Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P., FLNG Liquefaction, LLC, FLNG Liquefaction 2, LLC and FLNG Liquefaction 3, LLC - FE Dkt. No. 16-108-LNG

The Office of Fossil Energy gives notice of receipt of an Application filed August 3, 2016, by Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P., FLNG Liquefaction, LLC, FLNG Liquefaction 2, LLC and FLNG Liquefaction 3, LLC (collectively FLEX), seeking to amend long-term multi-contract authorizations to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) up to the equivalent of an additional 1.25 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year to Non-Free Trade Agreement (NFTA) countries.  Authorization is for a 20-year period commencing on the date of first commercial export from the Liquefaction Project. FLEX proposes to export LNG from its LNG terminal site on Quintana Island, Texas 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 that does not have an FTA requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas.  A federal register notice for DOE/FE Docket No. 16-108-LNG will be issued.

As part of this analysis in issuing this Order, DOE will consider the following two studies examining the cumulative impacts of exporting domestically produced LNG:

• Effect of Increased Levels of Liquefied Natural Gas Exports on U.S. Energy Markets, conducted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration upon DOE’s request (2014 EIA LNG Export Study); and
• The Macroeconomic Impact of Increasing U.S. LNG Exports, conducted jointly by the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Oxford Economics, on behalf of DOE (2015 LNG Export Study)

Additionally, DOE will consider the following environmental documents:

• Addendum to Environmental Review Documents Concerning Exports of Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15, 2014).
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 32260 (June 4, 2014).