Historically, the United States has also exported liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Alaska—almost exclusively to Japan—but the volumes of those shipments have been relatively small and Alaska's natural gas market has been isolated from the rest of the United States. Natural gas companies are now considering exporting greater quantities of U.S. LNG by tanker ship to a number of other countries. The Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Fossil Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) must authorize the export of the commodity and related facilities, respectively. This overarching federal role in the expansion of U.S. natural gas exports has been the subject of ongoing oversight and debate in Congress. Developers of natural gas export projects and natural gas producers argue that domestic gas prices will not rise significantly if U.S. natural gas exports increase because the United States has ample gas resources to meet both export and domestic demand. DOE has used the results of several studies it commissioned about the impact on domestic natural gas prices of exports and the effect on the U.S. economy to justify the approval of LNG export proposals. Other issues have also been raised regarding natural gas exports. The prospect of growing U.S. natural gas exports, particularly LNG, continues to be a factor as Congress debates the economy, energy independence, climate change, and energy security. 351 and S. 33 ), the American Job Creation and Strategic Alliances LNG Act ( H.R. 89 ), and the Export American Natural Gas Act of 2015 ( H.R. What effect exporting natural gas will have on U.S. prices and the overall U.S. economy are central questions in the debate over whether to export. In 2013 LNG trade accounted for 31% of all natural gas traded internationally. Added U.S. LNG exports, and associated investment, result in higher levels of real gross domestic product (GDP), which more than offsets the adverse impact of somewhat higher energy prices when the export scenarios are applied. With regard to actions it is authorized to approve under Section 3 of the NGA, DOE identifies— 
a ctions that require an EIS to include export approvals that would require construction of major new natural gas pipelines/related facilities, significant expansions and modifications of existing pipelines/related facilities, or major operational changes; a ctions that require EA and result in a FONSI to include export approvals that would require minor new construction (e.g., adding new connections to an existing LNG pipeline); a ctions approved as a CE to include export approvals that would require minor operational changes (e.g., changes in natural gas throughput or storage operations), but not new construction. Both the House and Senate versions of the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act ( H.R. The Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act ( H.R. 89 ) would impose a similar 30-day deadline on DOE permit decisions. 287 ) would extend FTA nation treatment to World Trade Organization member nations with respect to LNG export permitting by DOE. The Crude Oil Export Act ( H.R. 156 ) would repeal limitations on export of Outer Continental Shelf natural gas under Section 28 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. Other bills, such as the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act ( H.R. 161 ), would also affect natural gas production and infrastructure affecting LNG exports. Environmental groups differ on the desirability of greater natural gas use in general. Some environmental groups see natural gas exports raising domestic natural gas prices, making renewables more viable.
As estimates for the amount of U.S. natural gas resources have grown, so have the prospects of rising U.S. natural gas exports. The United States is expected to go from a net importer of natural gas to a net exporter by 2016. With recent natural gas prices relatively low compared to global prices and historically low for the United States, producers are looking for new markets for their natural gas. Projects to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) by tanker ship have been proposed—cumulatively accounting for over 60% of current gross U.S. natural gas production. Pipeline exports, which accounted for 99% of all exports of U.S. natural gas in 2013, are also likely to continue rising. However, under the Natural Gas Act, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) must authorize the export of the natural gas commodity and related facilities, respectively. This overarching federal role in the expansion of U.S. natural gas exports has been the subject of ongoing oversight and debate in Congress.
What effect exporting natural gas will have on U.S. domestic prices is a central question in the debate over whether to export. A significant rise in U.S. natural gas exports would likely put upwards pressure on domestic prices, but the magnitude of any rise is uncertain. There are numerous factors that will affect prices: export volumes, economic growth, differences in local markets, and government regulations, among others. Producers contend that increased exports will not raise prices significantly as there is ample supply to meet domestic demand, and there will be the added benefits of increased revenues, trade, and jobs, and less flaring. Consumers of natural gas, who also benefit from the current low prices, fear prices will rise if natural gas is exported. The DOE's most recent price study concluded that greater LNG exports "result in higher levels of real gross domestic product (GDP), which more than offsets the adverse impact of somewhat higher energy prices." Export opponents have been critical of DOE's conclusions.
Environmental groups are split regarding natural gas use, with some favoring increased use to curb emissions of certain pollutants, while others oppose expanded use of natural gas because it is not as clean as renewable forms of energy, such as wind or solar. The use of hydraulic fracturing to produce shale gas for export markets has also raised concerns among environmental groups particularly concerned with its possible impacts on groundwater quality. The possibility of a significant increase in U.S. natural gas exports will factor into ongoing debates on the economy, energy independence, climate change, and energy security.
Congressional interest has focused on the DOE's process and criteria for approving LNG commodity exports to non-free trade agreement (FTA) countries. Several bills in the 114th Congress would facilitate the approval of such permits. Both the House and Senate versions of the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act (H.R. 351 and S. 33), the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act (H.R. 89), and the Export American Natural Gas Act of 2015 (H.R. 428) would impose various deadlines on DOE export permit decisions. The American Job Creation and Strategic Alliances LNG Act (H.R. 287) would extend free trade treatment to World Trade Organization member nations with respect to LNG export permitting by DOE. The Crude Oil Export Act (H.R. 156) would repeal limitations on export of Outer Continental Shelf natural gas under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1354). Other bills have been introduced that would affect natural gas production and infrastructure.