[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23023-23024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07872]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. 23-34-LNG]
Gulfstream LNG Development, LLC; Application for Long-Term
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 by Gulfstream LNG Development, LLC
(Gulfstream LNG) on March 10, 2023. Gulfstream LNG requests long-term,
multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied
natural gas (LNG) in a volume equivalent to 237.5 billion cubic feet
per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas from the proposed Gulfstream LNG
Project, a LNG export project to be located in Plaquemines Parish,
Louisiana. Gulfstream LNG 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, June 13, 2023.
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].
Cassandra Bernstein, 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) 586-9793, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Gulfstream LNG requests authorization to
export domestically produced LNG by ocean-going vessel from its
proposed Gulfstream LNG Project (Project), to be constructed and
located on an approximately 500-acre parcel of land south of the town
of Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Gulfstream LNG states
that it has executed a Ground Lease and Joint Development Agreement
with Louisiana 23 Development Company, which is developing the site
with Plaquemines Port, Harbor & Terminal District. Gulfstream LNG seeks
to export this LNG in a volume equivalent to 237.5 Bcf/yr of natural
gas (equivalent to approximately 0.65 Bcf per day) on a non-additive
basis to: (i) any nation with which the United States has entered into
a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in
natural gas (FTA nations), and (ii) any other nation with which trade
is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA nations). This Notice
applies only to the portion of the Application requesting authority to
export LNG to non-FTA countries pursuant to section 3(a) of the NGA.\1\
DOE will review Gulfstream LNG's request for an export authorization to
FTA countries separately pursuant to NGA section 3(c).\2\
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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Gulfstream LNG seeks this authorization on its own behalf and as
agent for other entities that hold title to the LNG at the point of
export. Gulfstream LNG requests the authorization for a term to
commence on the date of first export following the start of commercial
operation of the Project, and to extend through December 31, 2050.
Additional details can be found in Gulfstream LNG's Application,
posted on the DOE website at: www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/23-34-LNG.pdf.
[[Page 23024]]
DOE Evaluation
In reviewing Gulfstream 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'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),
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
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); \6\ and
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\6\ The 2014 Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report is available at
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.\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.
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 this proceeding evaluating
the Application 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 this 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 [email protected]. All filings must
include a reference to ``Docket No. 23-34-LNG'' or ``GULFSTREAM LNG
DEVELOPMENT, LLC 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.
The Application and any filed protests, motions to intervene,
notices of intervention, 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 April 10, 2023.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2023-07872 Filed 4-13-23; 8:45 am]
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