BIS Adds Russian Oil, Gas Field to Entity List

The Commerce Department is amending the Export Administration Regulations to add a Russian oil and gas field to the Entity List. The addition of the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye Field, located in the Sea of Okhotsk, further implements “U.S. sanctions on certain Russian energy projects,” said Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security in its final rule (here). “The U.S. Government has determined, therefore, that exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) of all items subject to the EAR to this Russian field by any person without first obtaining a BIS license present an unacceptable risk of use in, or diversion to, the activities specified in the Russian industry sector sanctions,” said BIS. The Entity list, administered by BIS, informs the public of entities that have allegedly engaged in activities that could facilitate the spread of weapons of mass destruction. BIS requires license for exports to these entities, but the agency typically denies license requests. License exceptions for transactions with companies and individuals on the Entity List are very rare, the agency says.