Notice2026-05625
Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC; CCL Midscale 8-9, LLC; and Cheniere Marketing, LLC; Application for Long-Term Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations
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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 an application (Application), filed by Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC, CCL Midscale 8-9, LLC, and Cheniere Marketing, LLC (collectively, CCL) on March 2, 2026. CCL requests long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a volume equivalent to approximately 251 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas per year (Bcf/yr) from the CCL Midscale Complex located at the existing Corpus Christi LNG terminal (CCL Terminal) in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas. CCL filed the Application under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13836-13837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05625]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. 26-22-LNG]
Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC; CCL Midscale 8-9, LLC; and
Cheniere Marketing, LLC; Application for 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 (FECM)) of the
Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an
application (Application), filed by Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC,
CCL Midscale 8-9, LLC, and Cheniere Marketing, LLC (collectively, CCL)
on March 2, 2026. CCL requests long-term, multi-contract authorization
to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a volume
equivalent to approximately 251 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas
per year (Bcf/yr) from the CCL Midscale Complex located at the existing
Corpus Christi LNG terminal (CCL Terminal) in San Patricio and Nueces
Counties, Texas. CCL 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, May 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by email (Strongly encouraged):
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b8deddcadfd9cbf8d0c996dcd7dd96dfd7ce"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f292a3d282e3c0f273e612b202a61282039">[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#f09a959e9e99969582de87919495b09881de949f95de979f86"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2c8c7cccccbc4c7d08cd5c3c6c7e2cad38cc6cdc78cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#11617463783f647d6374685179603f757e743f767e67"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdcdd8cfd493c8d1cfd8c4fdd5cc93d9d2d893dad2cb">[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#6c0d06030709420d0b0e0303000d2c041d42080309420b031a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="69080306020c47080e0b06060508290118470d060c470e061f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CCL requests authorization to export
additional domestically produced LNG in a volume equivalent to 251 Bcf/
yr of natural gas, by ocean-going vessel from the CCL Midscale Complex
\1\ at the CCL Terminal (Midscale Uprate Project). CCL states that the
requested increase is based upon more precise knowledge and insight
concerning the potential production capacity of the Midscale Trains
gained during the final design and construction of the Stage 3 Project,
as well as detailed production data gathered through commissioning.\2\
CCL seeks to export this LNG on a non-additive basis to: (i) any
country with which the United States has entered into a free trade
agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas
(FTA countries), and (ii) any other country with which trade is not
prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries). This Notice
applies only to the portion of the Application requesting authority to
export LNG to non-FTA countries pursuant to section 3(a) of the NGA.\3\
DOE will review CCL's request for authorization to export LNG to FTA
countries separately pursuant to NGA section 3(c).\4\
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\1\ The CCL Midscale Complex includes the ``Stage 3 Project,''
consisting of midscale natural gas liquefaction trains (Midscale
Trains) 1-7, the ``Trains 8 & 9 Project,'' consisting of Midscale
Trains 8 and 9, and supporting infrastructure for each project, as
approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. See Corpus
Christi Liquefaction, LLC et.al., Application for Long-Term
Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Free Trade
Agreement Nations and Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations, Docket No.
26-22-LNG, at 1 n.4 (Mar. 2, 2026) [hereinafter App.].
\2\ App. at 3.
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
\4\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
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CCL seeks this authorization on its own behalf and as agent for
other entities that will hold title to the LNG at the time of export.
CCL requests the authorization for a term commencing on the date of
first commercial export, and to extend through December 31, 2050, plus
a three-year Make-Up Period extending through December 31, 2053,
consistent with recent DOE practice. CCL states that these refinements
and optimizations will not require ``significant or major modifications
of existing facilities, additional
[[Page 13837]]
construction of new facilities or additional environmental impacts.''
\5\
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\5\ App. at 4.
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Additional details can be found in CCL's Application, posted on the
DOE website at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/CCL%20Midscale%20Uprate%20DOE%20Application.pdf">https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/CCL%20Midscale%20Uprate%20DOE%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.\6\ 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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\6\ 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#305655425751437058411e545f551e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="690f0c1b0e081a290118470d060c470e061f">[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.
26-22-LNG'' or ``Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC et al. Application''
in the title line. Filings must be submitted in English to be
considered.\7\
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\7\ 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 March 18, 2026.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Global Energy Security, Office of Strategic
Resources.
[FR Doc. 2026-05625 Filed 3-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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