June 3 -- Through the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public input on its proposal for the continued collection of natural gas import and export data (through Form FE-746R), with select changes. Comments are due to OMB by July 6, 2020.
DOE's Office of Fossil Energy (FE) requires individuals seeking to import or export natural gas to file an application providing basic information on the scope and nature of the import/export activity. Once an importer or exporter receives authorization from FE, they are required to submit monthly reports of their natural gas import and export transactions on Form FE-746R. In addition, a subset of authorization holders—including those that hold long-term import authorizations from any source, long-term export authorizations to both countries that do and do not have a free trade agreement with the United States requiring national treatment of natural gas and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (FTA and non-FTA countries), and short-term authorizations to export to non-FTA countries—must file additional information beyond the required filings on FE-746R. This additional information, including supply and delivery contracts, changes in control or ownership, and semi-annual reports that provide information on the status of the relevant proposed or existing LNG export facilities, provides input DOE needs to assess both the state of the U.S. import and export markets and the adequacy of energy resources to meet near and long term domestic demands. This information also assists FE in determining whether authorization holders are complying with the terms and conditions of their authorization.
Together with the data reported on FE-746R and the additional information required for certain types of authorization holders outlined above, DOE is able to perform market and regulatory analyses to improve the capability of industry and the government to respond to any future energy-related supply problems, and to keep the general public informed on international natural gas trade.
Proposed Changes to Information Collection: FE seeks to include supplementary data reporting items under OMB Control Number 1901-0294. FE proposes to collect this additional information from both long-term import and export authorization holders that have authority to import or export to both FTA and non-FTA countries, and short-term authorization holders that have authority to export non-FTA countries. The additional information FE seeks to collect from this subset of natural gas import and export authorization holders includes: Long-term contracts associated with the supply and sales of natural gas, including compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and associated products; changes in control of authorization holders; registrations of agents who import and export natural gas; and, for long-term LNG export authorization holders, semi-annual reports providing information on the status of the relevant proposed or existing LNG export facility, and the date the proposed LNG facility is expected to commence first exports of LNG (where applicable).
EIA natural gas import and export data:
https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/
Federal Register notice:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/06/03/2020-11973/agency-information-collection-extension
Submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202006-1901-001 (Click on IC List for form, View Supporting Statement for narrative)
Point of contact: Marc Talbert, Natural Gas Analyst 202-586-7991 marc.talbert@hq.doe.gov
AEA Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections:
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806