Notice2025-23764
Epcilon LNG LLC; Request for Extension of Export Commencement Deadline
Primary source
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
December 23, 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 a request (Request), filed on December 15, 2025, by Epcilon LNG LLC (Epcilon). Epcilon 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 Amigo LNG export terminal project (Project), to be located in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/FE Order No. 4629 (as amended)--specifically, to extend its current export commencement deadline. Epcilon filed the Request under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60084-60086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23764]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. 20-31-LNG]
Epcilon LNG LLC; Request for Extension of Export Commencement
Deadline
AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 a request (Request), filed on
December 15, 2025, by Epcilon LNG LLC (Epcilon). Epcilon 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 Amigo LNG
export terminal project (Project), to be located in Guaymas, Sonora,
Mexico, to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/FE Order
No. 4629 (as amended)--specifically, to extend its current export
commencement deadline. Epcilon filed the Request 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, January 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by email (Strongly encouraged):
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5b3d3e293c3a281b332a753f343e753c342d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f5939087929486b59d84db919a90db929a83">[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
[[Page 60085]]
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#9af0fff4f4f3fcffe8b4edfbfeffdaf2ebb4fef5ffb4fdf5ec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f656a616166696a7d21786e6b6a4f677e216b606a21686079">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#21514453480f544d5344586149500f454e440f464e57"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="750510071c5b001907100c351d045b111a105b121a03">[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#2b484a58584a454f594a05494e5945585f4e42456b435a054f444e054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c2a1a3b1b1a3aca6b0a3eca0a7b0acb1b6a7abac82aab3eca6ada7eca5adb4">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 8, 2020, in Order No. 4629, as
amended (and as relevant here),\1\ DOE authorized Epcilon to re-export
U.S.-sourced natural gas in the form of LNG in a volume equivalent to
395 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas by vessel
from the proposed Project, 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\
Epcilon is authorized to re-export this LNG for a term of 20 years.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Epcilon LNG LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4629, Docket No. 20-31-
LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term Authorization to Export
Natural Gas to Mexico for Liquefaction, and to Re-Export U.S.-
Sourced Natural Gas in the Form of Liquefied Natural Gas from Mexico
to Free Trade Agreement and Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries (Dec.
8, 2020), amended by DOE/FE Order No. 4629-A (May 6, 2021) (amending
order to correct monthly reporting obligations).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
\3\ See Epcilon LNG LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4629, at 55 (Ordering
Para. A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under Order No. 4629, Epcilon is required to ``commence . . . re-
export operations using the planned LNG Facility no later than seven
years from the date of issuance of this Order''--i.e., by December 8,
2027.\4\ In the Request, Epcilon asks DOE to grant a 24-month extension
of the export commencement deadline set forth in Order No. 4629, thus
``extending the current deadline from December 8, 2027 to December 8,
2029.'' \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Id. at 56 (Ordering Para. F).
\5\ Epcilon LNG LLC, Request for Amendment of Long-Term
Authorizations to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to FTA and Non-FTA
Countries and for Extension of Time to Commence Exports, Docket No.
20-31-LNG, at 6 (Dec. 15, 2025) [hereinafter Request]; see also id.
at 1-2, 9. The Request also applies to Epcilon's FTA authorization
in the same docket, but DOE will address the FTA portion of the
Application separately pursuant to NGA section 3(c), 15 U.S.C.
717b(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In support of this Request, Epcilon states that it ``continues to
make substantial progress in advancing the project, but [that] in the
past, it has encountered significant and unforeseen delays due to
global macroeconomic and geopolitical disruptions.'' \6\ Epcilon
asserts that these delays have been fully resolved, and Epcilon
``intends to take FID (Final Investment Decision) in early Q1 2026''
for the Project.\7\ Therefore, according to Epcilon, the requested
commencement extension will enable the Project to reach FID and proceed
to the construction phase.\8\ Epcilon adds that the Request is limited
solely to an extension of time and does not seek any modification to
the scope, configuration, or nature of the Project.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Request at 1.
\7\ Id.
\8\ Id. at 9.
\9\ Id. Epcilon also requests that DOE amend its authorization
``to reflect the updated project development and construction
schedule.'' Request at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional details can be found in the Request, posted on the DOE
website at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/Epcilon%20LNG%20LLC%20%28FE%20DOCKET%20NO%20%2020_31_LNG%29%20Request%20for%20Extension%2012122025%20%28003%29.pdf">https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/Epcilon%20LNG%20LLC%20%28FE%20DOCKET%20NO%20%2020_31_LNG%29%20Request%20for%20Extension%2012122025%20%28003%29.pdf</a>.
DOE Evaluation
In reviewing the Request, 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 Request should address these issues and
documents in their comments and/or protests, as well as other issues
deemed relevant to the Request.
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, addressing the Request. Interested parties will be provided
30 days from the date of publication of this Notice in the Federal
Register 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 Epcilon's long-
term non-FTA application in this docket. Therefore, DOE will not
consider comments or protests that do not bear directly on this
Request.
Any person wishing to become a party to this proceeding evaluating
Epcilon's Request must file a motion to intervene or notice of
intervention.\10\ The filing of comments or a protest with respect to
the Request 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 Request. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Status as an intervenor in prior proceeding(s) in this
docket does not continue to this proceeding evaluating Epcilon's
Request, and therefore any person interested in intervening to
address the Request must file a new motion to intervene (or notice
of intervention, as applicable). 10 CFR 590.303.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filings may be submitted using one of the following methods:
(1) Submitting the filing electronically at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90f6f5e2f7f1e3d0f8e1bef4fff5bef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="96f0f3e4f1f7e5d6fee7b8f2f9f3b8f1f9e0">[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 No.
20-31-LNG'' or ``Epcilon Request for Extension'' in the title line.
Filings must be submitted in English to be considered.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Executive Order 14224 of March 1, 2025, Designating English
as the Official Language of the United States, 90 FR 11363 (Mar. 6,
2025).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
[[Page 60086]]
The Request, 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 Request 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 Request and
responses filed by parties pursuant to this Notice, in accordance with
10 CFR 590.316.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December 18, 2025.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2025-23764 Filed 12-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 23, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.