Notice2026-01407
Rio Grande LNG, LLC; Rio Grande LNG Train 4, LLC; and Rio Grande LNG Train 5, LLC; Application for Amendment to Long-Term Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations
Primary source
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Published
January 26, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) (formerly the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application (Application), filed by Rio Grande LNG, LLC (RGLNG); Rio Grande LNG Train 4, LLC (RGLNG4); and Rio Grande LNG Train 5, LLC (RGLNG5) (collectively, the RGLNG Entities) on December 17, 2025. The RGLNG Entities ask DOE to amend their existing authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Rio Grande LNG Terminal (Terminal), currently under construction in Cameron County, Texas, to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/ FE Order No. 4492 (as amended)--specifically, to authorize additional exports totaling 242.26 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr). The RGLNG Entities filed the Application under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 16 (Monday, January 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3164-3166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01407]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. 15-190-LNG]
Rio Grande LNG, LLC; Rio Grande LNG Train 4, LLC; and Rio Grande
LNG Train 5, LLC; Application for Amendment to Long-Term Authorization
To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations
AGENCY: Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of application.
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SUMMARY: The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) (formerly
the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management) of the Department of
Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application
(Application), filed by Rio Grande LNG, LLC (RGLNG); Rio Grande LNG
Train 4, LLC (RGLNG4); and Rio Grande LNG Train 5, LLC (RGLNG5)
(collectively, the RGLNG Entities) on December 17, 2025. The RGLNG
Entities ask DOE to amend their existing authorization to export
domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Rio Grande
LNG Terminal (Terminal), currently under construction in Cameron
County, Texas, to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/
FE Order No. 4492 (as amended)--specifically, to authorize additional
exports totaling 242.26 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr). The RGLNG
Entities filed the 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, March 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by Email (Strongly Encouraged):
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f99f9c8b9e988ab99188d79d969cd79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f090a1d080e1c2f071e410b000a41080019">[email protected]</span></a>.
Postal Mail, Hand Delivery, or Private Delivery Services (e.g.,
FedEx, UPS, etc.) U.S. Department of Energy (EX-34), Office of Global
Energy Security, Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, 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 3165]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Wade or Peri Ulrey, U.S. Department of Energy (EX-34) Office
of Global Energy Security, Office of Strategic Resources, Hydrocarbons
and Geothermal Energy Office, 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#6d07080303040b081f431a0c09082d051c43090208430a021b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ef858a818186898a9dc1988e8b8aaf879ec18b808ac1888099">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9d9ccdbc087dcc5dbccd0e9c1d887cdc6cc87cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fe8e9b8c97d08b928c9b87be968fd09a919bd0999188">[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#ccafadbfbfada2a8beade2aea9bea2bfb8a9a5a28ca4bde2a8a3a9e2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="88ebe9fbfbe9e6ecfae9a6eaedfae6fbfcede1e6c8e0f9a6ece7eda6efe7fe">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 10, 2020, in Order No. 4492, as
amended (Order),\1\ DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management
(now known as the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office) \2\
authorized the RGLNG Entities to export domestically produced LNG in a
volume equivalent to 1,318 Bcf/yr of natural gas by vessel from the
proposed Terminal, to be located in Cameron County, Texas, 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).\3\ This Order, as amended,
extends through December 31, 2050.\4\
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\1\ Rio Grande LNG, LLC, et al., DOE/FE Order No. 4492, Docket
No. 15-190-LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term Authorization
to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations
(Feb. 10, 2020), amended by DOE/FE Order No. 4492-A (Oct. 21, 2020)
(extending export term), further amended by DOE/FECM Order No. 4492-
B (Aug. 20, 2025) (adding authorization holders). DOE initially
issued this order to RGLNG, but on August 20, 2025, DOE granted the
RGLNG Entities' request to add RGLNG4 and RGLNG5 as joint
authorization holders. See Rio Grande LNG, LLC, et al., DOE/FECM
Order Nos. 3869-A and 4492-B, Docket No. 15-190-LNG, Order Granting
Request to Amend Authorizations to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to
Add Authorization Holders (Aug. 20, 2025).
\2\ The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) changed its name to the
Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) on July 4,
2021. Subsequently, on November 20, 2025, FECM changed its name to
the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO). DOE uses the
acronym in effect at the time of each order or action discussed
herein.
