[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28543-28544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12978]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. 19-61-LNG]


Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Application for Blanket 
Authorization To Export Previously Imported Liquefied Natural Gas on a 
Short-Term Basis to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy 
(DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on 
May 20, 2019, by Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG), 
requesting blanket authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
previously imported into the United States from foreign sources in an 
amount up to the equivalent of 24 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural 
gas on a short-term or spot market basis for a two-year period 
commencing on July 19, 2019. In the portion of the Application subject 
to this Notice, Freeport LNG seeks to export the LNG from the Freeport 
LNG Terminal owned by Freeport LNG, on Quintana Island, Texas, to any 
country 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 
countries). The Application was filed under section 3 of the Natural 
Gas Act (NGA). Additional details can be found in Freeport LNG's 
Application, posted on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/fe/freeport-lng-development-lp-fe-docket-no-19-61-lng-export-lng.
    Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and 
written comments 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, July 19, 
2019.

ADDRESSES:

Electronic Filing by Email

    [email protected]v

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.

[[Page 28544]]

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 Larine Moore, 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) 586-9478.
    Cassandra Bernstein, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the 
Assistant General Counsel for Electricity and Fossil Energy, Forrestal 
Building, Room 6D-033, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585, 
(202) 586-9793.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

DOE/FE Evaluation

    Freeport LNG's current blanket authorization to export previously 
imported LNG, granted in DOE/FE Order No. 4054, began on July 19, 2017, 
and extends through July 18, 2019. In requesting this authorization, 
Freeport LNG states that it does not seek to export any domestically 
produced natural gas or LNG. DOE/FE notes that Freeport LNG currently 
holds a blanket authorization to import LNG from various international 
sources by vessel in an amount up to the equivalent of 30 Bcf of 
natural gas. Freeport LNG is requesting this authorization on its own 
behalf and as agent for other parties who hold title to the LNG at the 
time of export.
    The Application will be reviewed pursuant to section 3 of the NGA, 
15 U.S.C. 717b. In reviewing this Application, DOE will consider 
domestic need for the natural gas, as well as any other issues 
determined to be appropriate, including whether the arrangement is 
consistent with DOE's policy of promoting competition in the 
marketplace by allowing commercial parties to freely negotiate their 
own trade arrangements. Parties that may oppose this application should 
comment in their responses on these issues.
    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 NEPA 
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. Interested parties will be provided 30 days from the date 
of publication of this Notice in which to submit comments, protests, 
motions to intervene, or notices of intervention.
    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]v, with FE Docket No. 19-61-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. 19-61-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. Additional procedures will be used as 
necessary to achieve a complete understanding of the facts and issues. 
If an additional procedure is scheduled, notice will be provided to all 
parties. 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: http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/gasregulation/index.html.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on June 13, 2019.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of 
Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2019-12978 Filed 6-18-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P