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###### Department of Energy

          - [FE Docket No. 20-99-LNG]

# AGENCY:

Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy.

# ACTION:

Notice of application.

# SUMMARY:

                        The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application (Application), filed on August 18, 2020, by Southern LNG Company, L.L.C. (Southern LNG). Southern LNG requests blanket authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) previously imported into the United States by vessel from foreign sources in a volume equivalent to 182.5 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of                               ( print page 8006)                            natural gas on a cumulative basis over a two-year period. Southern LNG filed the Application under the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited.                    

# DATES:

Protests, motions to intervene or notices of intervention, as applicable, requests for additional procedures, and written comments are to be filed using procedures detailed in the Public Comment Procedures section no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, March 5, 2021.

# ADDRESSES:

*Electronic Filing by email:**fergas@hq.doe.gov.*

*Regular Mail:*                         U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy, P.O. Box 44375, Washington, DC 20026-4375.                    

*Hand Delivery or Private Delivery Services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, etc.):*                         U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Beverly Howard or Amy Sweeney, U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9387 or (202) 586-2627;                         *beverly.howard@hq.doe.gov*                         or                         *amy.sweeney@hq.doe.gov.*

                        Cassandra Bernstein or Irene V. Nemesio, U.S. Department of Energy (GC-76), Office of the Assistant General Counsel for  Electricity and Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9793 or (202) 586-8606;                         *cassandra.bernstein@hq.doe.gov*                         or                         *irene.nemesio@hq.doe.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Southern LNG requests a short-term blanket authorization to export LNG from the Elba Island Terminal located on Elba Island, Chatham County, Georgia, to any country with the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy. This includes both countries with which the United States has entered into a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas (FTA countries) and all other countries (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, 15 U.S.C. 717b(a). Southern LNG states that its existing blanket export authorization, set forth in DOE/FE Order No. 4206, is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2021. Southern LNG requests that the authorization commence on the earlier of either the date when all Movable Modular Liquefaction System units associated with the Elba Liquefaction Project have been placed in service or April 1, 2021. Southern LNG is not seeking authorization to export any domestically produced natural gas or LNG.

                    Southern LNG requests this authorization on its own behalf and as agent for other parties who hold title to the LNG at the time of export. Additional details can be found in Southern LNG's Application, posted on the DOE/FE website at:                     *https://www.energy.gov/​sites/​prod/​files/​2020/​08/​f77/​20-99-LNG.pdf*.                

## DOE/FE Evaluation

In reviewing Southern LNG's Application, DOE will consider any issues required by law or policy. DOE will consider domestic need for the gas, as well as any other issues determined to be appropriate, including whether the arrangement is consistent with DOE's policy of promoting competition in the marketplace by allowing commercial parties to freely negotiate their own trade arrangements. Parties that may oppose this application should comment in their responses on these issues.

                    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. Interested parties will be provided 30 days from the date of publication of this Notice in which to submit comments, protests, motions to intervene, or notices of intervention.

Any person wishing to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene or notice of intervention. The filing of comments or a protest with respect to the Application will not serve to make the commenter or protestant a party to the 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 the regulations in 10 CFR part 590.

                    Filings may be submitted using one of the following methods: (1) Emailing the filing to                     *fergas@hq.doe.gov,*                     with FE Docket No. 20-99-LNG in the title line; (2) mailing an original and three paper copies of the filing to the Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement at the address listed in                     **ADDRESSES**                    ; or (3) hand delivering an original and three paper copies of the filing to the Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement at the address listed in                     **ADDRESSES**                    . All filings must include a reference to FE Docket No. 20-99-LNG.                     *Please note:*                     If submitting a filing via email, 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. Any hardcopy filing submitted greater in length than 50 pages must also include, at the time of the filing, a digital copy on disk of the entire submission.                

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 Opinion and 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.

                    The Application is available for inspection and copying in the Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement docket room, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. The docket room is open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Application and any filed protests, motions to intervene, notices of interventions, and comments will also be available electronically by going to the following DOE/FE Web address:                     *http://www.fe.doe.gov/​programs/​gasregulation/​index.html.*

      ( print page 8007)    
Signed in Washington, DC, on January 28, 2021.

Amy Sweeney,

Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Oil and Natural Gas.

[FR Doc. 2021-02218 Filed 2-2-21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P