Notice2026-05991
Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC; Application for Limited Amendment of Authorization To Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations
Primary source
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Published
March 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (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 Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC (Plaquemines LNG) on March 5, 2026. Plaquemines LNG asks DOE to amend its existing authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Plaquemines LNG Terminal (Export Terminal or Project), located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, near river mile marker 55, in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/FE Order No. 4446, as amended. Specifically, Plaquemines LNG asks DOE to authorize additional exports in a volume equivalent to approximately 467.67 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas. Plaquemines LNG filed the Application under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14832-14834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05991]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. 16-28-LNG]
Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC; Application for Limited
Amendment of 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 (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 Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC (Plaquemines
LNG) on March 5, 2026. Plaquemines LNG asks DOE to amend its existing
authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas
(LNG) from the Plaquemines LNG Terminal (Export Terminal or Project),
located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, near river mile
[[Page 14833]]
marker 55, in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, to non-free trade
agreement countries set forth in DOE/FE Order No. 4446, as amended.
Specifically, Plaquemines LNG asks DOE to authorize additional exports
in a volume equivalent to approximately 467.67 billion cubic feet per
year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas. Plaquemines LNG 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 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Electronic Filing by email (Strongly encouraged):
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0d6b687f6a6c7e4d657c23696268236a627b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8fe9eafde8eefccfe7fea1ebe0eaa1e8e0f9">[email protected]</span></a>.
Postal Mail, Hand Delivery, or Private Delivery Services (e.g.,
FedEx, UPS, etc.) U.S. Department of Energy (EX-31), 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-31), 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#ef858a818186898a9dc1988e8b8aaf879ec18b808ac1888099"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2c8c7cccccbc4c7d08cd5c3c6c7e2cad38cc6cdc78cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdbda8bfa4e3b8a1bfa8b48da5bce3a9a2a8e3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5c5d0c7dc9bc0d9c7d0ccf5ddc49bd1dad09bd2dac3">[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#4322292c28266d2224212c2c2f22032b326d272c266d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b1a1114101e551a1c191414171a3b130a551f141e551c140d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 16, 2019, in Order No. 4446
(Order),\1\ DOE's Office of Fossil Energy (now known as the
Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office) \2\ authorized Plaquemines
LNG to export domestically produced LNG in a volume equivalent to 1,240
Bcf/yr of natural gas by vessel from the then-proposed Project 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), for a 20-year term, pursuant to NGA section 3(a).\3\ On
October 21, 2020, in Order No. 4446-A, DOE extended the term of the
authorization through December 31, 2050.\4\ On March 13, 2026, in Order
No. 4446-B, DOE amended Plaquemines LNG's authorization to increase its
non-FTA export volume from 1,240 Bcf/yr to 1405.33 Bcf/yr.\5\
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\1\ Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4446,
Docket No. 16-28-LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term
Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade
Agreement Nations (Oct. 16, 2019).
\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\ Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4446-
A, Docket No. 16-28-LNG, Order Extending Export Term for
Authorization to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations Through December
31, 2050, at 9-10 (Ordering Para. C) (Oct. 21, 2025).
\5\ Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC, DOE/HGEO Order No.
4446-B, Docket No. 16-28-LNG, Order Amending Long Term Authorization
to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations
(Mar. 13, 2026).
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In the Application,\6\ as relevant here,\7\ Plaquemines LNG asks
DOE to increase its authorized non-FTA volume by the equivalent of
467.67 Bcf/yr of natural gas, from 1,405.33 Bcf/yr to 1,873 Bcf/yr of
natural gas.\8\ Plaquemines LNG states that its requested increase
``reflects a refined analysis of the peak liquefaction capacity of the
authorized Project facilities under optimal conditions.'' \9\
Plaquemines LNG adds that it has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) to increase its authorized liquefaction capacity from
27.2 metric tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG to 35.0 MTPA of LNG, which
equals the volume increase for which it now seeks DOE's
authorization.\10\
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\6\ Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC, Application for Limited
Amendment of Authorizations to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Free
Trade and Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations, Docket No. 16-28-LNG
(Mar. 5, 2026) [hereinafter App.].
\7\ This Notice applies only to the portion of the Application
requesting an amendment to Plaquemines LNG's non-FTA authorization
under NGA section 3(a). DOE will review the portion of the
Application requesting an amendment to Plaquemines LNG's existing
authorization to export LNG to FTA countries separately pursuant to
NGA section 3(c), 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).
\8\ App. at 3 & n.9. See also App. at 13.
\9\ App. at 2.
\10\ See id. at 2 & n.5; see also id. at 3. FERC, having
previously approved the Terminal's 24.0 MTPA capacity, approved
Plaquemines LNG's requested capacity increase from 24.0 MTPA to 27.2
MTPA in February 2025. See id. at 2 & n.5.
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Plaquemines LNG states that this proposed increase in its non-FTA
export volume ``does not require the construction of any new facilities
or the material modification of any existing facilities.'' \11\
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\11\ Id. at 12.
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Additional details can be found in Plaquemines LNG's Application,
posted on the DOE website at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/VG%20Plaquemines%20Uprate%20DOE%20Application%20%283.4.26%29.pdf">https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/VG%20Plaquemines%20Uprate%20DOE%20Application%20%283.4.26%29.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:
[[Page 14834]]
(1) Submitting the filing electronically at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aec8cbdcc9cfddeec6df80cac1cb80c9c1d8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1e787b6c797f6d5e766f307a717b30797168">[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.
16-28-LNG'' or ``Plaquemines LNG Second Uprate 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 March 24, 2026.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Global Energy Security, Office of Strategic
Resources.
[FR Doc. 2026-05991 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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