
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC3392]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
                     CHAPTER 60--NATURAL GAS POLICY
 
             SUBCHAPTER IV--NATURAL GAS CURTAILMENT POLICIES
 
Sec. 3392. Natural gas for essential industrial process and 
        feedstock uses
        

(a) General rule

    The Secretary of Energy shall prescribe and make effective a rule 
which provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law (other 
than subsection (b) of this section) and to the maximum extent 
practicable, no interstate pipeline may curtail deliveries of natural 
gas for any essential industrial process or feedstock use, unless such 
curtailment--
        (1) does not reduce the quantity of natural gas delivered for 
    such use below the use requirement specified in subsection (c) of 
    this section;
        (2) is necessary in order to meet the requirements of high-
    priority users; or
        (3) is necessary in order to meet the requirements for essential 
    agricultural uses of natural gas for which curtailment priority is 
    established under section 3391 of this title.

(b) Curtailment priority applicable only if alternative fuel not 
        available

    The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall apply with 
respect to any curtailment of deliveries for any essential industrial 
process or feedstock use only if the Commission determines that use of a 
fuel (other than natural gas) is not economically practicable and that 
no fuel is reasonably available as an alternative for such use.

(c) Determination of essential industrial use requirements

    The Secretary of Energy shall determine and certify to the 
Commission the natural gas requirements (expressed either as volumes or 
percentages of use) of persons (or classes thereof) for essential 
industrial process and feedstock uses (other than those referred to in 
section 3391(f)(1)(B) of this title).

(d) Definitions

    For purposes of this section--

          (1) Essential industrial process or feedstock use

        The term ``essential industrial process or feedstock use'' means 
    any use of natural gas in an industrial process or as a feedstock 
    which the Secretary determines is essential.

                       (2) High-priority user

        The term ``high-priority user'' has the same meaning as given 
    such term in section 3391(f)(2) of this title.

(Pub. L. 95-621, title IV, Sec. 402, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3395.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 3393 of this title.
