Importers must obtain authorization from the US Department of Energy (DOE) under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. Imports from countries with which the US has a free trade agreement receive automatic authorization, while imports from non-FTA countries require a more extensive public interest review. FERC also has jurisdiction over the siting, construction, and operation of LNG import terminals.

Puerto Rico and certain New England terminals remain the primary destinations for LNG imports into the US, primarily because pipeline infrastructure constraints limit domestic gas delivery to those regions during peak demand periods. Peaking facilities in the Northeast may also import LNG to supplement pipeline supply during extreme cold weather events. These structural supply gaps make import authorization and terminal access planning critical for regional gas distributors.