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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4753 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>

                                                       Calendar No. 756
118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4753

                          [Report No. 118-336]

 To reform leasing, permitting, and judicial review for certain energy 
             and minerals projects, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 23, 2024

  Mr. Manchin (for himself and Mr. Barrasso) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

            December 19 (legislative day, December 16), 2024

               Reported by Mr. Manchin, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To reform leasing, permitting, and judicial review for certain energy 
             and minerals projects, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Energy 
Permitting Reform Act of 2024''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                 <DELETED>TITLE I--ACCELERATING CLAIMS

<DELETED>Sec. 101. Accelerating claims.
    <DELETED>TITLE II--FEDERAL ONSHORE ENERGY LEASING AND PERMITTING

<DELETED>Sec. 201. Onshore oil and gas leasing.
<DELETED>Sec. 202. Term of application for permit to drill.
<DELETED>Sec. 203. Permitting compliance on non-Federal land.
<DELETED>Sec. 204. Coal leases on Federal land.
<DELETED>Sec. 205. Rights-of-way across Indian land.
<DELETED>Sec. 206. Accelerating renewable energy permitting.
<DELETED>Sec. 207. Improving renewable energy coordination on Federal 
                            land.
<DELETED>Sec. 208. Geothermal leasing and permitting improvements.
<DELETED>Sec. 209. Electric grid projects.
<DELETED>Sec. 210. Hardrock mining mill sites.
   <DELETED>TITLE III--FEDERAL OFFSHORE ENERGY LEASING AND PERMITTING

<DELETED>Sec. 301. Offshore oil and gas leasing.
<DELETED>Sec. 302. Offshore wind energy.
                <DELETED>TITLE IV--ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION

<DELETED>Sec. 401. Transmission permitting.
<DELETED>Sec. 402. Transmission planning.
                 <DELETED>TITLE V--ELECTRIC RELIABILITY

<DELETED>Sec. 501. Reliability assessments.
            <DELETED>TITLE VI--LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORTS

<DELETED>Sec. 601. Action on applications.
<DELETED>Sec. 602. Supplemental reviews.
                     <DELETED>TITLE VII--HYDROPOWER

<DELETED>Sec. 701. Hydropower license extensions.

            <DELETED>TITLE I--ACCELERATING CLAIMS</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 101. ACCELERATING CLAIMS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Authorization.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--The term 
                ``authorization'' means any license, permit, approval, 
                order, or other administrative decision that is 
                required or authorized under Federal law (including 
                regulations) to design, plan, site, construct, 
                reconstruct, or commence operations of a 
                project.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Inclusions.--The term 
                ``authorization'' includes--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) agency approvals of lease 
                        sales, permits, or plans required to explore 
                        for, develop, or produce minerals under--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) the Mineral Leasing 
                                Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.);</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) the Act of August 7, 
                                1947 (commonly known as the ``Mineral 
                                Leasing Act for Acquired Lands'') (30 
                                U.S.C. 351 et seq.);</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (III) the Act of July 31, 
                                1947 (commonly known as the ``Materials 
                                Act of 1947'') (61 Stat. 681, chapter 
                                406; 30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (IV) sections 2319 through 
                                2344 of the Revised Statutes (commonly 
                                known as the ``Mining Law of 1872'') 
                                (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.);</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (V) the Outer Continental 
                                Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et 
                                seq.); or</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (VI) the Geothermal Steam 
                                Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.); 
                                and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) statements or permits for a 
                        project under sections 7 and 10 of the 
                        Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536, 
                        1539).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Environmental document.--The term 
        ``environmental document'' includes any of the following, as 
        prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
        (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.):</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) An environmental assessment.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) A finding of no significant 
                impact.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) An environmental impact 
                statement.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) A record of decision.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Project.--The term ``project'' means a 
        project--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) proposed for the construction of 
                infrastructure--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) to develop, produce, generate, 
                        store, transport, or distribute 
                        energy;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) to capture, remove, 
                        transport, or store carbon dioxide; 
                        or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) to mine, extract, 
                        beneficiate, or process minerals; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) subject to the requirements that--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) an environmental document be 
                        prepared; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the applicable agency issue 
                        an authorization of the activity.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Project sponsor.--The term ``project sponsor'' 
        means an entity, including any private, public, or public-
        private entity, seeking an authorization for a 
        project.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Statute of Limitations.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, a civil action arising under Federal law seeking 
judicial review of a final agency action granting or denying an 
authorization shall be barred unless the civil action is filed by the 
date that is 150 days after the date on which the authorization was 
granted or denied, unless a shorter time is specified in the Federal 
law pursuant to which judicial review is allowed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Expedited Review.--A reviewing court shall set for 
expedited consideration any civil action arising under Federal law 
seeking judicial review of a final agency action granting or denying an 
authorization.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Remanded Actions.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--If the reviewing court remands a 
        final Federal agency action granting or denying an 
        authorization to the Federal agency for further proceedings, 
        whether on a motion by the court, the agency, or another party, 
        the court shall set a reasonable schedule and deadline for the 
        agency to act on remand, which shall not exceed 180 days from 
        the date on which the order of the court was issued, unless a 
        longer time period is necessary to comply with applicable 
        law.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Expedited treatment of remanded actions.--The 
        head of the Federal agency to which a court remands a final 
        Federal agency action under paragraph (1) shall take such 
        actions as may be necessary to provide for the expeditious 
        disposition of the action on remand in accordance with the 
        schedule and deadline set by the court under that 
        paragraph.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Treatment of Supplemental or Revised Environmental 
Documents.--For the purpose of subsection (b), the preparation of a 
supplemental or revised environmental document, when required, shall be 
considered to be a separate final agency action.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which an agency is served a copy of a petition for review or a 
complaint in a civil action described in subsection (b), the head of 
the agency shall notify the project sponsor of the filing of the 
petition or complaint.</DELETED>

