Response to Petition for Rulemaking Regarding Natural Gas Export Policy from Sierra Club et al.

On April 8, 2013, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Friends of the Earth, and Environment America (Petitioners) filed a Petition for Rulemaking Regarding Natural Gas Export Policy (Rulemaking Petition), followed by a reminder letter submitted to DOE on October 27, 2022.  In the Rulemaking Petition, Petitioners asked DOE to promulgate new regulations or guidance defining the process by which DOE will consider applications to export LNG to non-free trade agreement countries under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. 

On March 13, 2023, Petitioners filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, asking the Court to issue a writ of mandamus compelling DOE to issue an order that grants or denies the Rulemaking Petition.  On July 18, 2023, DOE issued an order denying the Rulemaking Petition.  These and related documents are set forth below.