CD containing comments of individuals re the Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline Project under PF14-22.

Case 3:15-cv-30131-MAP Document 5-17 Filed 08/20/15 Page 1 of 33 MF-EXHIBIT-17 Case 3:15-cv-30131-MAP Document 5-17 Filed 08/20/15 Page 2 of 33 MF-EXHIBIT-17 Lovelace et al., v United States GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICES REPORT NATURAL GAS September 2014 Case 3:15-cv-30131-MAP Document 5-17 Filed 08/20/15 Page 3 of 33 United States Government Accountability Office Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate NATURAL GAS September 2014 Federal Approval Process for Liquefied Natural Gas Exports GAO-14-762 Case 3:15-cv-30131-MAP Document 5-17 Filed 08/20/15 Page 4 of 33 September 2014 NATURAL GAS Federal Approval Process for Liquefied Natural Gas Exports Highlights of GAO-14-762, a report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate Why GAO Did This Study What GAO Found Technological advances in hydraulic Since 2010, of 35 applications it has received that require a public interest fracturing and horizontal drilling have review, the Department of Energy (DOE) has approved 3 applications to export resulted in a dramatic increase in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 6 applications are conditionally approved with amount of natural gas that can be final approval contingent on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions produced domestically. DOE is (FERC) issuance of a satisfactory environmental review of the export facility. responsible for reviewing applications DOE considers a range of factors to determine whether each application is in the to export LNGnatural gas cooled to a public interest. After the first application was conditionally approved in 2011, liquid state for transportand, under DOE commissioned a study to help it determine whether additional LNG exports the Natural Gas Act, must approve an were in the public interest. Since the 16-month study was published in December application unless it finds that approval 2012, DOE issued 7 conditional approvals (one of which became final) and 1 is not consistent with the public other final approval (see fig. below). In August 2014, DOE suspended its practice interest. Since 2010, DOE has of issuing conditional approvals; instead, DOE will review applications after received 35 applications to export LNG FERC completes its environmental review. that must address the public interest question. In addition, under NEPA, DOE LNG Export Application Status FERC is required to assess how LNG export facilities may affect the environment and is responsible for granting approval to build and operate export facilities. Since 2010, FERC has received 17 applications to construct export facilities. GAO was asked to report on the federal process for reviewing applications to export LNG. This report describes (1) the status of applications Since 2010, FERC ...