Section 13 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717l)

§ 717i

TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE

§ 717i. Periodic and special reports
(a) Form and contents of reports
Every natural-gas company shall file with the
Commission such annual and other periodic or
special reports as the Commission may by rules
and regulations or order prescribe as necessary
or appropriate to assist the Commission in the
proper administration of this chapter. The Commission may prescribe the manner and form in
which such reports shall be made, and require
from such natural-gas companies specific answers to all questions upon which the Commission may need information. The Commission
may require that such reports shall include,
among other things, full information as to assets and liabilities, capitalization, investment
and reduction thereof, gross receipts, interest
due and paid, depreciation, amortization, and
other reserves, cost of facilities, cost of maintenance and operation of facilities for the production, transportation, or sale of natural gas, cost
of renewal and replacement of such facilities,
transportation, delivery, use, and sale of natural
gas. The Commission may require any such natural-gas company to make adequate provision
for currently determining such costs and other
facts. Such reports shall be made under oath unless the Commission otherwise specifies.
(b) Unlawful conduct
It shall be unlawful for any natural-gas company willfully to hinder, delay, or obstruct the
making, filing, or keeping of any information,
document, report, memorandum, record, or account required to be made, filed, or kept under
this chapter or any rule, regulation, or order
thereunder.
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 10, 52 Stat. 826.)
§ 717j. State compacts for conservation, transportation, etc., of natural gas
(a) Assembly of pertinent information; report to
Congress
In case two or more States propose to the Congress compacts dealing with the conservation,
production, transportation, or distribution of
natural gas it shall be the duty of the Commission to assemble pertinent information relative
to the matters covered in any such proposed
compact, to make public and to report to the
Congress information so obtained, together with
such recommendations for further legislation as
may appear to be appropriate or necessary to
carry out the purposes of such proposed compact
and to aid in the conservation of natural-gas resources within the United States and in the orderly, equitable, and economic production,
transportation, and distribution of natural gas.
(b) Assembly of information relative to operation
of compact; report to Congress
It shall be the duty of the Commission to assemble and keep current pertinent information
relative to the effect and operation of any compact between two or more States heretofore or
hereafter approved by the Congress, to make
such information public, and to report to the
Congress, from time to time, the information so
obtained, together with such recommendations
as may appear to be appropriate or necessary to
promote the purposes of such compact.

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(c) Availability of services, etc., of other agencies
In carrying out the purposes of this chapter,
the Commission shall, so far as practicable,
avail itself of the services, records, reports, and
information of the executive departments and
other agencies of the Government, and the
President may, from time to time, direct that
such services and facilities be made available to
the Commission.
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 11, 52 Stat. 827.)
§ 717k. Officials dealing in securities
It shall be unlawful for any officer or director
of any natural-gas company to receive for his
own benefit, directly or indirectly, any money
or thing of value in respect to the negotiation,
hypothecation, or sale by such natural-gas company of any security issued, or to be issued, by
such natural-gas company, or to share in any of
the proceeds thereof, or to participate in the
making or paying of any dividends, other than
liquidating dividends, of such natural-gas company from any funds properly included in capital account.
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 12, 52 Stat. 827.)
§ 717l. Complaints
Any State, municipality, or State commission
complaining of anything done or omitted to be
done by any natural-gas company in contravention of the provisions of this chapter may apply
to the Commission by petition, which shall
briefly state the facts, whereupon a statement
of the complaint thus made shall be forwarded
by the Commission to such natural-gas company, which shall be called upon to satisfy the
complaint or to answer the same in writing
within a reasonable time to be specified by the
Commission.
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 13, 52 Stat. 827.)
§ 717m. Investigations by Commission
(a) Power of Commission
The Commission may investigate any facts,
conditions, practices, or matters which it may
find necessary or proper in order to determine
whether any person has violated or is about to
violate any provisions of this chapter or any
rule, regulation, or order thereunder, or to aid
in the enforcement of the provisions of this
chapter or in prescribing rules or regulations
thereunder, or in obtaining information to serve
as a basis for recommending further legislation
to the Congress. The Commission may permit
any person to file with it a statement in writing,
under oath or otherwise, as it shall determine,
as to any or all facts and circumstances concerning a matter which may be the subject of investigation. The Commission, in its discretion,
may publish in the manner authorized by section 825k of title 16, and make available to State
commissions and municipalities, information
concerning any such matter.
(b) Determination of adequacy of gas reserves
The Commission may, after hearing, determine the adequacy or inadequacy of the gas reserves held or controlled by any natural-gas