The Energy Department Office of Fossil Energy set a Dec. 6 deadline for protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments on Chevron U.S.A.'s request for blanket authorization to export liquefied natural gas that previously had been imported into the U.S. from foreign sources. The application involves up to 72 billion cubic feet of natural gas on a short-term or spot market basis for a two-year period beginning Dec. 8. Filings would be submitted to U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply, Office of Fossil Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Further information: Larine Moore , 202-586-9478.

The Energy Department Office of Fossil Energy set a Jan. 4 deadline for filings on Gulf LNG Liquefaction's application for authorization to export up to 11.5 million tons per annum (mtpa) of domestically produced liquefied natural gas over a 20-year period. The LNG would be exported from the Gulf LNG Energy, LLC Terminal in Pascagoula, Miss. Filings could include protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Nov. 5.

The Census Bureau released the November edition of its Automated Export System (AES) Newsletter, which includes articles on Export Control Reform and the Consolidated Proscribed Party Screening List; suppressing AES fatal errors; and reporting Transportation Reference Numbers. Highlights of the newsletter are as follows:

The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 6. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.¹ from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).² Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.

The Bureau of Industry Security will hold an open meeting of the Transportation and Related Equipment Technical Advisory Committee Nov. 15 in Washington, D.C. The committee will hear status reports from working groups and comments from the public. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first come, first served basis. To join the conference, submit inquiries to Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov no later than Nov. 8.

The Bureau of Industry Security will hold a partially open meeting of the Materials Technical Advisory Committee Nov. 14 in Washington, D.C. In the public session, the committee will hear remarks from BIS management, hear a presentation on single use technology for bioreactors and the type of applications they are being used for, and hear reports on the Composite Working Group and regime-based activities. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first come, first served basis. To join the conference, submit inquiries to Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov no later than Nov. 7.

The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. is seeking comments on a commitment for a long-term loan or financial guarantee in excess of $100 million to support the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Germany, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Oct. 31. The principal suppliers are to be Applied Materials, Inc., KLA-Tencor Corp., and LAM Research International Sarl. Comments are due by Nov. 26 to WWW.REGULATIONS.GOV.

The Bureau of Industry Security will hold a partially open meeting of the Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C. In the public session, the committee will discuss results from the last Wassenaar meeting and proposals for the next one, and hear a report on recent changes to the Export Administration Regulations. The open session will be accessible via teleconference to 20 participants on a first come, first served basis. To join the conference, submit inquiries to Yvette Springer at Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov no later than Nov. 6.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is postponing its Oct. 30 meeting of the Sensors and Instrumentation Technical Advisory Committee due to Hurricane Sandy, it said. The meeting will now be held Nov. 8.

Officials from the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation signed a co-financing agreement to facilitate export transactions involving companies in both the U.S. and Japan, Ex-Im said. It said the two nations’ export credit agencies will provide a one-stop-shop financing package, creating administrative efficiencies for foreign buyers. “This arrangement paves the way for Ex-Im Bank and JBIC to co-finance projects, enabling exporters in both the U.S. and Japan to select the best mix of price and technology to strengthen their overseas bids and support jobs,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg.