Bill Introduced to Expedite DOE LNG Export Approvals
Yesterday, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and six other co-sponsors introduced the “LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act,” which is intended to expedite the U.S. Department of Energy’s approval process for LNG exports to countries without a free trade agreement with the United States (Non-FTA countries). According to the press release, the bill would:
(1) require the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to issue a final decision on an application to export LNG to Non-FTA countries within 45 days from the time FERC or the U.S. Maritime Administration publishes the environmental review document for the project;
(2) provide an applicant with expedited judicial review (in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit or the circuit in which the export project will be located) if the Secretary fails to act within 45 days or if the project is subject to a legal challenge; and
(3) require LNG exporters to disclose the country or countries to which LNG has been delivered and require the Secretary to make this information available to the public.