Department of Energy May 23, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commission adopts a more accurate title of ``Withdrawal of pleadings (Rule 216),'' for Rule 216 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Commission also clarifies the text of the Rule.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on March 6, 2018, by Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction 4, LLC (collectively, FLEX4). The Application requests long-term, multi- contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a volume equivalent to 262.8 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per year (0.72 Bcf per day) of natural gas. FLEX4 seeks to export this LNG from the proposed Train 4 Project, to be constructed at the Freeport LNG Terminal on Quintana Island near Freeport, Texas. FLEX4 states that its affiliates (Freeport LNG Development, L.P., FLNG Liquefaction, LLC, FLNG Liquefaction 2, LLC, and FLNG Liquefaction 3, LLC) are currently constructing a liquefaction and export facility at the Terminal with three previously-authorized liquefaction trains. FLEX4 requests authorization to export the LNG 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). FLEX4 seeks to export this LNG on its own behalf and as agent for other entities who hold title to the natural gas at the time of export. FLEX4 requests the authorization for a 20-year term to commence on the earlier of the date of first commercial export from the Train 4 Project, or seven years from the issuance of the requested authorization. FLEX4 filed the Application under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Additional details can be found in FLEX4's Application, posted on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/ sites/prod/files/2018/04/f50/18-26-LNG_T4_0.pdf. Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) proposes to approve Reliability Standard TPL-007-2 (Transmission System Planned Performance for Geomagnetic Disturbance Events). The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Commission-certified Electric Reliability Organization, submitted proposed Reliability Standard TPL-007-2 for Commission approval. Geomagnetic disturbance events (GMDs) occur when the sun ejects charged particles that interact with and cause changes in the earth's magnetic fields. Proposed Reliability Standard TPL-007-2 modifies currently-effective Reliability Standard TPL-007-1 by requiring applicable entities to: Conduct supplemental GMD vulnerability assessments and thermal impact assessments; obtain geomagnetically induced current and magnetometer data; and meet certain deadlines for the development and completion of tasks in corrective action plans. In addition, the Commission proposes to direct NERC to develop and submit modifications to the Reliability Standard to require applicable entities to develop and implement corrective action plans to mitigate supplemental GMD event vulnerabilities.