[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78294-78295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21924]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. 24-87-LNG]


Gato Negro Permitium Dos, S.A.P.I. de C.V.; Application for Long-
Term Authorization To Re-Export U.S.-Sourced Natural Gas in the Form of 
Liquefied Natural Gas From Mexico 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) of 
the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an 
application (Application), filed on August 21, 2024, by Gato Negro 
Permitium Dos, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (Gato Dos). As relevant here, Gato Dos 
requests long-term authorization to re-export U.S.-sourced natural gas 
in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement 
countries in a volume equivalent to 0.556 billion cubic feet per day 
(Bcf/d). Gato Dos seeks to re-export this LNG by vessel from the Gato 
Negro Manzanillo LNG Plant (Manzanillo Plant), under development in the 
State of Colima, Mexico. Gato Dos 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, November 25, 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.

[[Page 78295]]


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: As relevant here, Gato Dos requests long-
term authorization to re-export U.S.-sourced natural gas following 
liquefaction at the Manzanillo Plant in the State of Colima, Mexico, 
which is being developed by Gato Dos's affiliate, Gato Negro Manzanillo 
S.A.P.I., de C.V. Gato Dos seeks to re-export this LNG in a volume 
equivalent to 0.556 Bcf/d of natural gas from the Manzanillo Plant to 
countries with which the United States has not entered into a free 
trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas 
and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA 
countries) under section 3(a) of the NGA.\1\
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a). As discussed in the Application, on May 
10, 2024, an affiliate of Gato Dos, Gato Negro Permitium Uno, 
S.A.P.I. de C.V. (Gato Uno), filed an application with DOE in Docket 
No. 24-43-LNG. Gato Uno requests long-term authorization to export 
U.S.-sourced natural gas to Mexico by pipeline, and after 
liquefaction in Mexico at the Manzanillo Plant, to re-export the 
U.S.-sourced natural gas as LNG to FTA countries. Gato Dos states 
that Gato Uno's FTA application involves the same site and 
liquefaction capacity to be used by Gato Dos. Gato Uno's FTA 
application is currently pending, and DOE will review it separately 
under NGA section 3(c), 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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    Gato Dos seeks this authorization on its own behalf and as agent 
for other parties that hold title to the LNG at the time of export. 
Gato Dos requests the authorization for a term beginning on the date of 
first export and extending through December 31, 2050.
    Additional details can be found in Gato Dos's Application, posted 
on the DOE website at https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/Gato%20Permitium%20Dos%20LNG%20Application-non-FTA%20Application%20%288-7-24%29.pdf.

DOE Evaluation

    In reviewing Gato Dos's Application, DOE will consider any issues 
required by law or policy under NGA section 3(a), DOE's regulations, 
and any other documents deemed appropriate. Parties that may oppose 
this 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 before DOE has met its environmental 
responsibilities.

Public Comment Procedures

    In response to this Notice, any person may file a protest, 
comments, a motion to intervene or notice of intervention, or request 
for additional procedures, 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, notices of intervention, or requests 
for additional procedures 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. 
24-87-LNG'' or ``Gato Negro Permitium Dos 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 Notice, 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 September 19, 2024.
Amy R. Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of 
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2024-21924 Filed 9-24-24; 8:45 am]
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