[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 182 (Friday, September 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58347-58348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20504]



[[Page 58347]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. 12-156-LNG]


Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC; Application for Limited Amendment 
to Long-Term Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free 
Trade Agreement Countries

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy.

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 for Limited 
Amendment (Application), filed on August 14, 2020, by Golden Pass LNG 
Terminal, LLC (Golden Pass LNG). Previously, in DOE/FE Order No. 3978, 
DOE/FE authorized Golden Pass LNG to export domestically produced 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the proposed Golden Pass LNG Terminal 
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 requests a limited amendment of Order No. 
3978 to increase the approved non-FTA export volume from 808 billion 
cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) to 937 Bcf/yr of natural gas--an increase 
of 129 Bcf/yr. Golden Pass LNG filed the Application under section 3 of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA).

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, November 17, 
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 or 
(202) 586-2627, [email protected] or [email protected]
    Cassandra Bernstein, 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, [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Golden Pass LNG states that, on May 21, 2020, it filed an 
application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 
requesting to amend its existing FERC order for the proposed Golden 
Pass LNG Terminal--to be located in Jefferson County, Texas--to 
increase the Terminal's authorized maximum LNG production capacity. 
Golden Pass LNG states that, in the Application filed in this 
proceeding, it seeks to align its authorized LNG export quantity based 
on the maximum LNG production capacity requested in its pending FERC 
application. Specifically, Golden Pass LNG asks DOE/FE to increase its 
approved non-FTA exports in DOE/FE Order No. 3978 \1\ from 15.6 million 
metric tons per annum (mtpa) to 18.1 mtpa of LNG, which Golden Pass LNG 
states is equivalent to an increase from 808 Bcf/yr to 937 Bcf/yr of 
natural gas (an increase of 129 Bcf/yr).\2\
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    \1\ Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3978, FE 
Docket No. 12-156-LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-
Contract Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by Vessel 
from the Golden Pass LNG Terminal Located in Jefferson County, 
Texas, to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Apr. 25, 2017), reh'g 
denied, DOE/FE Order No. 3978-A (Mar. 30, 2018), amended by DOE/FE 
Order Nos. 3978-B (Mar. 4, 2020) and 3978-C (Mar. 24, 2020).
    \2\ This Notice applies only to the portion of Golden Pass LNG's 
Application requesting a limited amendment of its non-FTA 
authorization (DOE/FE Order No. 3978), pursuant to section 3(a) of 
the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717b(a). DOE/FE will review Golden Pass LNG's 
request for a limited amendment to its FTA export authorization (in 
FE Docket No. 12-88-LNG) separately pursuant to section 3(c) of the 
NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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    Additional details can be found in Golden Pass LNG's Application, 
posted on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/08/f77/FE12-156-LNG%20GPLNG%20Amendment%20Application%20Quantity%208-14-20.pdf. Golden 
Pass LNG also filed a clarification to the Application, which is posted 
on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/09/f78/Golden%20Pass%20Clarification.pdf.

DOE/FE Evaluation

    In reviewing Golden Pass LNG's Application, 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),\3\ and DOE/FE's response to public comments 
received on that Study.\4\
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    \3\ 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.
    \4\ 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); \5\
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    \5\ 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); \6\ and
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    \6\ 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.\7\
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    \7\ 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.

[[Page 58348]]

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 60 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. 12-156-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. 12-156-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 September 11, 2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Oil 
and Natural Gas.
[FR Doc. 2020-20504 Filed 9-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P