         <DELETED>TITLE II--FEDERAL ONSHORE ENERGY LEASING AND 
                          PERMITTING</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 201. ONSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Limitation on Issuance of Certain Leases or Rights-of-
Way.--Section 50265(b)(1)(B) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 
3006(b)(1)(B)) is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
inserting ``for which expressions of interest have been submitted that 
have been'' after ``sum of total acres''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Mineral Leasing Act Reforms.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Expressions of interest for oil and gas 
        leasing.--Section 17(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
        226(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Subdivision.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--A parcel of land 
                included in an expression of interest that the 
                Secretary of the Interior offers for lease shall be 
                leased as nominated and not subdivided into multiple 
                parcels unless the Secretary of the Interior determines 
                that a subpart of the submitted parcel is not open to 
                oil or gas leasing under the approved resource 
                management plan.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Required reviews.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph affects the obligations of the Secretary of 
                the Interior to complete requirements and reviews 
                established by other provisions of law before leasing a 
                parcel of land.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Resource management plans.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Lease terms and conditions.--A lease 
                issued under this section shall be subject to the terms 
                and conditions of the approved resource management 
                plan.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Effect of leasing decision.--
                Notwithstanding section 1506.1 of title 40, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of 
                enactment of this paragraph), the Secretary may conduct 
                a lease sale under an approved resource management plan 
                while amendments to the approved plan are under 
                consideration.''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Refund of expression of interest fee.--Section 
        17(q) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(q)) is 
        amended--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``Secretary'' each place 
                it appears and inserting ``Secretary of the 
                Interior'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                ``nonrefundable''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by adding at the end the 
                following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Refund for nonwinning bid.--If a person 
        other than the person who submitted the expression of interest 
        is the highest responsible qualified bidder for a parcel of 
        land covered by the applicable expression of interest in a 
        lease sale conducted under this section--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) as a condition of the issuance of 
                the lease, the person who is the highest responsible 
                qualified bidder shall pay to the Secretary of the 
                Interior an amount equal to the applicable fee paid by 
                the person who submitted the expression of interest; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) not later than 60 days after the 
                date of the lease sale, the Secretary of the Interior 
                shall refund to the person who submitted the expression 
                of interest an amount equal to the amount of the 
                initial fee paid.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Refundability.--Except as provided in 
        paragraph (3)(B), the fee assessed under paragraph (1) shall be 
        nonrefundable.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 202. TERM OF APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO DRILL.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 17(p) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
226(p)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Term.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--A permit to drill 
                approved under this subsection shall be valid for a 
                single non-renewable 4-year period beginning on the 
                date of the approval.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Retroactivity.--In addition to all 
                approved applications for permits to drill submitted on 
                or after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
                subparagraph (A) shall apply to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) all permits approved during 
                        the 2-year period preceding the date of 
                        enactment of this paragraph; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) all pending applications 
                        for permit to drill submitted prior to the date 
                        of enactment of this paragraph.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 203. PERMITTING COMPLIANCE ON NON-FEDERAL LAND.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the Mineral Leasing Act 
(30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act 
of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), or subpart 3162 of part 3160 of title 
43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), but subject 
to any applicable State or Tribal requirements and subsection (c), the 
Secretary of the Interior shall not require a permit to drill for an 
oil and gas lease under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) 
for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit 
if--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Federal Government--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) owns less than 50 percent of the 
                minerals within the oil and gas drilling or spacing 
                unit; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) does not own or lease the surface 
                estate within the area directly impacted by the 
                action;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the well is located on non-Federal land 
        overlying a non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the 
        wellbore enters and produces from the Federal mineral estate 
        subject to the lease; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the well is located on non-Federal land 
        overlying a non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the 
        wellbore traverses but does not produce from the Federal 
        mineral estate subject to the lease.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Notification.--For each State permit to drill or 
drilling plan that would impact or extract oil and gas owned by the 
Federal Government--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) each lessee of Federal minerals in the unit, 
        or designee of a lessee, shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) notify the Secretary of the Interior 
                of the submission of a State application for a permit 
                to drill or drilling plan on submission of the 
                application; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) provide a copy of the application 
                described in subparagraph (A) to the Secretary of the 
                Interior not later than 5 days after the date on which 
                the permit or plan is submitted;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) each lessee, designee of a lessee, or 
        applicable State shall notify the Secretary of the Interior of 
        the approved State permit to drill or drilling plan not later 
        than 45 days after the date on which the permit or plan is 
        approved; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) each lessee or designee of a lessee shall 
        provide, prior to commencing drilling operations, agreements 
        authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to enter non-Federal 
        land, as necessary, for inspection and enforcement of the terms 
        of the Federal lease.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Nonapplicability to Indian Lands.--Subsection (a) 
shall not apply to Indian lands (as defined in section 3 of the Federal 
Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1702)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) other authorities of the Secretary of the 
        Interior under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act 
        of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the amount of royalties due to the Federal 
        Government from the production of the Federal minerals within 
        the oil and gas drilling or spacing unit.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Authority on Non-Federal Land.--Section 17(g) of the 
Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(g)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking the subsection designation and all 
        that follows through ``Secretary of the Interior, or'' in the 
        first sentence and inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g)(1) The Secretary of the Interior, or''; 
and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2)(A) In the case of an oil and gas lease under this 
Act on land described in subparagraph (B) located within an oil and gas 
drilling or spacing unit, nothing in this Act authorizes the Secretary 
of the Interior--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(i) to require a bond to protect non-Federal 
        land;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(ii) to enter non-Federal land without the 
        consent of the applicable landowner;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(iii) to impose mitigation requirements; 
        or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(iv) to require approval for surface 
        reclamation.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(B) Land referred to in subparagraph (A) is land where--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(i) the Federal Government--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) owns less than 50 percent of the 
                minerals within the oil and gas drilling or spacing 
                unit; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(II) does not own or lease the surface 
                estate within the area directly impacted by the 
                action;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the well is located on non-Federal land 
        overlying a non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the 
        wellbore enters and produces from the Federal mineral estate 
        subject to the lease; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(iii) the well is located on non-Federal land 
        overlying a non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the 
        wellbore traverses but does not produce from the Federal 
        mineral estate subject to the lease.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 204. COAL LEASES ON FEDERAL LAND.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Deadlines.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Section 2(a) of the Mineral 
        Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 201(a)) is amended--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), in the first 
                sentence, by striking ``he shall, in his discretion, 
                upon the request of any qualified applicant or on his 
                own motion from time to time'' and insert ``the 
