[20180313]IN10873_改变FERC天然气管道政策？.pdf

Changing FERC Policies for Gas Pipelines? name redacted Specialist in Energy and Infrastructure Policy March 13, 2018 Introduction On December 21, 2017, the newly appointed chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced that the commission would undertake a review of its permitting policies and procedures for interstate natural gas pipelines. The U.S. natural gas pipeline network has expanded rapidly to accommodate new supplies of domestic shale gas. That expansion has prompted numerous congressional hearings and legislative proposals related to pipeline development. The review of FERCs permitting policies may provide stakeholders a new opportunity to influence how the commission considers such projects. Any resulting changes to FERCs permitting approach could affect U.S. natural gas resource and infrastructure development. FERCs Pipeline Policy Statement Under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, a developer seeking to construct, extend, acquire, or operate a facility for the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce must obtain from FERC a certificate of public convenience and necessity. The commission exercises this certification (permitting) authority