The US House will vote early the following week on HR 6, which is aimed at expediting US LNG exports, Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) announced on June 20.
He also announced an amendment he and Rep. Gene Green (D-Tex.) wrote to the bill. The amendment would require the US Department of Energy to reach a national interest decision within 30 days of the applicant’s project completing a National Environmental Policy Act review.
“We plan to amend the legislation on the House floor to address DOE’s recent changes and provide companies and investors with the certainty they need to plan and build export facilities,” Gardner said.
He made his announcement 2 days after US Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) introduced a similar bill that would require DOE to make a decision within 45 days following a federal environmental review’s conclusion (OGJ Online, June 19, 2014). Gardner is running to unseat Udall.
In addition to establishing a 30-day deadline, Gardner’s amendment would provide for expedited judicial review by the US Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the export facility would be located, and require public disclosure of export destinations as a condition of approval to export LNG.
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