The Office of Fossil Energy gives notice of receipt of an Application filed December 23, 2015, by Rio Grande LNG, LLC (Rio Grande), seeking a long-term multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) up to the equivalent of 1,318 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year to Free Trade Agreement countries and to Non Free Trade Agreement countries.  Authorization is for a 20-year period for each of six liquefaction trains, commencing on the earlier of the date of first export or seven years from the date the authorization is issued for the first four liquefaction trains, and commencing on the earlier of the date of first export or eight years from the date the authorization is issued for the last two liquefaction trains. Rio Grande proposes to export LNG from its proposed LNG facility to be located in Cameron County Texas, along the north embankment of the Brownsville Ship Channel, to any country that has, or in the future will have, the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier, with which the United States does not prohibit trade, and has a Free Trade Agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas.  Rio Grande also proposes to export LNG from its proposed LNG facility to be located in Cameron County Texas, along the north embankment of the Brownsville Ship Channel, to any country that has, or in the future will have, the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier, with which the United States does not prohibit trade, and does not have a Free Trade Agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas.  A federal register notice will be issued for the non-free trade agreement request.  A federal register notice will not be issued for the free trade agreement request.

DOE will consider one or more of the following studies examining the cumulative impacts of exporting domestically produced LNG:

Additionally, DOE will consider the following environmental documents: 

No.DATE:FILED BY:DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT:                                                              
1.12/23/2015Rio Grande LNG, LLCApplication for Long-term, Multi-contract Authorization to Export Domestically Produced LNG to FTA & NFTA Countries
2.06/07/2016Rio Grande LNG, LLCAmendment to Application                                                                          
3.07/13/2016U.S. Department of EnergySigned F.R. Notice                               
4.07/19/2016U.S. Department of EnergyPublished F.R. Noitce 81 FR 46918; Comments Due 9/19/2016
5.08/08/2016U.S. Department of EnergyOrder 3869 Granting Long-Term, Multi-Contract Authority to Export LNG by Vessel from the Proposed Rio Grande LNG Terminal in Brownsville, Texas, to FTANs
6.09/19/2016John & Barbara YoungLetter Opposing the Approval of Application 
7. 09/15/2016Mark MageeComments
8.08/23/2017Rio Grande LNG. LLCStatement of Change in Ownership and Notice of Amendment to Pending NFTA Export Application
9.10/25/2017U.S. Department of EnergyResponse to CIC Request for Change in Ownership and Notice of Amendment
10.03/12/2018K&L GatesNotice of Change of Counsel
11.06/12/2018U.S. Department of EnergyStudy on Macroeconomic Outcomes of LNG Exports
12.12/13/2018U.S. Department of EnergyPolicy Statement on LNG Destination Reporting
13.12/28/2018U.S. Department of EnergyStudy on Macroeconomic Outcomes of LNG Exports:  Response to Comments Received on Study
14.09/19/2019U.S. Department of Energy 

F.R. Notice Notice Published 84 FR 49278; Comments Due 10/21/19: Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting LNG from the U.S.

15.11/27/2019Rio Grande LNG, LLCUpdates to Pending Non-FTA Application
16.01/02/2020U.S. Department of Energy85 FR 72: Response to Comments on Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting LNG from the U.S.
17.02/03/2020Rio Grande LNG, LLCUpdates to Existing FTA Authorization and Pending Non-FTA Application 
18.02/10/2020U.S. Department of Energy Opinion and Order 4492 Granting Long-term Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-free Trade Agreement Nations. 
19.02/11/2020U.S. Department of Energy

Published Notice 85 FR 7672: Policy Statement Extending Natural Gas Export Authorizations to Non-free Trade Agreement Countries Through the Year 2050.

Federal Register Notice

The Comment Page

20.07/29/2020U.S. Department of EnergySigned Federal Register Notice Extending Natural Gas Export Authorizations to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries Through the Year 2050
21.08/25/2020U.S. Department of Energy85 FR 52237 - Published Federal Register Notice Extending Natural Gas Export Authorizations to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries Through the Year 2050
.22.08/20/2020Rio Grande LNG, LLC
23.09/01/2020U.S. Department of Energy85 FR 54366 - Notice of application of Rio Grande LNG, LLC; Application To Amend Export Term Through December 31, 2050, for Existing Non- Free Trade Agreement Authorization
24.09/16/2020John YoungComment
25.09/17/2020U.S. Department of EnergyCategorical Exclusion Determination
26.10/21/2020U.S. Department of EnergyOrder Extending Export Term for Authorizations to Free Trade and Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations through December 31, 2050
27.12/17/2020U.S. Department of EnergyCategorical Exclusion Determination (CX)
28.12/18/2020U.S. Department of EnergyPolicy Statement on Including Short-Term Export Authority in Long-Term LNG Export Authorizations
29.11/23/2021U.S. Department of EnergyNotice of Related Judicial Decision 
30.04/21/2023U.S. Department of EnergyPolicy Statement on Export Commencement Deadlines in Authorizations to Export Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries
31.08/16/2023Rio Grande LNG, LLCStatement and Notice of Change in Control
32.09/05/2023U.S. Department of Energy88 FR 60669 - Federal Register Notice of Change in Control
33.09/15/2023John YoungComment in Opposition 
34.01/04/2024U.S. Department of EnergyResponse to Statement and Notice of Change in Control
35.03/12/2024Rio Grande LNG, LLCNotice of Substitution of Counsel