H.R. 3592 — Protect LNG Act of 2025

This section establishes definitions for purposes of the Act, including (1) “covered application,” meaning an application for authorization to export natural gas under section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(a)) or to site, construct, expand, or operate a covered facility under section 3(e) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(e)); (2) “covered facility,” meaning a liquefied natural gas facility requiring approval by the Secretary of Energy and either the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the Maritime Administration; and (3) “Secretary,” meaning the Secretary of Energy.

This section provides that a civil action challenging an environmental review under the Natural Gas Act or National Environmental Policy Act for a covered liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility does not affect the validity of any issued permit, license, or approval for that facility. If a court finds such a review violates either statute, the court must remand to the relevant federal agency to resolve the violation without vacating the approval (notwithstanding Administrative Procedure Act provisions for vacatur) and the agency must continue processing all covered applications.

This section establishes judicial review procedures for federal agency orders on covered applications for covered facilities by (1) vesting original and exclusive jurisdiction (except in the Supreme Court) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the circuit where the facility is or will be located; (2) requiring that court to provide expedited review and place actions on the docket as soon as practicable; (3) directing transfer of any pending petitions, upon applicant motion, to that court for adjudication under these procedures; (4) barring claims unless filed within 90 days of Federal Register notice that the permit, license, or approval is final (or a shorter time specified in the relevant law); and (5) clarifying that it creates no new right to judicial review and does not limit claims alleging violations of permit terms.