S. 1901 — Protect LNG Act of 2025

This section defines terms used in 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 the review violates those laws, the court must remand to the relevant federal agency without vacating the approval (notwithstanding the Administrative Procedure Act), and the agency must continue processing all covered applications. (Thus, LNG export projects remain operational during remand, and agency review of pending applications proceeds unimpeded.)

This section establishes original and exclusive jurisdiction in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the circuit in which a covered facility is or will be located over civil actions reviewing federal agency orders on covered applications (except Supreme Court review). It requires such courts to provide expedited review and place actions on the docket as soon as practicable; transfer any pending petitions to that court upon applicant motion; bar judicial review claims unless filed within 90 days of Federal Register notice of final agency action (or shorter time specified by law); and preserve rights to judicial review for permit violations.