[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61201-61203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24214]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. 21-99-LNG]


Carib Energy (USA) LLC; 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 and Carbon Management, Department of 
Energy.

[[Page 61202]]


ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) of 
the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an 
application (Application), filed on September 14, 2021, by Carib Energy 
(USA) LLC (Carib Energy). Carib Energy 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 
0.48 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas on a 
cumulative basis over a two-year period. Carib Energy filed the 
Application under 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 electronically as detailed in the Public Comment 
Procedures section no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, December 6, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: 
    Electronic Filing by email: [email protected].
    Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions 
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand 
delivery/courier, DOE has found it necessary to make temporary 
modifications to the comment submission process in light of the ongoing 
Covid-19 pandemic. DOE is currently accepting only electronic 
submissions at this time. If a commenter finds that this change poses 
an undue hardship, please contact Office of Resource Sustainability 
staff at (202) 586-2627 or (202) 586-4749 to discuss the need for 
alternative arrangements. Once the Covid-19 pandemic health emergency 
is resolved, DOE anticipates resuming all of its regular options for 
public comment submission, including postal mail and hand delivery/
courier.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beverly Howard or Jennifer Wade, U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34) 
Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Resource 
Sustainability, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management,\1\ 
Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9387 or (202) 586-4749, 
[email protected] or [email protected].
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    \1\ The Office of Fossil Energy changed its name to the Office 
of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management on July 4, 2021.
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Cassandra Bernstein, U.S. Department of Energy (GC-76) Office of the 
Assistant General Counsel for Electricity and Fossil Energy, Forrestal 
Building, Room 6D-033, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585, (202) 586-9793, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Carib Energy requests a blanket 
authorization to export LNG that has been previously imported into the 
United States from foreign sources for a two-year period. Carib Energy 
states that it will purchase the LNG primarily from the Crowley LNG 
Puerto Rico Truck Loading Facility (Crowley Facility), located in 
Pe[ntilde]uelas, Puerto Rico.\2\ Carib Energy states that the Crowley 
Facility will receive LNG that has been imported into Puerto Rico from 
locations outside the United States via the EcoElectrica LNG Terminal. 
Carib Energy proposes to export the LNG from the Crowley Facility by 
use of approved IM07/TVAC-ASME LNG containers (ISO containers) 
transported on ocean-going container vessels to any country within 
Central America, South America, or the Caribbean with which trade is 
not prohibited by U.S. law or policy.\3\ 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 the previously imported LNG to non-FTA countries pursuant to 
section 3(a) of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
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    \2\ Carib Energy states that it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Crowley Shipping, Inc. Carib Energy further states that Crowley LNG 
Puerto Rico constructed the Crowley Facility and owns and controls 
the site on which the Crowley Facility is located.
    \3\ See also Email from Greg Buffington, Crowley Shipping, to 
DOE, Docket No. 21-99-LNG (Oct. 26, 2021) (stating that Carib Energy 
proposes to export this LNG via ISO containers only).
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    Carib Energy requests that the authorization commence on the 
earlier of either the first date of re-export of LNG, or five years 
from the date on which DOE issues an order granting the requested 
authorization. Carib Energy further 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 Carib Energy's 
Application, posted on the DOE website at: www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2021-09/21-99-LNG.pdf.

DOE Evaluation

    In reviewing Carib Energy'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.
    As noted, DOE is only accepting electronic submissions at this 
time. Please email the filing to [email protected]. All filings must 
include a reference to ``Docket No. 21-99-LNG'' or ``Carib Energy 
Application'' in the title line.
    Please Note: 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.
    The Application and any filed protests, motions to intervene, 
notices of

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interventions, and comments will also be available electronically by 
going to the following DOE Web address: https://www.energy.gov/fecm/division-natural-gas-regulation.
    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.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on October 29, 2021.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of 
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2021-24214 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P