oriented toward commodity 
production.

    The purpose of this Notice is to notify the public of the 
availability of the 2024 LNG Export Study and to enter the Study into 
the administrative record of the above listed non-FTA export 
application proceedings.\7\ DOE invites comments on the Study and how 
it may inform DOE's public interest analysis. DOE does not intend to 
revise the 2024 Study upon receipt of comments. Instead, both the 2024 
LNG Export Study, and the comments that DOE/FECM receives in response 
to this Notice, will inform DOE's determination

[[Page 104136]]

of the public interest in each of the above listed non-FTA export 
application proceedings and future non-FTA export application 
proceedings.
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    \7\ For the purpose of this Notice, DOE is including non-FTA 
export application proceedings that are currently pending, where 
either (i) the environmental review under the National Environmental 
Protection Act (NEPA) led by other Federal agencies is underway or 
complete, or (ii) the application involves an extra-territorial 
proceeding where the NEPA review is led by DOE.
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Request for Comment

    DOE welcomes comments related to how the Study should be applied to 
DOE's public interest determinations going forward, as well as comments 
on any aspects of the analyses and findings in 2024 Study.
    In particular, DOE solicits comment on the methods and findings in 
Appendix C. Appendix C provides a method of estimating the emissions 
intensity and SC-GHG for individual U.S. LNG projects, and of 
estimating a breakeven rate, which is the percent change difference 
between an individual project's emissions intensity and the default 
assumptions that would result in consequential GHG intensity of zero 
for the project. DOE seeks comment on this method of estimating 
project-specific emissions intensity and the breakeven rate. DOE seeks 
comment on what existing or developing technologies would allow U.S. 
LNG developers to achieve a breakeven rate, and how developers have 
used these technologies to reduce emissions.
    DOE also seeks comment on whether and how the 2024 Export Study 
might support imposing LNG cargo or facility-level reporting 
requirements or other conditions related to emissions on authorization 
holders. To what extent do recent changes to the Environmental 
Protection Agency's GHG reporting rules ease the incremental burden 
that would be associated with facility-level or cargo-level emissions 
intensity reporting? Relatedly, could such reporting requirements 
support the determination of equivalence of methane monitoring, 
reporting and verification measures for purposes of European Union 
Regulation 2024/1787? \8\
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    \8\ Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 of the European Parliament and of 
the Council of 13 June 2024 on the reduction of methane emissions in 
the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/942 (July 15, 
2024).
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    Additionally, DOE seeks comment on whether Appendix D adequately 
and comprehensively considered the impacts of LNG exports on the local 
communities and regions where LNG exports occur (i.e., communities 
where LNG exports and LNG export-related activities occur).\9\ Among 
other topics related to Appendix D, DOE seeks comment on whether 
Appendix D adequately addressed:
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    \9\ For the purposes of these requests for comment, communities 
of interest include the towns, counties, parishes, boroughs, and 
other municipalities or political subdivisions in or around the 
geographic area where LNG exports occur, particularly the Gulf Coast 
region.
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     The economic profiles of the region, or local communities 
within the region, including changes over time.
     Employment related to LNG exports in the region and in the 
U.S. more generally, including employment opportunities for local 
residents and/or members of underserved or disadvantaged communities in 
the region related to LNG exports. What barriers, if any, exist that 
limit or prevent local residents in the region from taking advantage of 
these employment opportunities? What are some of the ways LNG companies 
and the businesses that support them have enabled, or could enable, 
local residents in the region to be a part of their workforce, either 
directly or indirectly?
     The effects of LNG exports on other local industries in 
the region, including, but not limited to, fishing and tourism.
     The effects of LNG exports on property values and/or 
housing costs and availability in the region, and on public finances in 
the region, including tax revenue and/or additional spending on public 
services.
     The effects that air emissions from LNG exports (e.g., 
nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and 
other hazardous air pollutants) and other aspects of LNG exports may 
have on public health in the region, including physical and mental 
health, and the cumulative effects on regional public health of LNG 
exports occurring alongside multiple other industrial activities, 
including refining and petrochemicals. How do the effects of LNG 
exports compare with effects from other industries as they relate to 
regional public health?
     The effects of LNG exports on regional quality of life, 
including effects on traffic, noise levels, odors, visual effects, 
community safety, and/or neighborhood character.
     Whether local community members in the region have 
opportunities to engage with LNG exporters or agencies with LNG 
regulatory responsibilities on issues of concern.
    DOE is aware of and has consulted with a wide body of published 
scientific literature regarding the effects of upstream natural gas 
production and midstream transportation of natural gas on local 
communities in Appendix D; however, given that LNG exports from the 
United States are a recent phenomenon, only a small amount of published 
scientific literature exists regarding the effects of LNG exports on 
local communities. Accordingly, in response to Appendix D, DOE seeks 
comment in particular from members of those communities where LNG 
exports occur.

