Notice2025-09881
Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC; Application for an Amendment To Extend the Commencement of Operations Deadline in Long-Term Authorizations To Export Liquefied Natural Gas
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Published
June 2, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
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 (Extension Application), filed on April 17, 2025, by Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC (Lake Charles LNG Export). Lake Charles LNG Export asks DOE to amend its existing authorizations to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/FE Order Nos. 3868 and 4010 (both as amended)--specifically, to extend the current commencement of export operations deadline in both orders. Lake Charles LNG Export filed the Extension Application under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 104 (Monday, June 2, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 104 (Monday, June 2, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23324-23325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09881]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. 13-04-LNG and 16-109-LNG]
Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC; Application for an
Amendment To Extend the Commencement of Operations Deadline in Long-
Term Authorizations To Export Liquefied Natural Gas
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 (Extension
Application), filed on April 17, 2025, by Lake Charles LNG Export
Company, LLC (Lake Charles LNG Export). Lake Charles LNG Export asks
DOE to amend its existing authorizations to export domestically
produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement
countries set forth in DOE/FE Order Nos. 3868 and 4010 (both as
amended)--specifically, to extend the current commencement of export
operations deadline in both orders. Lake Charles LNG Export filed the
Extension 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, July 2, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by email (Strongly encouraged):
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2848790858391a28a93cc868d87cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8fe9eafde8eefccfe7fea1ebe0eaa1e8e0f9">[email protected]</span></a>.
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,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98f2fdf6f6f1fefdeab6eff9fcfdd8f0e9b6fcf7fdb6fff7ee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fa909f9494939c9f88d48d9b9e9fba928bd49e959fd49d958c">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#641401160d4a110816011d240c154a000b014a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c0b0a5b2a9eeb5acb2a5b980a8b1eea4afa5eea7afb6">[email protected]</span></a>
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, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6407051717050a0016054a0601160a1710010d0a240c154a000b014a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bedddfcdcddfd0daccdf90dcdbccd0cdcadbd7d0fed6cf90dad1db90d9d1c8">[email protected]</span></a>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Previously, DOE authorized Lake Charles LNG
Export 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:
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
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<bullet> DOE/FE Order No. 3868, as amended (Docket No. 13-04-LNG),
in a volume equivalent to 730 billion cubic per year (Bcf/yr) of
natural gas, through December 31, 2050; \2\ and
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\2\ Lake Charles LNG Export Co., LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3868,
Docket No. 13-04-LNG, 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. 3868-A (Oct. 6, 2020) (extending export commencement
deadline in non-FTA authorization), requested amendment denied by
DOE/FECM Order No. 3868-B (Apr. 21, 2023) (denying second
commencement extension), reh'g denied, DOE/FECM Order No. 3868-C
(June 21, 2023), amended by DOE/FECM Order No. 3868-D (Nov. 1, 2023)
(extending export term).
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<bullet> DOE/FE Order No. 4010, as amended (Docket No. 16-109-LNG),
in a volume equivalent to 121 Bcf/yr of natural gas, through December
31, 2050.\3\
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\3\ Lake Charles LNG Export Co., LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4010,
Docket No. 16-109-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 and Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (June 29, 2017), amended
by Order No. 4010-A (Oct. 6, 2020) (amending the term of FTA export
authorization and extending export commencement deadline in non-FTA
authorization), requested amendment denied by DOE/FECM Order No.
4010-B (Apr. 21, 2023) (denying second commencement extension),
reh'g denied DOE/FECM Order No. 4010-C (June 21, 2023), amended by
DOE/FECM Order No. 4010-D (Nov. 1, 2023) (extending export term).
The portion of this order authorizing Lake Charles LNG Export to
export LNG to FTA countries is not subject to this Notice. See 15
U.S.C. 717b(c).
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Both orders originally required Lake Charles LNG Export to
``commence export operations using the planned liquefaction facilities
no later than seven years from the date of issuance of this Order''--
i.e., by July 29, 2023, for Order No. 3868, and by June 29, 2024, for
Order No. 4010--but, in October 2020, those deadlines were extended to
December 16, 2025, for both orders.\4\ In the Extension Application,
Lake Charles LNG Export asks DOE to extend the current ``commencement
of export operations deadline'' in both orders from December 16, 2025,
to December 31, 2031.\5\
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\4\ See supra notes 2-3 (citing DOE/FE Order No. 3868-A and
4010-A, respectively).
