Department of Energy 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 18, 2018, the Department of Energy (DOE) received a petition from the American Public Gas Association (APGA), Spire, Inc., the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), the American Gas Association (AGA), and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), collectively referred to as the ``Gas Industry Petitioners,'' asking DOE to: Issue an interpretive rule stating that DOE's proposed energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and commercial water heaters would result in the unavailability of ``performance characteristics'' within the meaning of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended (i.e., by setting standards which can only be met by condensing combustion technology products/equipment and thereby precluding the distribution in commerce of non-condensing combustion technology products/equipment) and withdraw the proposed energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and commercial water heaters based upon such findings. Through this notice, DOE seeks comment on the petition, as well as any data or information that could be used in DOE's determination whether to proceed with the petition.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires notice of the meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years, an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Oak Ridge. The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on September 27, 2018, by Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul S. de R.L. de C.V (Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul), a subsidiary of Infrastructura Energetica Nova, S.A.B. de C.V. (IEnova) and IEnova's subsidiaries. A majority of the ownership interests in IEnova (66.43%) is held by indirect, wholly- owned subsidiaries of Sempra Energy, a publicly traded California corporation. The Application requests long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced natural gas to Mexico in a volume up to 545 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per year (Bcf/yr) (1.5 Bcf per day), and to re-export a portion of this natural gas as liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a volume equivalent to 475 Bcf/yr of natural gas (1.3 Bcf per day). Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul seeks to export this LNG from the proposed Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul Large-Scale Project, which consists of certain liquefaction and export terminal facilities located on the site of Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul's existing LNG import terminal north of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. The volumes for which Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul seeks authorization in this Application would be additive to the volumes for which Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul seeks authorization in its application in FE Docket No. 18-144-LNG. Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul requests authorization to export this; LNG to: (i) Countries with which the United States has entered into a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas (FTA countries) and (ii) any other countries with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries). Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul seeks to export the requested volume of natural gas and the requested volume of LNG on its own behalf and as agent for other entities who hold title to the natural gas at the time of export. Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul requests the authorization for a 20-year term to commence on the earlier of the date of first export or seven years from the issuance of the requested authorization. Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul further requests authorization to continue exporting for a total of three years following the end of the 20-year authorization term requested herein, solely to export any volumes that it is unable to export during the 20-year authorization term (Make-Up Volumes). Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul filed the Application under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Additional details and related procedural history can be found in Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul's Application, posted on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/ fe/downloads/energ-costa-azul-s-de-rl-de-cv-dkt-no-18-145-lng . Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on September 27, 2018, by Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul S. de R.L. de C.V (Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul), a subsidiary of Infrastructura Energetica Nova, S.A.B. de C.V. (IEnova) and IEnova's subsidiaries. A majority of the ownership interests in IEnova (66.43%) is held by indirect, wholly- owned subsidiaries of Sempra Energy, a publicly traded California corporation. The Application requests long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced natural gas to Mexico in a volume up to 182 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per year (Bcf/yr) (0.5 Bcf per day), and to re-export a portion of this natural gas as liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a volume equivalent to 161 Bcf/yr of natural gas (0.44 Bcf per day). Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul seeks to export this LNG from the proposed Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul Mid-Scale Project, which consists of certain liquefaction and export terminal facilities located on the site of Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul's existing LNG import terminal north of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. The volumes for which Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul seeks authorization in this Application would be additive to the volumes for which Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul seeks authorization in its application in FE Docket No. 18-145-LNG. Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul requests authorization to export this LNG to: (i) Countries with which the United States has entered into a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas (FTA countries) and (ii) any other countries with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries). Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul seeks to export the requested volume of natural gas and the requested volume of LNG on its own behalf and as agent for other entities who hold title to the natural gas at the time of export. Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul requests the authorization for a 20-year term to commence on the earlier of the date of first export or seven years from the issuance of the requested authorizations. Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul further requests authorization to continue exporting for a total of three years following the end of the 20-year authorization term requested herein, solely to export any volumes that it is unable to export during the 20-year authorization term (Make-Up Volumes). Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul filed the Application under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Additional details and related procedural history can be found in Energ[iacute]a Costa Azul's Application, posted on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/fe/downloads/energ- costa-azul-s-de-rl-de-cv-dkt-no-18-144-lng. Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited.

The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, has submitted an information collection request to the OMB for approval of a reinstatement and extension of the lapsed OMB approval for three years. Comments are invited on: Whether the extended collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) approves supply chain risk management Reliability Standards CIP-013-1 (Cyber SecuritySupply Chain Risk Management), CIP-005-6 (Cyber Security Electronic Security Perimeter(s)) and CIP-010-3 (Cyber Security Configuration Change Management and Vulnerability Assessments) submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). In addition, the Commission directs NERC to develop and submit modifications to the supply chain risk management Reliability Standards so that the scope of the Reliability Standards include Electronic Access Control and Monitoring Systems.