                Secretary shall, at the discretion of the Secretary but 
                subject to paragraph (6), on the request of any 
                qualified applicant or on a motion by the Secretary''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by adding at the end the 
                following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Deadlines.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Applicant motion.--Not later than 90 
                days after the date on which a request of a qualified 
                applicant is received for a lease sale under paragraph 
                (1), or for a lease modification under section 3, the 
                Secretary of the Interior shall commence all necessary 
                consultations and reviews required under Federal law in 
                accordance with that paragraph or section, as 
                applicable.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Decision.--Not later than 90 days 
                after the completion of an environmental impact 
                statement or environmental assessment consistent with 
                the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
                Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for a lease sale 
                under paragraph (1), or for a lease modification under 
                section 3, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue a 
                record of decision or a finding of no significant 
                impact for the lease sale or lease 
                modification.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Fair market value.--Not later than 
                30 days after the date on which the Secretary of the 
                Interior issues a record of decision or a finding of no 
                significant impact under subparagraph (B) for a lease 
                sale under paragraph (1), or for a lease modification 
                under section 3, the Secretary shall determine the fair 
                market value of the coal subject to the 
                lease.''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Lease modifications.--Section 3(b) of the 
        Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 203(b)) is amended by striking 
        ``The Secretary shall prescribe'' and inserting ``Subject to 
        section 2(a)(6), the Secretary shall prescribe''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 2(a)(1) of the Mineral 
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 201(a)(1)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in the first sentence--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``he finds appropriate'' 
                and inserting ``the Secretary of the Interior finds 
                appropriate''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>     (B) by striking ``he deems appropriate'' 
                and inserting ``the Secretary of the Interior 
                determines to be appropriate'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in the sixth sentence, by striking ``Prior to 
        his determination'' and inserting ``Prior to a determination by 
        the Secretary of the Interior'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in the seventh sentence--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``to make public his 
                judgment'' and inserting ``to make public the judgment 
                of the Secretary of the Interior''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking ``comments he receives'' 
                and inserting ``comments received by the Secretary of 
                the Interior''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in the eighth sentence, by striking ``He is 
        hereby authorized'' and inserting ``The Secretary of the 
        Interior is authorized''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Technical Correction.--Section 2(b)(3) of the Mineral 
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 201(b)(3)) is amended, in the first sentence, by 
striking ``geophyscal'' and inserting ``geophysical''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 205. RIGHTS-OF-WAY ACROSS INDIAN LAND.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The first section of the Act of February 5, 1948 (62 Stat. 
17, chapter 45; 25 U.S.C. 323), is amended by adding at the end the 
following: ``Any right-of-way granted by an Indian tribe for the 
purposes authorized under this section shall not require the approval 
of the Secretary of the Interior, on the condition that the right-of-
way approval process by the Indian tribe substantially complies with 
subsection (h) of the first section of the Act of August 9, 1955 (69 
Stat. 539, chapter 615; 25 U.S.C. 415(h)) or the Indian tribe has 
approved regulations under paragraph (1) of that 
subsection.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 206. ACCELERATING RENEWABLE ENERGY PERMITTING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Deadline for Consideration of Applications for Rights-
of-Way.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Completeness of review.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Not later than 30 days 
                after the date on which the Secretary of the Interior 
                or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, 
                receives an application for a right-of-way under 
                section 501 of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
                Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761) for an eligible project 
                (as defined in section 3101 of the Energy Act of 2020 
                (43 U.S.C. 3001)), the applicable Secretary shall--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) notify the applicant that the 
                        application is complete; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) notify the applicant that 
                        information is missing from the application and 
                        specify any information that is required to be 
                        submitted for the application to be 
                        complete.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Environmental impact statement.--For 
                an eligible project (as defined in section 3101 of the 
                Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3001)) that requires an 
                environmental impact statement for an application 
                submitted under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of the 
                Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as 
                applicable, shall issue a notice of intent not later 
                than 90 days after the date on which the applicable 
                Secretary determines that an application is complete 
                under subparagraph (A).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Cost recovery and issuance or deferral.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Not later than 30 days 
                after the date on which an applicant submits a complete 
                application for a right-of-way under paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
                Agriculture, as applicable, shall, if a cost recovery 
                agreement is required under section 2804.14 of title 
                43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
                regulations), or section 251.58 of title 36, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), issue a 
                cost recovery agreement.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Decision.--Not later than 30 days 
                after the date on which an applicant submits a complete 
                application for a right-of-way under paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
                Agriculture, as applicable, shall--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) grant or deny the application, 
                        if the requirements under the National 
                        Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
                        4321 et seq.) and any other applicable law have 
                        been completed; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) defer the decision on the 
                        application and provide to the applicant 
                        notice--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) that specifies steps 
                                that the applicant can take for the 
                                decision on the application to be 
                                issued; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) of a list of actions 
                                that need to be taken by the agency in 
                                order to comply with applicable law, 
                                and timelines and deadlines for 
                                completing those actions.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Low Disturbance Activities for Renewable Energy 
Projects.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, to facilitate timely permitting 
        of eligible projects (as defined in section 3101 of the Energy 
        Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3001)), the Secretary of the Interior 
        and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each promulgate 
        regulations for the use of 1 or more categorical exclusions 
        under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
        4321 et seq.) for low disturbance activities necessary for 
        renewable energy projects.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Activities described.--Low disturbance 
        activities referred to in paragraph (1) are the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Individual surface disturbances of 
                less than 5 acres that have undergone site-specific 
                analysis in a document prepared pursuant to the 
                National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
                4321 et seq.) that has been previously 
                completed.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Activities at a location at which the 
                same type of activity has previously occurred within 5 
                years prior to the date of commencement of the 
                activity.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Activities on previously disturbed or 
                developed (as defined in section 1021.410(g)(1) of 
                title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
                regulations)) land for which an approved land use plan 
                or any environmental document prepared pursuant to the 
                National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
                4321 et seq.) analyzed such activity as reasonably 
                foreseeable, so long as such plan or document was 
                approved within 5 years prior to the date of the 
                activity.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) The installation, modification, 
                operation, or decommissioning of commercially available 
                energy systems located on a building or other structure 
                (such as a rooftop, parking lot, or facility, or 
                mounted to signage, lighting, gates, or 
                fences).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) Maintenance of a minor activity, other 
                than any construction or major renovation, or a 
                building or facility.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) Preliminary geotechnical 
                investigations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) The installation and removal of 
                temporary meteorological stations.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 207. IMPROVING RENEWABLE ENERGY COORDINATION ON FEDERAL 
              LAND.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) National Goal for Renewable Energy Production on 
