(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on November 18, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act - Amends the Natural Gas Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve or deny a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a prefiled project within 12 months after receiving a complete application that is ready to be processed.
Defines "prefiled project" as a project for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a natural gas pipeline with respect to which a prefiling docket number has been assigned by FERC pursuant to a prefiling process established by FERC for the purpose of facilitating the formal application process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.
Requires the agency responsible for issuing any federal license, permit, or approval regarding the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a project for which a certificate is sought to approve or deny issuance of the certificate within 90 days after FERC issues its final environmental document regarding the project.
Requires FERC to grant an agency request for a 30-day extension of the 90-day time period if the agency demonstrates that it cannot otherwise complete the process required to approve or deny the license, permit, or approval, and therefore will be compelled to deny it.
Authorizes FERC, in granting such an extension, to offer technical assistance to the agency in order to address conditions preventing completion of the application review.
Declares that, if the agency fails to approve or deny issuance of a permit, license, or approval within the prescribed time-frame, the license, permit, or approval shall take effect upon expiration of 30 days after the period's end.
Directs FERC to incorporate into the terms of a license, permit, or approval any conditions proffered by the agency that FERC does not find to be inconsistent with the final environmental document.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1900 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1900
To provide for the timely consideration of all licenses, permits, and
approvals required under Federal law with respect to the siting,
construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline
projects.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 9, 2013
Mr. Pompeo (for himself, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Olson, Mr. Gardner, and Mr.
Johnson of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the timely consideration of all licenses, permits, and
approvals required under Federal law with respect to the siting,
construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline
projects.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting
Reform Act''.
SEC. 2. REGULATORY APPROVAL OF NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECTS.
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(i) The Commission shall approve or deny a certificate of public
convenience and necessity that is sought under this Act not later than
12 months after providing public notice of the application.
``(j)(1) The agency responsible for issuing any license, permit, or
approval required under Federal law in connection with the siting,
construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline
project for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity is
sought under this Act shall approve or deny the issuance of the
license, permit, or approval not later than 90 days after the
Commission issues its final environmental document relating to the
project.
``(2) An agency may request that the Commission extend the time
period under paragraph (1) by 30 days. The Commission shall grant such
extension if the agency demonstrates that the extension is necessary
because of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the agency.
``(3) If an agency described in paragraph (1) does not approve or
deny the issuance of the license, permit, or approval within the time
period specified under para-graph (1) or (2), as applicable, such
license, permit, or approval shall go into effect.''.
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POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Tonko amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Tonko demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Castor (FL) amendment No. 2.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Castor (FL) amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Castor demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Speier amendment No. 3.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Speier amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Speier demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 4.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee (TX) demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
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DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Dingell amendment No. 5.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Dingell amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Dingell demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1900.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H7332)
Mr. Tierney moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H7332; text: CR H7332)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tierney motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith, with an amendment to prevent any provisions of the underlying bill from taking effect unless the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in consultation with appropriate regulatory agencies, determines that the implementation of the bill will not: adversely impact natural gas pipeline safety; or inhibit the ability of communities to meaningfully engage in the siting of natural gas pipelines that affect them.
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H7332)
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 180 - 233 (Roll no. 610). (consideration: CR H7333-7334)
Roll Call #610 (House)Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 252 - 165 (Roll no. 611).(text: CR H7322)
Roll Call #611 (House)On passage Passed by recorded vote: 252 - 165 (Roll no. 611). (text: CR H7322)
Roll Call #611 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.