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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 717b. Exportation or importation of natural gas
(a) Mandatory authorization order
After six months from June 21, 1938, no person shall export any
natural gas from the United States to a foreign country or import
any natural gas from a foreign country without first having secured
an order of the Commission authorizing it to do so. The Commission
shall issue such order upon application, unless, after opportunity
for hearing, it finds that the proposed exportation or importation
will not be consistent with the public interest. The Commission may
by its order grant such application, in whole or in part, with such
modification and upon such terms and conditions as the Commission
may find necessary or appropriate, and may from time to time, after
opportunity for hearing, and for good cause shown, make such
supplemental order in the premises as it may find necessary or
appropriate.
(b) Free trade agreements
With respect to natural gas which is imported into the United
States from a nation with which there is in effect a free trade
agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas,
and with respect to liquefied natural gas -
(1) the importation of such natural gas shall be treated as a
"first sale" within the meaning of section 3301(21) of this
title; and
(2) the Commission shall not, on the basis of national origin,
treat any such imported natural gas on an unjust, unreasonable,
unduly discriminatory, or preferential basis.
(c) Expedited application and approval process
For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, the importation
of the natural gas referred to in subsection (b) of this section,
or the exportation of natural gas to a nation with which there is
in effect a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for
trade in natural gas, shall be deemed to be consistent with the
public interest, and applications for such importation or
exportation shall be granted without modification or delay.
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