Federal Land.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Goal.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, in accordance with section 3104 of 
        the Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3004), the Secretary of the 
        Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and 
        other heads of relevant Federal agencies, shall establish a 
        target date for the authorization of not less than 50 gigawatts 
        of renewable energy production on Federal land by not later 
        than 2030.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Periodic goal revision.--Section 3104 of the 
        Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3004) is amended--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and 
                periodically revise'' after ``establish''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by adding at the end the 
                following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Permitting.--Subject to the limitations described in 
section 50265(b)(1) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 3006(b)(1)), the 
Secretary shall, in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal 
agencies, seek to issue permits that authorize, in total, sufficient 
electricity from eligible projects to meet or exceed the national goals 
established and revised under this section.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Definition of Eligible Project.--Paragraph (4) of 
section 3101 of the Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3001) is amended by 
inserting ``or store'' after ``generate''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Renewable Energy Project Review Standards.--Section 
3102 of the Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3002) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by 
        inserting ``sufficient to achieve goals for renewable energy 
        production on Federal land established under section 3104'' 
        before the period at the end;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection 
        (h); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Renewable Energy Project Review Standards.--Not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Energy Permitting 
Reform Act of 2024, for the purpose of encouraging standardized reviews 
and facilitating the permitting of eligible projects, the National 
Renewable Energy Coordination Office of the Bureau of Land Management 
shall promulgate renewable energy project review standards to be 
adopted by regional renewable energy coordination offices.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Clarification of Existing Authority.--Under section 
307 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1737), the Secretary may accept donations from renewable energy 
companies to improve community engagement for the permitting of energy 
projects.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section, or an 
amendment made by this section, modifies the limitations described in 
section 50265(b)(1) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 
3006(b)(1)).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 208. GEOTHERMAL LEASING AND PERMITTING 
              IMPROVEMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Preliminary Geothermal Activities.--Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each promulgate 
regulations for the use of 1 or more categorical exclusions under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for 
individual disturbances of less than 10 acres for activities required 
to test, monitor, calibrate, explore, or confirm geothermal resources, 
provided those activities do not involve--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the commercial production of geothermal 
        resources;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the use of geothermal resources for commercial 
        operations; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) construction of permanent roads.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Annual Leasing.--Section 4(b) of the Geothermal Steam 
Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003(b)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``every 2 
        years'' and inserting ``per year''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Replacement sales.--If a lease sale under 
        this section for a year is cancelled or delayed, the Secretary 
        shall conduct a replacement sale not later than 180 days after 
        the date of the cancellation or delay, as applicable, and the 
        replacement sale may not be cancelled or delayed.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Deadlines for Consideration of Geothermal Drilling 
Permits.--Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 
1003) is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Deadlines for Consideration of Geothermal Drilling 
Permits.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--Not later than 10 days after 
        the date on which the Secretary receives an application for any 
        geothermal drilling permit, the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) provide written notice to the 
                applicant that the application is complete; 
                or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) notify the applicant that 
                information is missing from the application and specify 
                any information that is required to be submitted for 
                the application to be complete.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Decision.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        date on which an applicant submits a complete application for a 
        geothermal drilling permit under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) grant or deny the application, if 
                the requirements under the National Environmental 
                Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and any 
                other applicable law have been completed; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) defer the decision on the 
                application and provide to the applicant notice--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) that specifies steps that 
                        the applicant can take for the decision on the 
                        application to be issued; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) of a list of actions that 
                        need to be taken by the agency in order to 
                        comply with applicable law, and timelines and 
                        deadlines for completing those 
                        actions.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Cost Recovery Authority.--Section 24 of the Geothermal 
Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1023) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking the section designation and all 
        that follows through ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
        following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 24. RULES AND REGULATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``The Secretary''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following: ``The 
        Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, 
        promulgate rules for cost recovery, to be paid by permit 
        applicants or lessees, to facilitate the timely coordination 
        and processing of leases, permits, and authorizations and to 
        reimburse the Secretary for all reasonable administrative costs 
        incurred from the inspection and monitoring of activities 
        thereunder.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Federal Permitting Process.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall promulgate regulations and establish a Federal permitting process 
to allow for simultaneous, concurrent consideration of multiple phases 
of a geothermal project, including--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) surface exploration;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) geophysical exploration;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) drilling; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) power plant construction.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Geothermal Production Parity.--Section 390 of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15942) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``(NEPA)'' and inserting 
                ``(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (referred to in this section 
                as `NEPA')'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``(30 U.S.C. 181 et 
                seq.)'' after ``Mineral Leasing Act''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by inserting ``, or the Geothermal 
                Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) for the 
                purpose of exploration or development of geothermal 
                resources'' before the period at the end; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``oil or 
                gas'' and inserting ``oil, gas, or geothermal 
                resources''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``oil or 
                gas'' and inserting ``oil, gas, or geothermal 
                resources''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Geothermal Ombudsman.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
        shall appoint within the Bureau of Land Management a Geothermal 
        Ombudsman.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Duties.--The Geothermal Ombudsman appointed 
        under paragraph (1) shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) act as a liaison between the 
                individual field offices of the Bureau of Land 
                Management and the Director of the Bureau of Land 
                Management;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) provide dispute resolution services 
                between the individual field offices of the Bureau of 
                Land Management and applicants for geothermal resource 
                permits;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) monitor and facilitate permit 
                processing practices and timelines across individual 
                field offices of the Bureau of Land 
                Management;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) develop best practices for the 
                permitting and leasing process for geothermal 
                resources; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) coordinate with the Federal Permitting 
                Improvement Steering Council.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Report.--The Geothermal Ombudsman shall submit 
        to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
        and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives an annual report that describes the activities 
        of the Geothermal Ombudsman and evaluates the effectiveness of 
        geothermal permit processing during the preceding 1-year 
        period.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 209. ELECTRIC GRID PROJECTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definition of Previously Disturbed or Developed.--In 
this section, the term ``previously disturbed or developed'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 1021.410(g)(1) of title 10, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, to facilitate timely permitting, the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each promulgate 
regulations for the use of 1 or more categorical exclusions under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for 
the following activities:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Placement of an electric transmission or 
        distribution facility in an approved right-of-way corridor, if 
        the corridor was approved during the 5-year period ending on 
