[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 101 (Thursday, May 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45650-45651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11350]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. 24-30-LNG]


Cove Point LNG, LP; 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.

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 April 18, 2024, by Cove Point LNG, 
LP (Cove Point). Cove Point requests blanket authorization to export 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) previously imported into the United States 
by vessel from foreign

[[Page 45651]]

sources in a volume equivalent to 70 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of 
natural gas on a cumulative basis over a two-year period. Cove Point 
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 as detailed in the Public Comment Procedures section no 
later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, June 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    Electronic Filing by Email (strongly encouraged): 
[email protected].
    Postal Mail, 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 and 
Carbon Management, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-056, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.
    Due to potential delays in DOE's receipt and processing of mail 
sent through the U.S. Postal Service, we encourage respondents to 
submit filings electronically to ensure timely receipt.

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, (240) 780-1691, [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cove Point requests a short-term blanket 
authorization to export LNG that has been previously imported into the 
United States from foreign sources for a two-year period. Cove Point 
states that it will export the LNG from the existing Cove Point LNG 
Terminal located in Calvert County, Maryland, 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 the 
LNG to non-FTA countries pursuant to section 3(a) of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 
717b(a). Cove Point states that its existing blanket re-export 
authorization, set forth in DOE/FECM Order No. 4849 (Docket No. 22-22-
LNG), is scheduled to expire on July 7, 2024, and therefore Cove Point 
requests the term of the new authorization to commence on the earlier 
of July 8, 2024, or the date of issuance of the new authorization. Cove 
Point further states that it does not seek authorization to export 
domestically produced natural gas or LNG.
    Cove Point requests this authorization on its own behalf and as 
agent for other parties that hold title to the LNG at the time of 
export. Additional details can be found in Cove Point's Application, 
posted on the DOE website at: https://www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/cove-point-lng-lp-fecm-docket-no-24-30-lng.

DOE Evaluation

    In reviewing Cove Point'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. 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 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.
    Filings may be submitted using one of the following methods:
    (1) Submitting the filing electronically at [email protected];
    (2) Mailing the filing to the Office of Regulation, Analysis, and 
Engagement at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section; or
    (3) Hand delivering the filing to the Office of Regulation, 
Analysis, and Engagement at the address listed in the ADDRESSES 
section.
    For administrative efficiency, DOE prefers filings to be filed 
electronically. All filings must include a reference to ``Docket No. 
24-30-LNG'' or ``Cove Point LNG, LP Application'' in the title line.
    For electronic submissions: 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 be available electronically 
on the DOE website at 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 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 May 20, 2024.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of 
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2024-11350 Filed 5-22-24; 8:45 am]
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