May 31 -- The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of Energy (DOE), invites public comment to OMB by July 5, 2023 on the proposed three-year extension without changes of Form FE-746R, “Natural Gas Imports and Exports”. This information collection request supports DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) in gathering critical information on the U.S. trade in natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG). The data are used to monitor natural gas trade, assess the adequacy of U.S. energy resources to meet near and longer term domestic demands, and support various market and regulatory analyses done by FECM. [Comments are due 30 days after submission to OMB on June 2.]
The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require EIA to carry out a centralized, comprehensive, and unified energy information program. This program collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates information on energy resource reserves, production, demand, technology, and related economic and statistical information. Additionally, FECM is authorized to regulate natural gas imports and exports, including LNG, under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b). In order to carry out its statutory responsibilities, FECM requires anyone seeking to import or export natural gas to file an application and provide basic information on the scope and nature of the proposed import/export activity. Additionally, once an importer or exporter receives an authorization from FECM, they are required to submit monthly reports of all import and/or export transactions.
Specifically, the Form FE–746R requires the reporting of the following information by every holder of a DOE import or export authorization: the name of importer/exporter; country of origin/destination; international point of entry/exit; name of supplier; volume; price; transporters; U.S. geographic market(s) served; and duration of supply contract on a monthly basis. This information is used by both EIA and FECM to assess the adequacy of energy resources to meet near and longer-term domestic demands, and by FECM in the management of its natural gas regulatory program.
Data collected on Form FE–746R are published in reports made available on DOE's website at
https://www.energy.gov/fecm/regulation, and in EIA official statistics on U.S. natural gas supply and disposition. In addition, the data are used to monitor the North American natural gas trade, which, in turn, enables the Federal government to perform market and regulatory analyses; improve the capability of industry and the government to respond to any future energy-related supply problems; and keep the general public informed of international natural gas trade. In particular, the trade data are used extensively by other offices within DOE (e.g., EIA, Office of Policy, and Emergency Planning), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, other Federal agencies (e.g., Treasury, State, Commerce, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Homeland Security), State public service commissions, Congress, industry, trade publications, and investment/financial groups.
Natural Gas Imports and Exports:
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/imports-and-exports.php
EIA submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202306-1901-001 Click IC List for information collection instrument, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this webpage.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-11483
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806