[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 205 (Thursday, October 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67344-67345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23350]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. 20-102-LNG]


BP Energy Company; Application for Blanket Authorization To 
Export Previously Imported Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade 
Agreement Countries on a Short-Term Basis

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 (Application), 
filed on August 20, 2020, by BP Energy Company (BPEC). BPEC requests 
blanket authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) previously 
imported into the United States by vessel from foreign sources in a 
volume equivalent to approximately 30 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of 
natural gas on a cumulative basis over a two-year period commencing on 
November 19, 2020. BPEC seeks to export this LNG from the Cove Point 
LNG Terminal, owned by Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG, LP, in Calvert 
County, Maryland. BPEC filed the Application under 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, November 23, 
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: 
Beverly Howard 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) 586-9387 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: BPEC requests a short-term blanket 
authorization to export LNG from the Cove Point 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 with which the United States has entered into a free trade 
agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas 
(FTA countries) and all other countries (non-FTA countries). This 
Notice applies only to the portion of the Application requesting 
authority to export LNG to non-FTA countries pursuant to NGA section 
3(a), 15 U.S.C. 717b(a). BPEC states that its existing blanket re-
export authorization, set forth in DOE/FE Order No. 4302, is scheduled 
to expire on November 18, 2020. BPEC further states that it does not 
seek authorization to export any domestically produced natural gas or 
LNG.
    BPEC requests this authorization on its own behalf and as agent for 
other parties who hold title to the LNG at the time of export. 
Additional details can be found in BPEC's Application, posted on the 
DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/09/f78/20-102-LNG.pdf.

DOE/FE Evaluation

    In reviewing BPEC's Application, DOE will consider any issues 
required by law or policy. DOE will consider domestic need for the 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.

[[Page 67345]]

    Filings may be submitted using one of the following methods: (1) 
Emailing the filing to [email protected], with FE Docket No. 20-102-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. 20-102-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: https://www.energy.gov/fe/services/natural-gas-regulation.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on October 16, 2020.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Oil 
and Natural Gas.
[FR Doc. 2020-23350 Filed 10-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P