Notice2025-12763
Mexico Pacific Limited LLC; Application for an Amendment To Extend the Deadline for Commencement of Export Operations in Long-Term Authorization To Re-Export Liquefied Natural Gas
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Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 9, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) (formerly the Office of Fossil Energy (FE)) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application (Extension Application), filed on June 18, 2025, by Mexico Pacific Limited LLC (MXP). MXP asks DOE to amend its existing authorization to re-export U.S.-sourced natural gas in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the proposed Saguaro Energ[iacute]a Facility (Facility), to be located in Mexico, to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/FE Order No. 4312 (as amended)--specifically, to extend the current export commencement deadline in its order. MXP filed the Extension Application under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 129 (Wednesday, July 9, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 9, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30223-30225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12763]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. 18-70-LNG]
Mexico Pacific Limited LLC; Application for an Amendment To
Extend the Deadline for Commencement of Export Operations in Long-Term
Authorization To Re-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 (FE)) of the Department of Energy
(DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application (Extension
Application), filed on June 18, 2025, by Mexico Pacific Limited LLC
(MXP). MXP asks DOE to amend its existing authorization
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to re-export U.S.-sourced natural gas in the form of liquefied natural
gas (LNG) from the proposed Saguaro Energ[iacute]a Facility (Facility),
to be located in Mexico, to non-free trade agreement countries set
forth in DOE/FE Order No. 4312 (as amended)--specifically, to extend
the current export commencement deadline in its order. MXP 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, August 8, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by email (Strongly encouraged):
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdaba8bfaaacbe8da5bce3a9a2a8e3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c6a697e6b6d7f4c647d22686369226b637a">[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#2c46494242454a495e025b4d48496c445d02484349024b435a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f19b949f9f98979483df86909594b19980df959e94df969e87">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99e9fcebf0b7ecf5ebfce0d9f1e8b7fdf6fcb7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d1d081f044318011f08142d051c43090208430a021b">[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#80e3e1f3f3e1eee4f2e1aee2e5f2eef3f4e5e9eec0e8f1aee4efe5aee7eff6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ef8c8e9c9c8e818b9d8ec18d8a9d819c9b8a8681af879ec18b808ac1888099">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 14, 2018, in Order No. 4312 (as
amended),\1\ DOE authorized MXP to re-export U.S.-sourced natural gas
in the form of LNG in a volume equivalent to 621 billion cubic feet per
year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas by vessel from the proposed Facility, to
be located in the State of Sonora, Mexico, 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).\2\ MXP is authorized to re-export this
LNG for a term extending through December 31, 2050.\3\
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\1\ Mexico Pacific Limited LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4312, Docket
No. 18-70-LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term, Multi-Contract
Authorization to Export U.S.-Sourced Natural Gas by Pipeline to
Mexico for Liquefaction and Re-Export in the Form of Liquefied
Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries (Dec. 14, 2018),
amended by DOE/FECM Order No. 4312-A (June 3, 2022) (extending
export term).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
\3\ Mexico Pacific Limited LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4312, as
amended by DOE/FECM Order No. 4312-A.
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As relevant here, Order No. 4312 requires MXP to ``commence re-
export operations using the planned liquefaction facilities no later
than seven years from the date of issuance of this Order''--i.e., by
December 14, 2025.\4\ In the Extension Application, MXP asks DOE to
extend ``the current deadline to commence its export operations to
December 14, 2032.'' \5\
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\4\ Mexico Pacific Limited LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4312, at 49
(Ordering Para. D).
\5\ Mexico Pacific Limited LLC, Application for an Amendment to
Extend the Commencement of Operations and Request for Expedited
Action, Docket No. 18-70-LNG, at 4 (June 18, 2025) [hereinafter Ext.
App.]; see also id. at 1. MXP states that it is not requesting any
modification to its existing authorization to FTA countries (DOE/FE
Order No. 4248, as amended). See id. at 4 n.11.
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In support of the extension request, MXP asserts that it is unable
to meet the current commencement of export operations deadline due to
circumstances and challenges outside of its control. MXP states that,
despite these challenges, it has ``diligently and in good faith
continuously made substantial efforts to advance the development of the
Saguaro Energ[iacute]a Facility.'' \6\ MXP identifies the actions it
has taken to advance the proposed Facility and asserts that there is
good cause for the requested extension. MXP further maintains that it
requests only ``a change in the deadline'' to commence export
operations and notes that ``[t]he project's location and its target
markets remain unchanged.'' \7\
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\6\ Id. at 12.
\7\ Id. at 17.
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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/2025-06/MXP%20Extension%20Request%20-%20FINAL%20for%20filing.pdf">https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/MXP%20Extension%20Request%20-%20FINAL%20for%20filing.pdf</a>.
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 MXP's long-term non-FTA
application in this docket. 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.\8\ 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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\8\ Status as an intervenor in prior proceeding(s) in this
docket does not continue to this proceeding evaluating MXP's
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#66000314010715260e174802090348010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="72141700151301321a035c161d175c151d04">[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
[[Page 30225]]
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.
18-70-LNG'' or ``Mexico Pacific Limited 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 July 3, 2025.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2025-12763 Filed 7-8-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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