        the date of placement of the facility.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Any repair, maintenance, replacement, upgrade, 
        modification, optimization, or minor relocation of, or addition 
        to, an existing electric transmission or distribution facility 
        or associated infrastructure within an existing right-of-way or 
        on otherwise previously disturbed or developed land, including 
        reconductoring and installation of grid-enhancing 
        technologies.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Construction, operation, upgrade, or 
        decommissioning of a battery or other energy storage technology 
        on previously disturbed or developed land.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 210. HARDROCK MINING MILL SITES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Multiple Mill Sites.--Section 2337 of the Revised 
Statutes (30 U.S.C. 42) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Additional Mill Sites.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Mill site.--The term `mill site' 
                means a location of public land that is reasonably 
                necessary for waste rock or tailings disposal or other 
                operations reasonably incident to mineral development 
                on, or production from land included in a plan of 
                operations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Operations; operator.--The terms 
                `operations' and `operator' have the meanings given 
                those terms in section 3809.5 of title 43, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of 
                enactment of this subsection).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Plan of operations.--The term `plan 
                of operations' means a plan of operations that an 
                operator must submit and the Secretary of the Interior 
                or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, must 
                approve before an operator may begin operations, in 
                accordance with, as applicable--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) subpart 3809 of title 43, 
                        Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
                        regulations establishing application and 
                        approval requirements); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) part 228 of title 36, Code 
                        of Federal Regulations (or successor 
                        regulations establishing application and 
                        approval requirements).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Public land.--The term `public land' 
                means land owned by the United States that is open to 
                location under sections 2319 through 2344 of the 
                Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.), including--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) land that is mineral-in-
                        character (as defined in section 3830.5 of 
                        title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in 
                        effect on the date of enactment of this 
                        subsection));</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) nonmineral land (as defined 
                        in section 3830.5 of title 43, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations (as in effect on the date of 
                        enactment of this subsection)); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) land where the mineral 
                        character has not been determined.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections (a) 
        and (b), where public land is needed by the proprietor of a 
        lode or placer claim for operations in connection with any lode 
        or placer claim within the proposed plan of operations, the 
        proprietor may--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) locate and include within the plan 
                of operations as many mill site claims under this 
                subsection as are reasonably necessary for its 
                operations; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) use or occupy public land in 
                accordance with an approved plan of 
                operations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Mill sites convey no mineral rights.--A mill 
        site under this subsection does not convey mineral rights to 
        the locator.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Size of mill sites.--A location of a single 
        mill site under this subsection shall not exceed 5 
        acres.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Mill site and lode or placer claims on same 
        tracts of public land.--A mill site may be located under this 
        subsection on a tract of public land on which the claimant or 
        operator maintains a previously located lode or placer 
        claim.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Effect on mining claims.--The location of a 
        mill site under this subsection shall not affect the validity 
        of any lode or placer claim, or any rights associated with such 
        a claim.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Patenting.--A mill site under this section 
        shall not be eligible for patenting.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) Savings provisions.--Nothing in this 
        subsection--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) diminishes any right (including a 
                right of entry, use, or occupancy) of a 
                claimant;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) creates or increases any right 
                (including a right of exploration, entry, use, or 
                occupancy) of a claimant on land that is not open to 
                location under the general mining laws;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) modifies any provision of law or any 
                prior administrative action withdrawing land from 
                location or entry;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) limits the right of the Federal 
                Government to regulate mining and mining-related 
                activities (including requiring claim validity 
                examinations to establish the discovery of a valuable 
                mineral deposit) in areas withdrawn from mining, 
                including under--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the general mining 
                        laws;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the Federal Land Policy and 
                        Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
                        seq.);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) the Wilderness Act (16 
                        U.S.C. 1131 et seq.);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) sections 100731 through 
                        100737 of title 54, United States 
                        Code;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) the Endangered Species Act 
                        of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) division A of subtitle III 
                        of title 54, United States Code (commonly 
                        referred to as the `National Historic 
                        Preservation Act'); or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) section 4 of the Act of 
                        July 23, 1955 (commonly known as the `Surface 
                        Resources Act of 1955') (69 Stat. 368, chapter 
                        375; 30 U.S.C. 612);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) restores any right (including a 
                right of entry, use, or occupancy, or right to conduct 
                operations) of a claimant that--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) existed prior to the date on 
                        which the land was closed to, or withdrawn 
                        from, location under the general mining laws; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) that has been extinguished 
                        by such closure or withdrawal; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) modifies section 404 of division E 
                of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public 
                Law 118-42).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Establishment.--There is established in the 
        Treasury of the United States a separate account, to be known 
        as the ``Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund'' (referred to in this 
        subsection as the ``Fund'').</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Source of deposits.--Any amounts collected by 
        the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the claim maintenance 
        fee under section 10101(a)(1) of the Omnibus Budget 
        Reconciliation Act of 1993 (30 U.S.C. 28f(a)(1)) on mill sites 
        located under subsection (c) of section 2337 of the Revised 
        Statutes (30 U.S.C. 42) shall be deposited into the 
        Fund.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Use.--The Secretary of the Interior may make 
        expenditures from amounts available in the Fund, without 
        further appropriations, only to carry out section 40704 of the 
        Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (30 U.S.C. 
        1245).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Allocation of funds.--Amounts made available 
        under paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) shall be allocated in accordance with 
                section 40704(e)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment 
                and Jobs Act (30 U.S.C. 1245(e)(1)); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) may be transferred in accordance with 
                section 40704(e)(2) of that Act (30 U.S.C. 
                1245(e)(2)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Clerical Amendments.--Section 10101 of the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (30 U.S.C. 28f) is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking ``the Mining Law of 1872 (30 
        U.S.C. 28-28e)'' each place it appears and inserting ``sections 
        2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 22 et 
        seq.)'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in the second sentence, by 
                        striking ``Such claim maintenance fee'' and 
                        inserting the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Fee.--The claim maintenance fee 
                under subparagraph (A)''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in the first sentence, by 
                        striking ``The holder of'' and inserting the 
                        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The holder of''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in the second sentence, by 
                        striking ``Such claim maintenance fee'' and 
                        inserting the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Fee.--The claim maintenance fee 
                under subparagraph (A)''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in the first sentence, by 
                        striking ``The holder of'' and inserting the 
                        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The holder of''; 
                and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in the second sentence, by striking 
                ``The location fee'' and inserting the 
                following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Fee.--The location fee''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in the first sentence, by striking 
                ``The claim main tenance fee'' and inserting the 
                following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The claim maintenance 
        fee''.</DELETED>

