---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 3361"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "3361"
heading: "Declaration of emergency"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/3361"
units:
  - "Chapter 60 — Natural Gas Policy"
  - "Subchapter III — Additional Authorities and Requirements"
  - "Part A — Emergency Authority"
---

# §3361. Declaration of emergency

- (a) **Presidential declaration—** The President may declare a [natural gas](/usc/15/3301.md?p=1) supply emergency (or extend a previously declared emergency) if he finds that—
  - (1) a severe [natural gas](/usc/15/3301.md?p=1) shortage, endangering the supply of [natural gas](/usc/15/3301.md?p=1) for high-priority uses, exists or is imminent in the [United States](/usc/15/3301.md?p=33) or in any region thereof; and
  - (2) the exercise of authorities under [section 3362](/usc/15/3362.md) or [section 3363 of this title](/usc/15/3363.md) is reasonably necessary, having exhausted other alternatives to the maximum extent practicable, to assist in meeting [natural gas](/usc/15/3301.md?p=1) requirements for such high-priority uses.
- (b) **Limitation—**
  - (1) **Expiration—** Any declaration of a [natural gas](/usc/15/3301.md?p=1) supply emergency (or extension thereof) under [subsection (a)](#a), shall terminate at the earlier of—
    - (A) the date on which the President finds that any shortage described in [subsection (a)](#a) does not exist or is not imminent; or
    - (B) 120 days after the date of such declaration of emergency (or extension thereof).
  - (2) **Extensions—** Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the President from extending, under [subsection (a)](#a), any emergency (or extension thereof), previously declared under [subsection (a)](#a), upon the expiration of such declaration of emergency (or extension thereof) under [paragraph (1)(B)](#b-1-B).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–621, title III, § 301, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3381.)

## Notes

### Executive Documents

### Delegation of Functions

Functions of President under this subchapter, except for authority to declare, extend, and terminate a national gas supply emergency pursuant to this section, delegated to Secretary of Energy, see section 1–101 of Ex. Ord. No. 12235, Sept. 3, 1980, 45 F.R. 58803, set out as a note under section 3364 of this title.