[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20993-20994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07956]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket Nos. 15-90-LNG]


Cameron LNG, LLC; Request for Extension of Commencement Deadline 
for Non-Free Trade Agreement Authorization

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of request.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy 
(DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of a request (Request), filed on 
March 6, 2020, by Cameron LNG, LLC (Cameron LNG). Cameron LNG seeks to 
amend its existing authorization to export domestically produced 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement countries set 
forth in DOE/FE Order No. 3846. Specifically, Cameron LNG requests an 
extension to commence its export operations. Cameron LNG filed the 
Request 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 30, 
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: 
Benjamin Nussdorf 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) 586-7893; (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; (202) 586-6978, [email protected] 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 15, 2016, in Order No. 3846, DOE/FE 
authorized Cameron LNG to export domestically produced LNG in a volume 
equivalent to 515 billion cubic per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas.\1\ 
DOE/FE authorized Cameron LNG to export this LNG by vessel from Trains 
4 and 5 to be constructed at the existing Cameron LNG Terminal, located 
in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana (the Expansion Project), 
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) for a 20-year term. As relevant here, Order No. 3846 
requires Cameron LNG to ``commence export operations using the planned 
liquefaction facilities no later than seven years from the date of 
issuance of this Order''--i.e., by July 15, 2023.\2\ In this Request, 
Cameron LNG asks DOE/FE to extend this deadline until May 5, 2026.\3\
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    \1\ Cameron LNG, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3846, FE Docket No. 15-
90-LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-Contract 
Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by Vessel from Trains 
4 and 5 of the Cameron LNG Terminal Located in Cameron and Calcasieu 
Parishes, Louisiana, to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (July 15, 
2016).
    \2\ See id. at 132 (Ordering Para. D).
    \3\ Cameron LNG, LLC, Request for Extension of Time Under Order 
Nos. 3680 and 3846, FE Docket Nos. 15-36-LNG and 15-90-LNG, at 2 
(Mar. 6, 2020) [hereinafter Request]. The Request also applies to 
Cameron LNG's existing FTA order in FE Docket No. 15-36-LNG, but 
DOE/FE will address that portion of the Request separately pursuant 
to NGA section 3(c), 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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    We take administrative notice that, on March 25, 2020, the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order granting Cameron 
LNG's request for an extension of time until May 5, 2024, to construct 
and operate the Expansion Project. Additionally, in support of this 
Request, Cameron LNG identifies the actions it has taken to proceed 
with the construction and operation of the Expansion Project to date. 
Cameron LNG states that, due to circumstances that have affected the 
timing of the project, it is unable to complete construction and place 
the export facilities into service by the existing deadline.\4\ 
Accordingly, Cameron LNG requests an extension until May 5, 2026, to 
commence commercial LNG exports from the Expansion Project. Additional 
details can be found in the Request, posted on the DOE/FE website at: 
https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/03/f72/Cameron%20LNG%20-%20Request%20for%20Extensions%20of%20Time%20%283.6.20%29.pdf.
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    \4\ Request at 3-4.
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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

[[Page 20994]]

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),\5\ and DOE/FE's response to 
public comments received on that Study.\6\
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    \5\ 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.
    \6\ 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); \7\
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    \7\ 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); \8\ and
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    \8\ 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.\9\
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    \9\ 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 Request should address these issues 
and documents in their comments and/or protests, as well as other 
issues deemed relevant to the Request.
    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 15 days from the date 
of publication of this Notice in which to submit comments, protests, 
motions to intervene, or notices of intervention. DOE/FE will disregard 
comments or protests that do not bear directly on the Request.
    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 Request 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 
Request. 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. 15-90-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. 15-90-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 Request 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 
Request and responses filed by parties pursuant to this notice, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 590.316.
    The Request 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 Request 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 April 9, 2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of 
Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-07956 Filed 4-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P