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
\4\ See Rio Grande LNG, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4492-A, at 9-10.
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In the Application,\5\ as relevant here,\6\ the RGLNG Entities ask
DOE to make two amendments to their authorized export volume in Order
No. 4492, as follows:
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\5\ Rio Grande LNG, LLC, et al., Application for Amendment to
Authorizations to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Free Trade and
Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries, Docket No. 15-190-LNG (Dec. 17,
2025) [hereinafter App.].
\6\ This Notice applies only to the portion of the Application
requesting an amendment to the RGLNG Entities' non-FTA authorization
under NGA section 3(a). DOE will review the portion of the
Application requesting an amendment to their existing authorization
to export LNG to FTA countries separately pursuant to NGA section
3(c), 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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(1) The RGLNG Entities state that their original application for
export authorization in 2015 ``utilized a conservative conversion
factor of 48.7 Bcf per million metric tons of natural gas.'' \7\ They
request that DOE amend the Order to use DOE's ``standard conversion
factor `of 51.75 Bcf per million metric tons of dry natural gas.' ''
\8\ The RGLNG Entities state that, using DOE's conversion factor, the
Terminal's current LNG production capacity of 27 million metric tons
per annum (mtpa), authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC), would equate to 1,397.25 Bcf/yr of natural gas,
resulting in a ``nominal increase'' of 79.25 Bcf/yr of natural gas over
the authorized export volume of 1,318 Bcf/yr of natural gas in the
Order.\9\
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\7\ App. at 5-6; see also id. at 4.
\8\ Id. at 5 & n.16 (quoting U.S. Dep't of Energy, Small-Scale
Natural Gas Exports; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 82 FR 41570,
41573 (Sept. 1, 2017) (``When converting from million metric tons to
billion cubic feet, DOE uses a conversion factor of 51.75 Bcf per
million metric tons of dry natural gas.''). The RGLNG Entities also
cite other proceedings in which DOE used this conversion factor. See
id.
\9\ See id. at 6.
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(2) The RGLNG Entities also request an additional increase of
163.01 Bcf/yr to their authorized export volume in the Order,
``consistent with an anticipated increase in the Terminal's maximum LNG
production capacity under peak operating conditions up to 30.15 MTPA,
for which approval is currently pending before FERC.'' \10\
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\10\ Id. at 2; see also id. at 6.
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In total, the requested amendments of 79.25 and 163.01 Bcf/yr,
respectively, represent an increase of 242.26 Bcf/yr of natural gas in
the authorized non-FTA volume under the Order--from 1,318 Bcf/yr to
1,560.26 Bcf/yr of natural gas.\11\ The RGLNG Entities state that this
proposed increase in their non-FTA export volume will not require the
construction of any new facilities or the modification of the
previously authorized Terminal facilities.
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\11\ See id. at 2, 6.
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Additional details can be found in the RGLNG Entities' Application,
posted on the DOE website at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/RGLNG%20Entities%20DOE%20Uprate%20Application.pdf">https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/RGLNG%20Entities%20DOE%20Uprate%20Application.pdf</a>.
DOE Evaluation
In reviewing the 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 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 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 Application. Interested parties will be
provided 60 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.
Any person wishing to become a party to this proceeding evaluating
the Application must file a motion to intervene or notice of
intervention.\12\ 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, 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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\12\ 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#b0d6d5c2d7d1c3f0d8c19ed4dfd59ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a1c1f081d1b093a120b541e151f541d150c">[email protected]</span></a>;
(2) Mailing the filing to the Office of Global Energy Security at
the address listed in the ADDRESSES section; or
[[Page 3166]]
(3) Hand delivering the filing to the Office of Global Energy
Security 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.
15-190-LNG'' or ``RGLNG Entities' Application'' in the title line.
Filings must be submitted in English to be considered.\13\
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\13\ Executive Order 14224 of March 1, 2025, Designating English
as the Official Language of the United States, 90 FR 11363 (Mar. 6,
2025).
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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 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/hgeo/regulation">www.energy.gov/hgeo/regulation</a>.
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 January 21, 2026.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Global Energy Security, Office of Strategic
Resources.
[FR Doc. 2026-01407 Filed 1-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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