Energy Department proposed changes would cut red tape on natural gas exporting

In the interest of expediting certain gas exports, the Department of Energy (DOE) recently proposed a measure to speed up approval procedures for delivering natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S.

Current small-scale LNG shipments are destined mainly for ports in the Caribbean, Central America and South America – regions that do not require large-scale shipments, DOE said in a release.

The suggested approach seeks to reduce the red tape related to export approvals. Under current legislation, (the Natural Gas Act) DOE oversees natural gas imports and exports and is required to review export applications for relevance to public interest prior to approval.

Under the desired modification, DOE could authorize applications that meet two simple criteria: that exports will not exceed .14 billion cubic feet daily; and that exported materials qualify for exclusion under the DOE’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), first enacted in 1970, the release said.

“The Trump administration is focused on finding ways to unleash American energy and providing a reliable and environmentally friendly fuel to our trading partners who face unique energy infrastructure challenges,” Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said in the release. “The Department of Energy and this administration are wholeheartedly committed to strengthening the energy security of the United States and our allies.”