Public Comment Procedures

    In response to this Notice, any person may file comments addressing 
the 2024 LNG Export Study. Comments may include, among other things, 
data, reports, studies, or personal testimony. Comments submitted in 
compliance with the procedures in this Notice will be placed in the 
administrative record for all of the above-referenced proceedings and 
need only be submitted once.
    DOE is not establishing a new proceeding or docket in this Notice. 
Additionally, the submission of comments in response to this Notice 
will not make commenters parties to any of the affected dockets. 
Persons with an interest in the outcome of one or more of the affected 
dockets have been given an opportunity to intervene in or protest those 
matters by complying with the procedures established in the notice of 
application issued in each respective docket and published in the 
Federal Register.\10\
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    \10\ Notices of application in the affected dockets were 
published in the Federal Register as follows: Venture Global 
Calcasieu Pass, LLC, Docket Nos. 13-69-LNG, 14-88-LNG, and 15-25-LNG 
(Consolidated), 87 FR 1131 (Jan. 10, 2022); Venture Global 
Plaquemines LNG, LLC, Docket No. 16-28-LNG, 87 FR 29149 (May 12, 
2022); Commonwealth LNG, LLC, Docket No. 19-134-LNG, 84 FR 65144 
(Nov. 26, 2019); Port Arthur LNG Phase II, LLC, Docket No. 20-23-
LNG, 85 FR 17568 (Mar. 30, 2020); Venture Global CP2 LNG, LLC, 
Docket No. 21-131-LNG, 87 FR 1133 (Jan. 10, 2022); New Fortress 
Energy Louisiana FLNG LLC, Docket No. 22-39-LNG, 87 FR 29151 (May 
12, 2022); Mexico Pacific Limited LLC, FECM Docket No. 22-167-LNG, 
88 FR 6716 (Feb. 1, 2023); Gulfstream LNG Development, LLC, Docket 
No. 23-34-LNG, 72 FR 23023 (Apr. 14, 2023); Corpus Christi 
Liquefaction, LLC, CCL Midscale 8-9, LLC, Cheniere Marketing, LLC, 
Docket No. 23-46-LNG, 88 FR 29662 (May 8, 2023); Lake Charles 
Exports, LLC, Docket No. 23-87-LNG, 88 FR 60670 (Sept. 5, 2023); 
Southern LNG Company, L.L.C., Docket No. 23-109-LNG, 88 FR 73008 
(Oct. 24, 2023); Magnolia LNG, LLC, Docket No. 23-137-LNG, 88 FR 
88600 (Dec. 22, 2023); Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC and Sabine Pass 
Stage V Liquefaction, LLC, Docket No. 24-27-LNG, 89 FR 28762 (Apr. 
19, 2024); Gato Negro Permitium Dos, S.A.P.I. de C.V., Docket No. 
24-87-LNG, 89 FR 78294 (Sept. 25, 2024).
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    Comments may be submitted using one of the following methods:
    (1) Submitting the comments using the online form at https://fossil.energy.gov/app/docketindex/docket/index/30;
    (2) Mailing the filing to the Office of Regulation, Analysis, and 
Engagement at the address listed in ADDRESSES section; or
    (3) Hand delivering the filing to the Office of Regulation, 
Analysis, and Engagement at the address listed in ADDRESSES section.

[[Page 104137]]

    For administrative efficiency, DOE/FECM prefers comments to be 
filed electronically using the online form (method 1). All comments 
must include a reference to the ``2024 LNG Export Study'' in the title 
line. Comments must be limited to the issues and potential impacts 
addressed in the 2024 LNG Export Study. DOE will review the comments 
received on a consolidated basis and may disregard comments that are 
not germane. Reply comments will not be accepted.
    The record in the above-referenced proceedings will include all 
comments received in response to this Notice.
    Additionally, all comments filed in response to this Notice will be 
available on the following DOE/FECM website: https://fossil.energy.gov/app/docketindex/docket/index/30.
    The 2024 LNG Export Study is available electronically at https://fossil.energy.gov/app/docketindex/docket/index/30 and for inspection 
and copying in the Division of Natural Gas Regulation 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.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December 
16, 2024, by Bradford Crabtree, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil 
Energy & Carbon Management, pursuant to delegated authority from the 
Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date 
is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in 
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on December 16, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-30370 Filed 12-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P