        <DELETED>TITLE III--FEDERAL OFFSHORE ENERGY LEASING AND 
                          PERMITTING</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 301. OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Requirement.--Notwithstanding the 2024-2029 National 
Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (and any successor 
leasing program that does not satisfy the requirements of this 
section), the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this title as 
the ``Secretary'') shall conduct not less than 1 oil and gas lease sale 
in each of calendar years 2025 through 2029, each of which shall be 
conducted not later than August 31 of the applicable calendar 
year.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) conduct offshore oil and gas lease sales of 
        sufficient acreage to meet the conditions described in section 
        50265(b)(2) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 
        3006(b)(2));</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) with respect to an oil and gas lease sale 
        conducted under subsection (a), offer the same lease form, 
        lease terms, economic conditions, and stipulations as contained 
        in the revised final notice of sale entitled ``Gulf of Mexico 
        Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261'' (88 Fed. 
        Reg. 80750 (November 20, 2023)); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) if any acceptable bids have been received for 
        any tract offered in an oil and gas lease sale conducted under 
        subsection (a), issue such leases not later than 90 days after 
        the lease sale to the highest bids on the tracts offered, 
        subject to the procedures described in the Bureau of Ocean 
        Energy Management document entitled ``Summary of Procedures for 
        Determining Bid Adequacy at Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Sales 
        Effective March 2016, with Central Gulf of Mexico Sale 241 and 
        Eastern Gulf of Mexico Sale 226''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 302. OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Offshore Wind Lease Sale Requirement.--Effective on 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) subject to the limitations described in 
        section 50265(b)(2) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 
        3006(b)(2)), conduct not less than 1 offshore wind lease sale 
        in each of calendar years 2025 through 2029, each of which 
        shall be conducted not later than August 31 of the applicable 
        calendar year; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) if any acceptable bids have been received for 
        a tract offered in the lease sale, as determined by the 
        Secretary, issue such leases not later than 90 days after the 
        lease sale to the highest bidder on the offered 
        tract.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Area Offered for Leasing.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Total acres for lease.--Subject to paragraph 
        (2), the Secretary shall offer for offshore wind leasing a sum 
        total of not less than 400,000 acres per calendar 
        year.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Minimum acreage.--An offshore wind lease 
        issued by the Secretary that is less than 80,000 acres shall 
        not be counted toward the acreage requirement under paragraph 
        (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Production Goal for Offshore Wind Energy.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Initial goal.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
        establish an initial target date for an offshore wind energy 
        production goal of 30 gigawatts.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Periodic goal revision.--The Secretary shall, 
        in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal 
        agencies, periodically revise national goals for offshore wind 
        energy production on the outer Continental Shelf as initially 
        established under paragraph (1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.--Section 8(p) of 
the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking paragraph (10) and inserting the 
        following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(10) Applicability.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), this subsection does not apply to any 
                area on the outer Continental Shelf within the exterior 
                boundaries of any unit of the National Park System, the 
                National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Marine 
                Sanctuary System, or any National Monument.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Exception.--Notwithstanding 
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in consultation with 
                the Secretary of Commerce under section 304(d) of the 
                National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1434(d)), 
                may grant rights-of-way on the outer Continental Shelf 
                within units of the National Marine Sanctuary System 
                for the transmission of electricity generated by or 
                produced from renewable energy.''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(11) Duration of permits in marine 
        sanctuaries.--Notwithstanding section 310(c)(2) of the National 
        Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1441(c)(2)), any permit or 
        authorization granted under that Act that authorizes the 
        installation, operation, or maintenance of electric 
        transmission cables on a right-of-way granted by the Secretary 
        described in paragraph (10)(B) shall be issued for a term equal 
        to the duration of the right-of-way granted by the 
        Secretary.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section, or an 
amendment made by this section, modifies the limitations described in 
section 50265(b)(2) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 
3006(b)(2)).</DELETED>

