[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45091-45093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16084]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket Nos. 11-59-LNG and 16-110-LNG]


Lake Charles Exports, LLC; Application To Amend Existing Long-
Term Authorizations To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade 
Agreement Countries

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) 
(formerly the Office of Fossil Energy) of the Department of Energy 
(DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application (Application), 
filed on June 21, 2022, by Lake Charles Exports, LLC (LCE). LCE 
requests to amend its existing authorizations to export domestically 
produced liquefied natural

[[Page 45092]]

gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/FE 
Order Nos. 3324-A and 4011 (both as amended). Specifically, LCE seeks 
to amend the commencement of operations deadline in each order. LCE 
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, 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, August 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) 586-4749 or (202) 586-7893 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: 
Jennifer Wade or Peri Ulrey, U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office 
of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Resource 
Sustainability, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, 
Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4749 or (202) 586-7893, 
[email protected] or [email protected].

Kavita Vaidyanathan, U.S. Department of Energy (GC-76), Office of the 
Assistant General Counsel for Energy Delivery and Resilience, Forrestal 
Building, Room 6D-033, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20585, (202) 586-0669, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: LCE is authorized to export domestically 
produced LNG by vessel from the Lake Charles Terminal, located in Lake 
Charles, 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),\1\ under the following orders and their amendments:
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
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     DOE/FE Order No. 3324-A (Docket No. 11-59-LNG), in a 
volume equivalent to 730 billion cubic per year (Bcf/yr) of natural 
gas; \2\ and
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    \2\ Lake Charles Exports, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3324-A, Docket 
No. 11-59-LNG, Final Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-
Contract Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by Vessel 
from the Lake Charles Terminal in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana to 
Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (July 29, 2016), amended by DOE/FE 
Order No. 3324-B (Oct. 6, 2020) (amending the commencement of 
operations deadline), https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/07/f33/ord3324a.pdf.
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     DOE/FE Order No. 4011 (Docket No. 16-110-LNG), in a volume 
equivalent to 121 Bcf/yr of natural gas.\3\
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    \3\ Lake Charles Exports, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4011, Docket No. 
16-110-LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-Contract 
Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas by Vessel From the 
Lake Charles Terminal in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Free Trade 
Agreement and Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (June 29, 2017), 
amended by DOE/FE Order No. 4011-A (Oct. 6, 2020) (amending the 
commencement of operations deadline), https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/06/f35/ord4011.pdf. The portion of this order 
authorizing LCE to export LNG to FTA countries is not subject to 
this Notice. See 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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    In the Application,\4\ LCE seeks to amend the existing commencement 
of operations deadline in both orders as follows:
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    \4\ Lake Charles Exports, LLC, Application to Amend Existing 
Long-Term Authorizations to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free 
Trade Agreement Countries, Docket Nos. 11-59-LNG and 16-110-LNG 
(June 21, 2022), https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/LCE%20Amendment%20Application%20Re%20Commencement%20Date.pdf. The 
Application also applies to LCE's existing FTA orders in Docket Nos. 
11-59-LNG and 16-110-LNG, but DOE will address the FTA portions of 
the Application separately pursuant to NGA section 3(c), 15 U.S.C. 
717b(c).
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     In DOE/FE Order No. 3324-A, to extend the commencement 
deadline from December 16, 2025 to December 16, 2028; and
     In DOE/FE Order No. 4011 to extend the commencement 
deadline from December 16, 2025 to December 16, 2028.
    In support of this Application, LCE states that, on May 6, 2022, 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order 
granting LCE's request for an extension of time until December 16, 
2028, to construct the Lake Charles Terminal liquefaction facilities 
and make it available for service (FERC 2022 Extension Order).\5\ LCE 
requests that DOE amend Order Nos. 3324-A and 4011 so that LCE must 
commence export operations using the planned liquefaction facilities no 
later than December 16, 2028--to align with the FERC 2022 Extension 
Order. LCE also identifies the actions it has taken to date to proceed 
with the construction and operation of the Lake Charles Terminal 
liquefaction facilities. Additional details can be found in the 
Application, posted on the DOE website at: www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/LCE%20Amendment%20Application%20Re%20Commencement%20Date.pdf.
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    \5\ Lake Charles LNG Company, LLC, et al., 179 FERC ] 61,086 
(2022), https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20220506-3073.
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DOE Evaluation

    In reviewing LCE's Application, DOE will consider any issues 
required by law or policy under NGA section 3(a). To the extent 
appropriate, DOE will consider the study entitled, Macroeconomic 
Outcomes of Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports (2018 LNG 
Export Study),\6\ DOE's response to public comments received on that 
Study,\7\ and the following environmental documents:
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    \6\ See NERA Economic Consulting, Macroeconomic Outcomes of 
Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports (June 7, 2018), https://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), https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-12-28/pdf/2018-28238.pdf.
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     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://www.energy.gov/fecm/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://www.energy.gov/fecm/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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[[Page 45093]]

    Parties that may oppose the Application should address these issues 
and documents in their comments and/or 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, addressing the Application. 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. The public previously was given an opportunity to 
intervene in, protest, and comment on LCE's long-term non-FTA 
applications. Therefore, DOE will not consider comments or protests 
that do not bear directly on the Application.
    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, including the service requirements.
    As noted, DOE is only accepting electronic submissions at this 
time. Please email the filing to fergas.hq.doe.gov. All filings must 
include a reference to ``Docket Nos. 11-59-LNG and 16-110-LNG'' or 
``Lake Charles Exports, LLC Commencement Amendment'' 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: 
www.energy.gov/fecm/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 July 21, 2022.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of 
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2022-16084 Filed 7-26-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P