Notice2026-00476

Argent LNG, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Argent LNG Project

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Published
January 13, 2026

Issuing agencies

Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1296-1298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00476]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF25-11-000]


Argent LNG, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on 
Environmental Issues for the Planned Argent LNG Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss 
the environmental impacts of the Argent LNG Project involving 
construction and operation of facilities by Argent LNG, LLC (Argent 
LNG) in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The Commission will use this 
environmental document in its decision-making process to determine 
whether the project is in the public interest.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies regarding the project. As part of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the Commission takes into account 
concerns the public may have about proposals and the environmental 
impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the 
issuance of an authorization. This gathering of public input is 
referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to 
focus the analysis in the environmental document on the important 
environmental issues. Additional information about the Commission's 
NEPA process is described below in the NEPA Process and Environmental 
Document section of this notice.
    By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the 
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. To ensure 
that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your 
comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or 
before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 9, 2026. Comments may be 
submitted in written form. Further details on how to submit comments 
are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice.
    Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, 
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental 
impacts. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what 
issues they need to evaluate in the environmental document. Commission 
staff will consider all written comments during the preparation of the 
environmental document.
    If you submitted comments on this project to the Commission before 
the opening of this docket on September 8, 2025, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. PF25-11-000 to ensure they are considered.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this project. State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this planned 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. 
Landowner topics of interest are available for viewing on the FERC 
website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) under the Natural Gas, Landowner Topics link.

Public Participation

    There are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the 
Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your 
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c0a293e2f0322202522291f393c3c233e380c2a293e2f622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e0a6859283af8e8c898e85b39590908f9294a086859283ce878f96">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) 
under the link to FERC Online. Using eComment is an easy method for 
submitting brief, text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) 
under the link to FERC Online. With eFiling, you can provide comments 
in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your 
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking 
on ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you 
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment 
on a Filing''; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (PF25-
11-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service 
must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: 
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription, which

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makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and submittals 
regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. These instant 
email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification and 
provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of 
time you spend researching proceedings. Go to FERC Online to register 
for eSubscription.
    For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office 
of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98d7c8c8d8fefdeafbb6fff7ee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cd3ccccdcfaf9eeffb2fbf3ea">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

Summary of the Planned Project

    Argent LNG plans to site, construct and operate a liquefied natural 
gas (LNG) production and export facility along the northwest shore of 
the Port Fourchon Belle Pass Channel (Belle Pass Channel) in Lafourche 
Parish, Louisiana. The Argent LNG Project would produce up to 25 
million ton per annum of LNG for export to U.S. trading partners.
    The Argent LNG Project would consist of the following facilities:
    <bullet> pretreatment systems;
    <bullet> natural gas liquefication units;
    <bullet> two aboveground full-containment LNG storage tanks;
    <bullet> a 350-megawatt natural gas-fired power generation 
facility;
    <bullet> marine facilities and two new marine berths capable of 
accommodating LNG carriers of up to 260,000 cubic meters; and
    <bullet> a total of 0.7 mile of new dual 16-inch-diameter natural 
gas interconnect pipelines.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a> using the link called ``eLibrary.'' For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. For 
assistance, contact FERC at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c4a495e4f4362606562695f797c7c637e784c6a697e6f226b637a">[email&#160;protected]</a> or call toll 
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The new LNG export terminal would be constructed on approximately 
269.9 acres within a larger 885.5-acre leased property. The project 
also includes Marine Facilities that would impact a total of 147.1 
acres (127.4 acres within the leased site and 19.7 acres within the 
Belle Pass Channel), and a total of 0.7 mile of new dual 16-inch-
diameter natural gas interconnect pipelines that would tie into the 
existing Kinetica interstate pipeline system located near the site. 
Following construction, Argent LNG would maintain about 445 acres for 
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage 
would be restored.

NEPA Process and the Environmental Document

    Any environmental document issued by Commission staff will discuss 
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation 
of the planned project under the relevant general resource areas:
    <bullet> geology and soils;
    <bullet> water resources and wetlands;
    <bullet> vegetation and wildlife;
    <bullet> threatened and endangered species;
    <bullet> cultural resources;
    <bullet> socioeconomics;
    <bullet> land use;
    <bullet> air quality and noise; and
    <bullet> reliability and safety.
    Commission staff have already identified several issues that 
deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the planned 
facilities and the environmental information provided by Argent LNG. 
This preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and 
our analysis:
    <bullet> marine transportation;
    <bullet> socioeconomic effects; and
    <bullet> facility construction and effects on water resources, 
wetlands, and marine species.
    Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the 
planned project or portions of the project and make recommendations on 
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your 
comments will help Commission staff identify and focus on the issues 
that might have an effect on the human environment and potentially 
eliminate others from further study and discussion in the environmental 
document.
    Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff 
have already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing 
process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early 
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve 
issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the 
pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact federal and state 
agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the 
preparation of the environmental document.
    If a formal application is filed, Commission staff will then 
determine whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present 
Commission staff's independent analysis of the environmental issues. If 
Commission staff prepares an EA, a Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment will be issued. The EA may 
be issued for an allotted public comment period. The Commission would 
consider timely comments on the EA before making its determination on 
the proposed project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of 
Intent to Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued once an 
application is filed, which will open an additional public comment 
period. Staff will then prepare a draft EIS that will be issued for 
public comment. Commission staff will consider all timely comments 
received during the comment period on the draft EIS, and revise the 
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any EA or draft and 
final EIS will be available in electronic format in the public record 
through eLibrary \2\ and the Commission's natural gas environmental 
documents web page (<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents">https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents</a>). If eSubscribed, you will receive 
instant email notification when the environmental document is issued.
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    \2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the 
last page of this notice.
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    With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with 
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the 
environmental issues related to this project to formally cooperate in 
the preparation of the environmental document.\3\ Agencies that would 
like to request cooperating agency status should follow the 
instructions for filing comments provided under the Public 
Participation section of this notice.
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    \3\ Cooperating agency responsibilities are addressed in Section 
107(a)(3) of NEPA (42 U.S. Code Sec.  4336(a)(3)).
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Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, the Commission is using this notice to initiate 
consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), 
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, 
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential 
effects on historic properties.\4\

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The environmental document for this project will document our findings 
on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of 
consultations under section 106.
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    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the project and includes a mailing address with their 
comments. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list 
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices related to 
this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations, 
and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by 
the planned project.
    If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would 
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of 
the following steps:
    (1) Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b6c4a587b5944414e485f6a4f4f594e585868434a454c4e6b4d4e5948054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6126001231130e0b040215200505130412122209000f060421070413024f060e17">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> stating your 
request. You must include the docket number PF25-11-000 in your 
request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure 
to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to 
delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and 
address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to 
accept comments.

OR

    (2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Argent LNG files its application with the Commission, you may 
want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision and be heard by the courts if 
they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor 
formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to 
intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully 
described at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene">https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene</a>. Please note that the 
Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this time. 
You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application for 
the project, after which the Commission will issue a public notice that 
establishes an intervention deadline.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available on the FERC 
website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary 
link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number in the 
``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date 
range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fabc9f8899b5949693949fa98f8a8a95888eba9c9f8899d49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cdaf9eeffd3f2f0f5f2f9cfe9ececf3eee8dcfaf9eeffb2fbf3ea">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the 
texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, 
notices, and rulemakings.
    Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events">https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events</a> along with 
other related information.
    Authority: 18 CFR 2.1.

    Dated: January 8, 2026.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-00476 Filed 1-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on January 13, 2026.

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.