American Natural Gas Security and Consumer Protection Act

Summary: American Natural Gas Security and Consumer Protection Act - Amends the Natural Gas Act to prohibit any person from exporting any natural gas from the United States to a foreign country without first having secured an order of the Secretary of Energy (DOE) authorizing such person to do so. Allows the Secretary to issue an order authorizing such exportation, upon application, if the Secretary determines that the proposed exportation will be consistent with the public interest. Requires the Secretary to issue an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 on such an order, including by analyzing the impacts of extraction of exported natural gas on the environment in communities where the natural gas is extracted. Directs the Secretary to issue final regulations for determining whether an export of natural gas from the United States to a foreign country is in the public interest. Exempts any export authorization order from such EIS and public interest requirements if the natural gas would be exported solely to meet certain requirements of: (1) the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (regarding presidential foreign exchange transaction authorities), (2) the Trading with the Enemy Act (regarding such transaction authorities in wartime), or (3) the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (regarding the International Energy Program).  Authorizes the Secretary to issue such an order upon application in such cases without modification or delay.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American Natural Gas Security and 
Consumer Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR THE EXPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS.

    Section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting before ``After six months from the date on 
        which'' the following: ``(1) Authorization for the importation 
        of natural gas.--'';
            (2) by striking ``export any natural gas from the United 
        States to a foreign country or'';
            (3) by striking ``exportation or''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(2) Authorization for the Exportation of Natural Gas.--
            ``(A) Prohibition.--No person may export any natural gas 
        from the United States to a foreign country without first 
        having secured an order of the Secretary of Energy authorizing 
        such person to do so.
            ``(B) Issuance of orders.--The Secretary of Energy may 
        issue an order authorizing a person to export natural gas from 
        the United States to a foreign country, upon application, if 
        the Secretary determines that the proposed exportation will be 
        consistent with the public interest, in accordance with the 
        regulations issued under paragraph (3)(B). The Secretary may by 
        order grant such application, in whole or in part, with such 
        modification and upon such terms and conditions as the 
        Secretary may find necessary or appropriate.
            ``(C) Timing.--No order may be issued by the Secretary of 
        Energy under this paragraph prior to the date on which the 
        Secretary issues final regulations under paragraph (3)(B).
    ``(3) Public Interest Determination.--
            ``(A) NEPA review.--The Secretary of Energy shall issue a 
        detailed statement under section 102(2)(C) of the National 
        Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) of the 
        environmental impact of the issuance of orders under paragraph 
        (2), including by conducting an analysis of the impacts of 
        extraction of exported natural gas on the environment in 
        communities where the natural gas is extracted.
            ``(B) Regulations.--
                    ``(i) Deadline.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of 
                Energy shall issue final regulations, after notice and 
                public comment, for determining whether an export of 
                natural gas from the United States to a foreign country 
                is in the public interest for purposes of issuing an 
                order under paragraph (2).
                    ``(ii) Contents.--Regulations issued under this 
                paragraph shall require the Secretary of Energy to 
                determine, with respect to each application for export 
                of natural gas from the United States to a foreign 
                country, whether such export is in the public interest 
                through--
                            ``(I) use of the latest available data on 
                        current and projected United States natural gas 
                        demands, production, and price;
                            ``(II) consideration of the effects of such 
                        natural gas exports on--
                                    ``(aa) household and business 
                                energy expenditures by electricity and 
                                natural gas consumers in the United 
                                States;
                                    ``(bb) the United States economy, 
                                jobs, and manufacturing, including such 
                                effects on wages, investment, and 
                                energy intensive and trade exposed 
                                industries, as determined by the 
                                Secretary;
                                    ``(cc) the energy security of the 
                                United States, including the ability of 
                                the United States to reduce its 
                                reliance on imported oil;
                                    ``(dd) the conservation of domestic 
                                natural gas supplies to meet the future 
                                energy needs of the United States;
                                    ``(ee) the potential for natural 
                                gas use in the transportation, 
                                industrial, and electricity sectors of 
                                the United States;
                                    ``(ff) the ability of the United 
                                States to reduce greenhouse gas 
                                emissions;
                                    ``(gg) the national security and 
                                foreign policy of the United States;
                                    ``(hh) domestic natural gas supply 
                                and availability, including such 
                                effects on pipelines and other 
                                infrastructure;
                                    ``(ii) the balance of trade of the 
                                United States; and
                                    ``(jj) other issues determined 
                                relevant by the Secretary; and
                            ``(III) consideration of the detailed 
                        statement issued under subparagraph (A).
    ``(4) Exemptions.--Paragraph (2) does not apply with respect to any 
order authorizing the exportation of natural gas if the natural gas 
that would be exported as a result of the order is exported solely to 
meet a requirement imposed pursuant to section 203 of the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702), section 5(b) of the 
Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. 5(b)), or part B of title II 
of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6271 et seq.). In 
such cases, the Secretary of Energy may issue such order upon 
application without modification or delay.''.