Notice2026-05624
Rio Grande LNG, LLC, Rio Grande LNG Train 4, LLC, & Rio Grande LNG Train 5, LLC; Request for Extension of Non-FTA Authorization 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
March 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) (formerly the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of a request (Request), filed by Rio Grande LNG, LLC, Rio Grande LNG Train 4, LLC, and Rio Grande LNG Train 5, LLC (collectively, the "RGLNG Entities") on February 27, 2026. The RGLNG Entities ask DOE to amend their existing authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the proposed 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 extend their current export commencement deadline. The RGLNG Entities filed the Request under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13831-13832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05624]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. 15-190-LNG]
Rio Grande LNG, LLC, Rio Grande LNG Train 4, LLC, & Rio Grande
LNG Train 5, LLC; Request for Extension of Non-FTA Authorization Export
Commencement Deadline
AGENCY: Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) (formerly
the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)) of the
Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of a
request (Request), filed by Rio Grande LNG, LLC, Rio Grande LNG Train
4, LLC, and Rio Grande LNG Train 5, LLC (collectively, the ``RGLNG
Entities'') on February 27, 2026. The RGLNG Entities ask DOE to amend
their existing authorization to export domestically produced liquefied
natural gas (LNG) from the proposed 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 extend their current export commencement
deadline. The RGLNG Entities 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, April 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by email (Strongly encouraged):
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fc9a998e9b9d8fbc948dd2989399d29b938a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d0b081f0a0c1e2d051c43090208430a021b">[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.
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#dbb1beb5b5b2bdbea9f5acbabfbe9bb3aaf5bfb4bef5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6dcd3d8d8dfd0d3c498c1d7d2d3f6dec798d2d9d398d1d9c0">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cebeabbca7e0bba2bcabb78ea6bfe0aaa1abe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="58283d2a31762d342a3d21183029763c373d763f372e">[email protected]</span></a>.
Ajoke Agboola, 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) 805-2147, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#67260d080c024926000508080b06270f164903080249000811"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4302292c28266d0224212c2c2f22032b326d272c266d242c35">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 10, 2020, in DOE/FE Order No.
4492, as amended,\1\ DOE's Office of Fossil Energy (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 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas, by
vessel from the proposed Terminal to any country with which the United
States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national
treatment for trade in natural gas, which currently has or in the
future develops the capacity to import LNG, and with which trade is not
prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries), pursuant to NGA
section 3(a).\3\ The RLNG Entities are authorized to export this LNG
for a term extending through December 31, 2050.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 so that the RGLNG
Entities collectively hold the authorization).
\2\ The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) changed its name to FECM on
July 4, 2021. Subsequently, on November 20, 2025, FECM changed its
name to 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 DOE/FE Order No. 4492-A, at 9-10 (Ordering Para. B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As relevant here, Order No. 4492 requires the RGLNG Entities to
``commence export operations using the planned Rio Grande LNG Facility
no later than seven years from the date of issuance of this Order''--
i.e., by February 10, 2027.\5\ In the Request, the RGLNG Entities ask
DOE to extend the export commencement deadline set forth in Order No.
4492 to September 30, 2027.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ DOE/FE Order No. 4492, at 60 (Ordering Para. D).
\6\ See Rio Grande LNG, LLC, et al., Request for Extension of
Non-FTA Authorization Export Commencement Deadline, Docket No. 15-
190-LNG, at 2, 6 (Feb. 27, 2026) [hereinafter Request].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In support of their Request, the RGLNG Entities state that they
``have made significant progress with regard to the development of the
Rio Grande LNG Terminal, including satisfying key financial, commercial
and construction milestones.'' \7\ The RGLNG Entities note that,
``[d]espite these substantial milestones, [they] encountered
circumstances beyond their control, which may prevent [them] from
commencing LNG export operations prior to the deadline set forth in
[their] Non-FTA Authorization.'' \8\ The RGLNG
[[Page 13832]]
Entities contend that ``a minor extension of the export commencement
deadline . . . is necessary to account for the delay in declaring
[final investment decision], which resulted in commensurate delays to
the completion timeline for Train 1 [of the Rio Grande LNG Project]
pursuant to the RGLNG Entities' [engineering, procurement, and
construction] contract.'' \9\ The RGLNG Entities also assert that their
Request ``concerns only the timing of the proposed exports, and does
not modify the Rio Grande LNG Terminal.'' \10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Request at 2.
\8\ Id. at 3.
\9\ Id.
\10\ Id. at 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional details can be found in the Request, posted on the DOE
website at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/RGLNG%20Entities%20Request%20for%20Extension%20of%20Time.pdf">https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/RGLNG%20Entities%20Request%20for%20Extension%20of%20Time.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 the RGLNG
Entities' 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
the RGLNG Entities' Request must file a motion to intervene or notice
of intervention.\11\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Status as an intervenor in prior proceeding(s) in this
docket does not continue to this proceeding evaluating the RGLNG
Entities' 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#82e4e7f0e5e3f1c2eaf3ace6ede7ace5edf4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e181b0c191f0d3e160f501a111b50191108">[email protected]</span></a>;
(2) Mailing the filing to the Office of Global Energy Security at
the address listed in the ADDRESSES section; or
(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' Request for Extension'' in the title
line. Filings must be submitted in English to be considered.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ 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.
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 March 18, 2026.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Global Energy Security, Office of Strategic
Resources.
[FR Doc. 2026-05624 Filed 3-20-26; 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 March 23, 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.