[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 54 (Thursday, March 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15769-15770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05688]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. 20-14-LNG]


Cameron LNG, LLC; Application for Blanket Authorization To Export 
Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries on a Short-
Term Basis

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 (Notice) of receipt of an application (Application), 
filed on January 31, 2020, and supplemented on February 7, 2020, by 
Cameron LNG, LLC (Cameron LNG). Cameron LNG requests blanket 
authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas 
(LNG) in a volume equivalent to 254 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural 
gas on a cumulative basis over a two-year period commencing on June 30, 
2020. Cameron LNG seeks to export this LNG from the Cameron LNG 
Terminal located in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana. Cameron 
LNG filed the Application under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). 
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, April 20, 
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: 
Kyle W. Moorman 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) 586-7970 or (202) 586-2627; 
[email protected] or [email protected]
Cassandra Bernstein or Kari Twaite, U.S. Department of Energy (GC-76), 
Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Electricity and Fossil 
Energy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585, (202) 586-9793 or (202) 586-6978; [email protected] 
or [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Cameron LNG requests a short-term blanket 
authorization to export LNG from the Cameron LNG Terminal to any 
country with the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier and 
with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy. This includes 
both countries

[[Page 15770]]

with which the United States has entered into a free trade agreement 
(FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas (FTA 
countries), and any other country with which trade is not prohibited by 
U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries). This Notice applies only to the 
portion of the Application (as supplemented) requesting authority to 
export domestically produced LNG to non-FTA countries pursuant to 
section 3(a) of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).\1\ DOE/FE will review 
Cameron LNG's request for a FTA export authorization separately 
pursuant to section 3(c) of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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    \1\ Cameron LNG's existing non-FTA blanket authorization will 
expire on June 29, 2020. Cameron LNG, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3904, FE 
Docket No. 16-34-LNG, Order Granting Blanket Authorization to Export 
Liquefied Natural Gas by Vessel from the Cameron LNG Terminal 
Located in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana, to Free Trade 
Agreement and Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Oct. 3, 2016).
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    Cameron LNG's requests this authorization on its own behalf and as 
agent for other entities who hold title to the LNG at the time of 
export. Additional details can be found in the Application and 
Supplement, posted on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/fe/downloads/cameron-lng-llc-fe-dkt-no-20-14-lng.

DOE/FE Evaluation

    In reviewing Cameron LNG's request, DOE will consider any issues 
required by law or policy. 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. As part of this 
analysis, DOE will consider the study entitled, Macroeconomic Outcomes 
of Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports (2018 LNG Export 
Study),\2\ and DOE/FE's response to public comments received on that 
Study.\3\
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    \2\ 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.
    \3\ 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).
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    Additionally, DOE will consider the following environmental 
documents:
     Addendum to Environmental Review Documents Concerning 
Exports of Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15, 
2014); \4\
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    \4\ The Addendum and related documents are available at: http://energy.gov/fe/draft-addendum-environmental-review-documents-concerning-exports-natural-gas-united-states.
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     Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting 
Liquefied Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 32260 (June 4, 
2014); \5\ and
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    \5\ The 2014 Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report is available at: 
http://energy.gov/fe/life-cycle-greenhouse-gas-perspective-exporting-liquefied-natural-gas-united-states.
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     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.\6\
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    \6\ 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.
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    Parties that may oppose this Application should address these 
issues and documents in their comments and 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. 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], with FE Docket No. 20-14-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. 20-14-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, notices 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 March 13, 2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Oil 
and Natural Gas.
[FR Doc. 2020-05688 Filed 3-18-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P