\5\ Lake Charles LNG Export Co., LLC, Application for an
Amendment to Extend the Commencement of Operations Deadline and
Request for Expedited Action, Docket Nos. 13-04-LNG and 16-109-LNG,
at 1 (Apr. 17, 2025) [hereinafter Ext. App.] (requesting that DOE
approve the Extension Application on or before June 16, 2025).
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In support of the extension request, Lake Charles LNG Export
asserts that it is unable to meet the current commencement of export
operations deadline due to circumstances outside of its control. Lake
Charles LNG Export further states that, on April 11, 2025, it (together
with its affiliates Lake Charles LNG Company, LLC and Trunkline Gas
Company, LLC, and collectively, Lake Charles LNG Export) applied to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for an extension of the
existing FERC construction deadline for the Lake Charles LNG
Liquefaction Project and related Pipeline Modifications Project
(collectively, Projects) to December 31, 2031 (the same date as the
requested extension in this proceeding).\6\ DOE takes administrative
notice that, on May 8, 2025, FERC issued a letter order granting Lake
Charles LNG Export's requested extension of time ``until and including
December 31, 2031,'' to construct the Projects and make them available
for service.\7\
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\6\ See Ext. App. at 20.
\7\ Lake Charles LNG Co., LLC, et al., Letter Order, FERC Docket
Nos. CP14-119, et al. (May 8, 2025), <a href="https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20250508-3019">https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20250508-3019</a> (granting request for
extension of time).
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In the Extension Application, Lake Charles LNG Export also
identifies the actions it has taken to advance the Liquefaction Project
and to continue construction. Lake Charles LNG Export maintains that it
requests only ``a change in the timing'' to commence export operations
and ``does not request any changes to the nature of the Project.'' \8\
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\8\ Ext. App. at 33.
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Additional details can be found in the Extension Application,
posted on the DOE website at: <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/Lake">https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/Lake</a>;%20Charles;%20LNG;%20Export;%20DOE;%20Extension;%20Application;%20A
pril%2017%202025.pdf.
DOE Evaluation
In reviewing the Extension 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 the Extension Application should address
these issues and documents in their comments and/or protests, as well
as other issues deemed relevant to the Extension 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 Extension Application. 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. The public previously was given an opportunity to
intervene in, protest, and comment on Lake Charles LNG Export's long-
term non-FTA applications in Docket Nos. 13-04-LNG and 16-109-LNG.
Therefore, DOE will not consider comments or protests that do not bear
directly on the Extension Application.
Any person wishing to become a party to this proceeding evaluating
the Extension Application must file a motion to intervene or notice of
intervention.\9\ The filing of comments or a protest with respect to
the Extension 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 Extension
Application. All protests, comments, motions to intervene, or notices
of intervention must meet the requirements specified by DOE's
regulations in 10 CFR part 590, including the service requirements.
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\9\ Status as an intervenor in prior proceeding(s) in the Lake
Charles LNG Export dockets does not continue to this proceeding
evaluating the Extension Application, and therefore any person
interested in intervening to address the Extension Application must
file a new motion to intervene (or notice of intervention, as
applicable). 10 CFR 590.303.
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Filings may be submitted using one of the following methods:
(1) Submitting the filing electronically at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdaba8bfaaacbe8da5bce3a9a2a8e3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="33555641545240735b421d575c561d545c45">[email protected]</span></a>;
(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 Nos.
13-04-LNG and 16-109-LNG'' or ``Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC
Extension 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 Extension Application, and any filed protests, motions to
intervene, notices of intervention, and comments will be available
electronically on the DOE website at <a href="http://www.energy.gov/fecm/regulation">www.energy.gov/fecm/regulation</a>.
A decisional record on the Extension 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
Extension Application and responses filed by parties pursuant to this
Notice, in accordance with 10 CFR 590.316.
Signed in Washington, DC, on May 27, 2025.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2025-09881 Filed 5-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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