           <DELETED>TITLE IV--ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 401. TRANSMISSION PERMITTING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--Section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 
U.S.C. 824p) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the 
        Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Improved reliability.--The term `improved 
        reliability' has the meaning given the term in section 
        225(a).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 
        Secretary of Energy.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Transmission planning region.--The term 
        `transmission planning region' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 225(a).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Construction Permit.--Section 216(b) of the Federal 
Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(b)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``Except'' and all that follows through ``finds that'' 
        and inserting ``Except as provided in subsections (d)(1) and 
        (i), the Commission may, after notice and an opportunity for 
        hearing, issue one or more permits for the construction or 
        modification of electric transmission facilities necessary in 
        the national interest if the Commission finds that'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting 
                ``or modification'' after ``siting''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (C)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in the matter preceding clause 
                        (i), by inserting ``or modification'' after 
                        ``siting''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (i), by striking 
                        ``the later of'' in the matter preceding 
                        subclause (I) and all that follows through the 
                        semicolon at the end of subclause (II) and 
                        inserting ``the date on which the application 
                        was filed with the State commission or other 
                        entity;''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by striking paragraphs (2) through (6) and 
        inserting the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the proposed facilities will be used for the 
        transmission of electric energy in interstate (including 
        transmission from the outer Continental Shelf to a State) or 
        foreign commerce;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the proposed construction or modification is 
        consistent with the public interest;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) the proposed construction or modification 
        will significantly reduce transmission congestion in interstate 
        commerce, protect or benefit consumers, and provide improved 
        reliability;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) the proposed construction or modification is 
        consistent with sound national energy policy and will enhance 
        energy independence;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) the electric transmission facilities are 
        capable of transmitting electric energy at a voltage of not 
        less than 100 kilovolts or, in the case of facilities that 
        include advanced transmission conductors (including 
        superconductors), as defined by the Commission, voltages 
        determined to be appropriate by the Commission; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) the proposed modification (including 
        reconductoring) will maximize, to the extent reasonable and 
        economical, the transmission capabilities of existing towers, 
        structures, or rights-of-way.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) State Siting and Consultation.--Section 216 of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p) is amended by striking subsection 
(d) and inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) State Siting and Consultation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Preservation of state siting authority.--The 
        Commission shall have no authority to issue a permit under 
        subsection (b) for the construction or modification of an 
        electric transmission facility within a State except as 
        provided in paragraph (1) of that subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Consultation.--In any proceeding before the 
        Commission under subsection (b), the Commission shall afford 
        each State in which a transmission facility covered by the 
        permit is or will be located, each affected Federal agency and 
        Indian Tribe, private property owners, and other interested 
        persons, a reasonable opportunity to present their views and 
        recommendations with respect to the need for and impact of a 
        facility covered by the permit.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Rights-of-Way.--Section 216(e)(3) of the Federal Power 
Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(e)(3)) is amended by striking ``shall conform'' and 
all that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``shall be 
in accordance with rule 71.1 of the Federal Rules of Civil 
Procedure.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Cost Allocation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Section 216 of the Federal Power 
        Act (16 U.S.C. 824p) is amended by striking subsection (f) and 
        inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Cost Allocation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Transmission tariffs.--For the purposes of 
        this section, any transmitting utility that owns, controls, or 
        operates electric transmission facilities that the Commission 
        finds to be consistent with the findings under paragraphs (2) 
        through (6) and, if applicable, (7) of subsection (b) shall 
        file a tariff or tariff revision with the Commission pursuant 
        to section 205 and the regulations of the Commission allocating 
        the costs of the new or modified transmission 
        facilities.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Transmission benefits.--The Commission shall 
        require that tariffs or tariff revisions filed under this 
        subsection are just and reasonable and allocate the costs of 
        providing service to customers that benefit, in accordance with 
        the cost-causation principle, including through--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) improved reliability;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) reduced congestion;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) reduced power losses;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) greater carrying capacity;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) reduced operating reserve 
                requirements; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) improved access to lower cost 
                generation that achieves reductions in the cost of 
                delivered power.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Ratepayer protection.--Customers that 
        receive no benefit, or benefits that are trivial in relation to 
        the costs sought to be allocated, from electric transmission 
        facilities constructed or modified under this section shall not 
        be involuntarily allocated any of the costs of those 
        transmission facilities.''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Savings provision.--If the Federal Energy 
        Regulatory Commission finds that the considerations under 
        paragraphs (2) through (6) and, if applicable, (7) of 
        subsection (b) of section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 
        U.S.C. 824p) (as amended by subsection (b)) are met, nothing in 
        this section or the amendments made by this section shall be 
        construed to exclude transmission facilities located on the 
        outer Continental Shelf from being eligible for cost allocation 
        established under subsection (f)(1) of that section (as amended 
        by paragraph (1)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Coordination of Federal Authorizations for 
Transmission Facilities.--Section 216(h) of the Federal Power Act (16 
U.S.C. 824p(h)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
        the end and inserting the following: ``, except that--
        </DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) the Commission shall act as the lead agency 
        in the case of facilities permitted under subsection (b) and 
        section 225; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) the Department of the Interior shall act as 
        the lead agency in the case of facilities located on a lease, 
        easement, or right-of-way granted by the Secretary of the 
        Interior under section 8(p)(1)(C) of the Outer Continental 
        Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(1)(C)).'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in each of paragraphs (3), (4)(B), (4)(C), 
        (5)(B), (6)(A), (7)(A), (7)(B)(i), (8)(A)(i), and (9), by 
        striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``lead agency'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``As head of 
        the lead agency, the Secretary'' and inserting ``The lead 
        agency'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ``As lead 
        agency head, the Secretary'' and inserting ``The lead agency''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) in paragraph (7)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``18 
                months after the date of enactment of this section'' 
                and inserting ``18 months after the date of enactment 
                of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking 
                ``1 year after the date of enactment of this section'' 
                and inserting ``18 months after the date of enactment 
                of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 
                2024''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Interstate Compacts.--Section 216(i) of the Federal 
Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(i)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``, including 
        facilities in national interest electric transmission 
        corridors''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (4)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; 
                and'' and inserting a period;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking subparagraph (B); 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by striking ``in disagreement'' in the 
                matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all that follows 
                through ``(A) the'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting 
                ``unable to reach an agreement on an application 
