Freedom of Information Act Request – Documents Related to Applications, Communications, Guidance, and Actions by the Bureau of Industry and Security on the Definition of Crude Oil and Exporting Oil or Condensate

The document is a formal FOIA request seeking internal records, rulings, and communications from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) regarding the interpretation of the crude oil export ban. Specifically, it requests information on approvals granted to companies like Enterprise Products Partners LP, Pioneer Natural Resources Co., and Royal Dutch Shell to export condensate or ultra-light oil. The requesters argue that the public has a right to know if the BIS is deviating from regulatory definitions of crude oil and crude distillation towers to allow exports without formal licenses.

• The requesters seek records regarding BIS approvals for Enterprise Products Partners LP and Pioneer Natural Resources Co. to export condensate, which may have been granted via product classifications or letter rulings.
• The request asks for documentation on whether BHP Billiton and other companies began exporting 'slightly processed ultra-light oil' without obtaining BIS rulings or approvals.
• The document identifies a specific inquiry from Senators Edward Markey and Robert Menendez to Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker questioning if BIS is deviating from regulatory definitions of condensate to bypass the crude oil export ban.
• The requesters seek the rationale and development process for a BIS document titled 'FAQs – Crude Oil and Petroleum Products' posted on December 30, 2014, including whether BIS consulted other federal agencies like the Department of Energy or Department of Interior.
• The request seeks records of private letter rulings issued to Royal Dutch Shell that may indicate condensate or ultra-light oil can be exported.
• The requesters argue that Section 12(c) of the Export Administration Act of 1979 cannot be used to withhold these records because the Act has expired and the companies in question sought product classifications rather than licenses.

APA

Earthjustice (2015). Freedom of Information Act Request – Documents Related to Applications, Communications, Guidance, and Actions by the Bureau of Industry and Security on the Definition of Crude Oil and Exporting Oil or Condensate. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/foia20request20re20dept2020of20commerce_0.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Freedom of Information Act Request – Documents Related to Applications, Communications, Guidance, and Actions by the Bureau of Industry and Security on the Definition of Crude Oil and Exporting Oil or Condensate. 2015. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/foia20request20re20dept2020of20commerce_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Earthjustice |title=Freedom of Information Act Request – Documents Related to Applications, Communications, Guidance, and Actions by the Bureau of Industry and Security on the Definition of Crude Oil and Exporting Oil or Condensate |date=10 February 2015 |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/foia20request20re20dept2020of20commerce_0.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{earthjustice2015freedom, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Freedom of Information Act Request – Documents Related to Applications, Communications, Guidance, and Actions by the Bureau of Industry and Security on the Definition of Crude Oil and Exporting Oil or Condensate}}, publisher = {Earthjustice}, year = {2015}, month = feb, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/foia20request20re20dept2020of20commerce_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }