[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1131-1132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00173]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket Nos. 13-69-LNG, 14-88-LNG, 15-25-LNG (Consolidated)]


Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC; Application for Limited 
Amendment to Existing Long-Term, Multi-Contract Authorization To Export 
Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Department of 
Energy.

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 December 3, 2021 (as corrected on 
December 10, 2021), by Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC (Calcasieu 
Pass). In relevant part, Calcasieu Pass requests a limited amendment of 
its existing authorization to export domestically produced liquefied 
natural gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries, 
issued in Order No. 4346. The amendment would increase Calcasieu Pass's 
approved non-FTA export volume from 620 billion cubic feet per year 
(Bcf/yr) to 640.666 Bcf/yr of natural gas--an increase of 20.666 Bcf/
yr. Calcasieu Pass filed the Application under the Natural Gas Act 
(NGA).

DATES: Protests, motions to intervene, or notices of intervention, as 
applicable, 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, March 11, 2022.

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: 
Amy Sweeney or Jennifer Wade, U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office 
of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management,\1\ Office of Regulation, 
Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Resource Sustainability, Forrestal 
Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585, (202) 586-2627; (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: In Order No. 4346, issued on March 5, 2019, 
in Docket Nos. 13-69-LNG, 14-88-LNG, 15-25-LNG (consolidated), DOE 
authorized Calcasieu Pass to export domestically produced LNG in a 
volume equivalent to 620 Bcf/yr of natural gas.\2\ Calcasieu Pass is 
authorized to export this LNG by vessel from the Calcasieu Pass LNG 
Project (the Project), which is currently under construction in Cameron 
Parish, Louisiana, 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), pursuant to NGA section 3(a), 
15 U.S.C. 717b(a).\3\ This non-FTA authorization, as amended, extends 
through December 31, 2050.\4\
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    \2\ Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4346, 
Docket Nos. 13-69-LNG, 14-88-LNG, and 15-25-LNG (Consolidated), 
Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term Authorization to Export 
Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Mar. 5, 
2019), amended by DOE/FE Order No. 4346-A (Oct. 21, 2020) (extending 
export term).
    \3\ See id.
    \4\ See id.

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[[Page 1132]]

    In the Application, as relevant here,\5\ Calcasieu Pass requests a 
limited amendment to its approved LNG export volume in Order No. 4346. 
Specifically, Calcasieu Pass requests that DOE amend Order No. 4346 to 
increase its non-FTA export volume from 620 Bcf/yr to 640.666 Bcf/yr of 
natural gas, an increase of 20.666 Bcf/yr. According to Calcasieu Pass, 
this increase reflects a refinement in the final design of the Project, 
in which the ``actual peak liquefaction capacity of the Project 
facilities under optimal conditions'' will increase from 12 million 
metric tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG to 12.4 mtpa of LNG (equivalent to 
640.666 Bcf/yr of natural gas).
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    \5\ This Notice applies only to the portion of the Application 
requesting an amendment to Calcasieu Pass's non-FTA order. DOE will 
review separately the portion of the Application requesting an 
amendment to its three existing authorizations to export LNG to FTA 
countries, pursuant to section 3(c) of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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    Calcasieu Pass further states that it has filed an application with 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) asking FERC to amend 
its NGA section 3 authorization to increase the Project's authorized 
peak liquefaction capacity under optimal conditions to 12.4 mtpa of 
LNG.
    Calcasieu Pass states that the proposed increase in its non-FTA 
export volume will not require the construction of any new facilities 
or the modification of the previously authorized Project facilities, 
nor will it require any other changes to its non-FTA authorization.
    Additional details can be found in Calcasieu Pass's Application and 
the email amendment to the Application, posted on the DOE website in 
Docket Nos. 13-69-LNG, 14-88-LNG, and 15-25-LNG, and available here: 
https://fossil.energy.gov/ng_regulation/applications-2013-venturegloballlc-13-69-lng1.

DOE Evaluation

    In reviewing the 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),\6\ and 
DOE's response to public comments received on that Study.\7\
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    \6\ See NERA Economic Consulting, Macroeconomic Outcomes of 
Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports (June 7, 2018), 
available at: www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/06/f52/Macroeconomic%20LNG%20Export%20Study%202018.pdf.
    \7\ 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); \8\
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    \8\ The Addendum and related documents are available at: https://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); \9\ and
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    \9\ The 2014 Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report is available at: 
https://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's response to public comments received on 
that study.\10\
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    \10\ 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 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.
    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 Nos. 13-69-LNG, et al.,'' or ``Venture 
Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC'' 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 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 January 4, 2022.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of 
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2022-00173 Filed 1-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P