S.Amdt. 3073

SA 3073. Mr. KING (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. Franken)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2953
proposed by Ms. Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to provide for the
modernization of the energy policy of the United States, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following:

SEC. 22___. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF ENERGY TO
APPROVE CERTAIN LNG TERMINAL PROPOSALS.

(a) In General.--Section 3(e) of the Natural Gas Act (15
U.S.C. 717b(e)) is amended 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' means any proposal submitted to the
Secretary by a new or existing LNG terminal--

``(I) to initiate the export of natural gas to a foreign
country, with respect to a 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 a LNG
terminal that exports natural gas as of the date of
submission of the proposal.

``(ii) Foreign country.--The term `foreign country' means a
nation in which there is not in effect a free trade agreement
requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas.
``(iii) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the
Secretary of Energy, acting pursuant to sections 301(b) and
402(f) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42
U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)).
``(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), the
Secretary may not take into consideration or approve any
additional export proposal if approving the additional export
proposal would raise the total quantity of natural gas
cumulatively approved for export to foreign countries from
United States facilities above a level included in a study
conducted under clause (ii).
``(ii) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct an economic
impact study that includes an analysis of the impact of
exporting natural gas on--

``(I) domestic natural gas prices;
``(II) regional domestic natural gas prices;
``(III) natural gas prices for domestic consumers,
manufacturers, and other industries; and
``(IV) the global economic competitiveness of domestic
manufacturers and other domestic industries.''.

(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall not apply to any export proposal that received final
approval from the Secretary before or on the date of
enactment of this Act.
______