Yes. Importers of natural gas by pipeline must hold a blanket or long-term import authorization from the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management under the Natural Gas Act. Imports from Canada, a free-trade-agreement partner, qualify for a blanket authorization that is generally granted without a public interest review, but the authorization must be in place before commercial flows begin. FERC also regulates the pipeline infrastructure used to transport the gas.

Pipeline operators publish tariff schedules that specify acceptable ranges for heating value (BTU content), inert gas content (CO2, nitrogen), water vapor, and hydrogen sulfide. Gas that does not meet the receiving pipeline's quality specifications may be rejected at the interconnect or require conditioning before entry. Importers should confirm that the gas stream from the foreign supplier meets the downstream pipeline's tariff specifications, as quality disputes can delay or block delivery independent of customs clearance.