A bill to amend the Natural Gas Act to limit the authority of the Secretary of Energy to approve certain proposals relating to export activities of liquefied natural gas terminals.

To amend the Natural Gas Act to limit the authority of the Secretary of Energy to approve certain proposals relating to export activities of liquefied natural gas terminals. 1. Limitation on authority of Secretary of Energy to approve certain LNG terminal proposals Section 3(e) of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717b(e) (1) by striking (e)(1) The Commission (e) LNG terminals (1) Authority of Commission (A) In general Subject to paragraph (5), the Commission ; (2) in paragraph (1), in the second sentence, by striking Except as (B) No effect on other Federal authority Except as ; (3) in paragraph (2)— (A) by indenting subparagraphs (A) through (D) appropriately; and (B) by striking (2) Upon (2) Hearing and determination On ; (4) in paragraph (3)— (A) by striking (3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) (3) Action on approval (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and paragraph (5) ; (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (ii), by indenting subclauses (I) through (III) appropriately; (ii) by indenting clauses (i) and (ii) appropriately; and (iii) by striking (B) Before (B) Requirements before 2015 Before ; and (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking (C) Subparagraph (B) (C) Sunset Subparagraph (B) ; (5) in paragraph (4), by striking (4) An order (4) Protection of existing customers An order ; and (6) by adding at the end the following: (5) Authority of Secretary of Energy over certain proposals (A) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Additional export proposal The term additional export proposal (I) to initiate the export of natural gas to a foreign country, with respect to an LNG terminal that does not so export natural gas as of the date of submission of the proposal; or (II) to increase the quantity of natural gas exported to a foreign country by the LNG terminal, with respect to an LNG terminal that exports natural gas as of the date of submission of the proposal. (ii) Secretary The term Secretary 42 U.S.C. 7151(b) (B) Limitation (i) In general Notwithstanding part 590 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), or any other provision of law (including regulations), effective beginning on the date described in clause (ii), the Secretary may not take into consideration or approve any additional export proposal. (ii) Description of date The date referred to in clause (i) is the date on which the Secretary determines that the total quantity of natural gas cumulatively exported by fully permitted LNG terminals is at least equal to 8 billion cubic feet per day. .

Summary: This bill amends the Natural Gas Act with respect to liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals to prohibit the Department of Energy, as of the date the total quantity of natural gas cumulatively exported by fully permitted LNG terminals is at least equal to 8 billion cubic feet per day, from either taking into consideration or approving any proposal submitted by an LNG terminal to: initiate the export of natural gas to a foreign country from an LNG terminal that does not export natural gas as of the date of the proposal's submission, or increase the quantity of natural gas exported to a foreign country by an LNG terminal that does export natural gas as of the date of the proposal's submission.