The Bureau of Industry and Security added Connor Hayden Kraegel of Poolesville, Md., to the Denied Persons List. Kraegel was sentenced to 15 months in prison in April 2011 for stealing firearms (here). Press reports indicate the man allegedly sold some stolen military equipment overseas without the required authorizations.

More than 40 groups and individuals urged President Obama to take a "time out" in what they called a headlong run to export more than 40 percent of America's natural gas for use by other nations, in an ad in the New York Times (here). The ad was signed by the Civil Society Institute, Sierra Club, Physicians Scientists Engineers for Healthy Energy, "Gasland" director Josh Fox, actor Mark Ruffalo and others.

The California Centers for International Trade Development holds its annual international trade symposium for World Ag Expo attendees Feb. 12 at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, Calif. The training is free with paid admission to the expo, and consists of four seminars: (1) Getting paid (payment methods and avoiding risk for international transactions). (2) Export financing (available trade credit opportunities). (3) Export logistics (reducing costs and challenges of international movements). (4) Legal aspects of international trade.

The Bureau of Industry and Security renewed its Temporary Denial Order against Mahan Airways and Zarand Aviation for another 180 days Feb. 4, and added Mehdi Bahrami as a party. The TDO was last renewed in August, and was set to expire. The parties for which export privileges are denied by this order include: Mahan Airways; Zarand Aviation; Gatewick LLC; Pejman Mahmood Kosarayanifard; Mahmoud Amini; Kerman Aviation, Sirjanco Trading; Ali Eslamian; Mahan Air General Trading LLC; Skyco (UK) Ltd.; Equipco (UK) Ltd; and Mehdi Bahrami.

Pangea LNG (North America) Holdings said the Department of Energy gave it long-term, multi-contract authorization to export liquefied natural gas to free trade agreement nations from its South Texas LNG Project currently in development on Corpus Christi Bay. The authorization is to export up to 8 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG for a 25-year term beginning on the date of its first export. Its application for authorization to export LNG to any country with which the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement in effect is still pending. The South Texas LNG Project also still is subject to federal, state and local regulatory approvals, with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission acting as the lead federal agency. Pangea said it will begin the FERC pre-filing process by the second quarter of 2013 and expects the project to be in operation by at least 2018.

The State Department is adding 22 people to, and removing one person from, its Debarred List because of their convictions for Arms Export Control Act violations. All 22 people are now prohibited from participating directly or indirectly in the export of defense articles, including technical data, or in the furnishing of defense services for which a license or other approval is required. The additions to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations Debarred List are as follows:

The Census Bureau removed the Automated Export System (AES) Port of Export Code 3312 for Whitetail, Mont., effective immediately. All AESPcLink users must update their AES code tables to reflect the update to the Ports of Export, Census said. Users of AESDirect who file via the website at www.aesdirect.gov will have their code tables updated via the program automatically.

The Bureau of Industry posted comments it has received in response to its Nov. 29 proposed rule to make the Commerce Control List clearer. Several commenters were concerned about the definitions of “parts” and “components,” as well as a potential move away from harmonization with Wassenaar and European Union controls lists.

The Bureau of Industry and Security posted comments it received on its proposed rule to move military electronics equipment and related items from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List. Several commenters expressed concern over the inclusion in more restrictive “600 series’ ECCNs of items that also have civilian applications. Some comments also addressed the issue of the "specially designed" definition.

The State Department and Bureau of Industry and Security each issued proposed rules to move articles related to launch vehicles, missiles, rockets, and military explosive devices to the Commerce Control List. State’s rule would amend U.S. Munitions List Category IV (“launch vehicles, guided missiles, ballistic missiles, rockets, torpedoes, bombs, and mines”) to remove some items from International Traffic in Arms Regulations control and create a more positive list. The concurrent BIS proposal would create new ECCNs for the articles moving from the USML to the CCL, and make conforming changes. Comments on both proposed rules are due by March 18.