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. 12/23/2015 Rio Grande LNG, LLC Application for Long-term, Multi-contract Authorization to Export Domestically Produced LNG to FTA & NFTA Countries
2. 06/07/2016 Rio Grande LNG, LLC Amendment to Application                                                                          
3. 07/13/2016 U.S. Department of Energy Signed F.R. Notice                               
4. 07/19/2016 U.S. Department of Energy Published F.R. Noitce 81 FR 46918; Comments Due 9/19/2016
5. 08/08/2016 U.S. Department of Energy Order 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. 09/19/2016 John & Barbara Young Letter Opposing the Approval of Application 
7.  09/15/2016 Mark Magee Comments
8. 08/23/2017 Rio Grande LNG. LLC Statement of Change in Ownership and Notice of Amendment to Pending NFTA Export Application
9. 10/25/2017 U.S. Department of Energy Response to CIC Request for Change in Ownership and Notice of Amendment
10. 03/12/2018 K&L Gates Notice of Change of Counsel
11. 06/12/2018 U.S. Department of Energy Study on Macroeconomic Outcomes of LNG Exports
12. 12/13/2018 U.S. Department of Energy Policy Statement on LNG Destination Reporting
13. 12/28/2018 U.S. Department of Energy Study on Macroeconomic Outcomes of LNG Exports:  Response to Comments Received on Study
14. 09/19/2019 U.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. 11/27/2019 Rio Grande LNG, LLC Updates to Pending Non-FTA Application
16. 01/02/2020 U.S. Department of Energy 85 FR 72: Response to Comments on Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting LNG from the U.S.
17. 02/03/2020 Rio Grande LNG, LLC Updates to Existing FTA Authorization and Pending Non-FTA Application 
18. 02/10/2020 U.S. Department of Energy  Opinion and Order 4492 Granting Long-term Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-free Trade Agreement Nations. 
19. 02/11/2020 U.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. 07/29/2020 U.S. Department of Energy Signed Federal Register Notice Extending Natural Gas Export Authorizations to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries Through the Year 2050
21. 08/25/2020 U.S. Department of Energy 85 FR 52237 - Published Federal Register Notice Extending Natural Gas Export Authorizations to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries Through the Year 2050
.22. 08/20/2020 Rio Grande LNG, LLC
23. 09/01/2020 U.S. Department of Energy 85 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. 09/16/2020 John Young Comment
25. 09/17/2020 U.S. Department of Energy Categorical Exclusion Determination
26. 10/21/2020 U.S. Department of Energy Order Extending Export Term for Authorizations to Free Trade and Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations through December 31, 2050
27. 12/17/2020 U.S. Department of Energy Categorical Exclusion Determination (CX)
28. 12/18/2020 U.S. Department of Energy Policy Statement on Including Short-Term Export Authority in Long-Term LNG Export Authorizations
29. 11/23/2021 U.S. Department of Energy Notice of Related Judicial Decision 
30. 04/21/2023 U.S. Department of Energy Policy Statement on Export Commencement Deadlines in Authorizations to Export Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Countries