To prohibit the exportation of natural gas from the United States to Mexico for use in electric energy generation units near the United States border that do not comply with air quality control requirements that provide air quality protection that is at least equivalent to the protection provided by requirements applicable in the United States.

January 8, 2003

Mr. HUNTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

To prohibit the exportation of natural gas from the United States to Mexico for use in electric energy generation units near the United States border that do not comply with air quality control requirements that provide air quality protection that is at least equivalent to the protection provided by requirements applicable in the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Southern Border Air Quality Protection Act'.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON EXPORTATION OF CERTAIN NATURAL GAS TO MEXICO.

(a) PROHIBITION- No person may export natural gas to Mexico for the purpose of electric energy generation by any electric energy generation unit that--

(1) has a generation capacity greater than 50 megawatts;

(2) is located within 50 miles of the United States;

(3) is first placed into operation, or is modified to have the capability to use natural gas, after December 31, 2002; and

(4) does not comply with air quality control requirements that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, determines provide air quality protection that is at least equivalent to the protection provided by the air pollution emission rate requirements applicable in the air quality control region in the United States that is closest to that unit.

(b) AUTHORITY- To carry out this Act, the President shall exercise authority under the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) (as continued in effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)).

(c) PENALTIES- Penalties provided under section 11 of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2410) shall apply to violations of this Act to the same extent as those penalties apply to violations under that Act.

END