In a response on Sept. 12 to the Alaska LNG project’s earlier request, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the project’s request that the FERC begin its environmental review before it receives the project’s application.

The Alaska LNG project intends to file its application by September 2016. The FERC’s approval said that once the application is filed, the commission will evaluate the progress made during the pre-filing process. At that point the FERC will establish a schedule for completion of the environmental document and for other federal authorizations.