                seeking approval by the''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (h) Transmission Infrastructure Investment.--Section 
219(b)(4) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824s(b)(4)) is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after 
        the semicolon at the end;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
        the end and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) all prudently incurred costs 
                associated with payments to jurisdictions impacted by 
                electric transmission facilities developed pursuant to 
                section 216 or 225.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (i) Jurisdiction.--Section 216 of the Federal Power Act 
(16 U.S.C. 824p) is amended by striking subsection (k) and inserting 
the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(k) Jurisdiction.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) ERCOT.--This section shall not apply within 
        the area referred to in section 212(k)(2)(A).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Other utilities.--For the purposes of this 
        section, the Commission shall have jurisdiction over all 
        transmitting utilities, including transmitting utilities 
        described in section 201(f), but excluding any ERCOT utility 
        (as defined in section 212(k)(2)(B)).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (j) Conforming Amendments.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Section 50151(b) of Public Law 117-169 (42 
        U.S.C. 18715(b)) is amended by striking ``facilities designated 
        by the Secretary to be necessary in the national interest under 
        section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(a))'' 
        and inserting ``facilities in a geographic area identified 
        under section 224 of the Federal Power Act''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Section 1222 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
        (42 U.S.C. 16421) is amended--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking 
                ``in a national interest electric transmission corridor 
                designated under section 216(a)'' and inserting ``in a 
                geographic area identified under section 224''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking 
                ``in an area designated under section 216(a)'' and 
                inserting ``in a geographic area identified under 
                section 224''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Section 40106(h)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure 
        Investment and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 18713(h)(1)(A)) is amended 
        by striking ``in an area designated as a national interest 
        electric transmission corridor pursuant to section 216(a) of 
        the Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 824p(a)'' and inserting ``in a 
        geographic area identified under section 224 of the Federal 
        Power Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (k) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section or an 
amendment made by this section grants authority to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et 
seq.) over sales of electric energy at retail or the local distribution 
of electricity.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 402. TRANSMISSION PLANNING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Part II of the Federal Power Act (16 
U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 224. TRANSMISSION STUDY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary 
of Energy (referred to in this section as the `Secretary'), in 
consultation with affected States and Indian Tribes, shall conduct a 
study of electric transmission capacity constraints and 
congestion.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Report.--Not less frequently than once every 3 
years, the Secretary, after considering alternatives and 
recommendations from interested parties (including an opportunity for 
comment from affected States and Indian Tribes), shall issue a report, 
based on the study under subsection (a) or other information relating 
to electric transmission capacity constraints and congestion, which may 
identify any geographic area that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) is experiencing electric energy transmission 
        capacity constraints or congestion that adversely affects 
        consumers; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) is expected to experience such energy 
        transmission capacity constraints or congestion.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Consultation.--Not less frequently than once every 3 
years, the Secretary, in conducting the study under subsection (a) and 
issuing the report under subsection (b), shall consult with affected 
transmission planning regions (as defined in section 225(a)) and any 
appropriate regional entity referred to in section 215.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 225. PLANNING FOR TRANSMISSION FACILITIES THAT ENHANCE 
              GRID RELIABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND 
              RESILIENCE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the 
        Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) ERO.--The term `ERO' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 215(a).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Improved reliability.--The term `improved 
        reliability' means that, on balance, considering each of the 
        matters described in subparagraphs (A) through (D), reliability 
        is improved in a material manner that benefits customers 
        through at least one of the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) facilitating compliance with a 
                mandatory standard for reliability approved by the 
                Commission under section 215;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) a reduction in expected unserved 
                energy, loss of load hours, or loss of load probability 
                (as defined by the ERO);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) facilitating compliance with a 
                tariff requirement or process for resource adequacy on 
                file with the Commission; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) any other similar material 
                improvement, including a reduction in correlated outage 
                risk, such as achieved through increased geographic or 
                resource diversification.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Interregional transmission facility.--The 
        term `interregional transmission facility' means a transmission 
        facility that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) is located within 2 or more 
                neighboring transmission planning regions; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) significantly impacts the ability of 
                1 or more transmission planning regions to transmit 
                electric energy among neighboring transmission planning 
                regions.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Transmission planning region.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The term `transmission 
                planning region'--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) when used in a geographical 
                        sense, means a region for which the Commission 
                        determines that electric transmission planning 
                        is appropriate, such as a region established in 
                        accordance with Order No. 1000 of the 
                        Commission, entitled `Transmission Planning and 
                        Cost Allocation by Transmission Owning and 
                        Operating Public Utilities' (76 Fed. Reg. 49842 
                        (August 11, 2011)); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) when used in a corporate 
                        sense, means the Transmission Organization or 
                        other entity responsible for planning or 
                        operating electric transmission facilities 
                        within a region described in clause 
                        (i).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Exclusion.--The term `transmission 
                planning region' does not include the Electric 
                Reliability Council of Texas or the region served by 
                members of the Electric Reliability Council of 
                Texas.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Jurisdiction.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) ERCOT.--This section shall not apply within 
        the area referred to in section 212(k)(2)(A).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Other utilities.--For the purposes of this 
        section, the Commission shall have jurisdiction over all 
        transmitting utilities, including transmitting utilities 
        described in section 201(f), but excluding any ERCOT utility 
        (as defined in section 212(k)(2)(B)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Rulemaking Requirement.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall, 
consistent with the requirements of this section, by rule--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) require neighboring transmission planning 
        regions to jointly plan with each other;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) require each transmission planning region to 
        submit to the Commission for approval a joint interregional 
        transmission plan with each of its neighboring transmission 
        planning regions, which requirement may, at the discretion of 
        the transmission planning region, be satisfied through the 
        submission of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a separate joint interregional 
                transmission plan with each of its neighboring 
                transmission planning regions; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) 1 or more joint interregional 
                transmission plans, any of which may be submitted with 
                any 1 or more of its neighboring transmission planning 
                regions; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) establish rate treatments for interregional 
        transmission planning and cost allocation.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Plan Elements.--The Commission shall require, within 
the rule under subsection (c), that joint interregional transmission 
plans contain the following elements:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Compatibility.--A common set of input 
        assumptions and models, on a consistent timeline, that--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) allow for the joint identification 
                and selection, by transmission planning regions, of 
                specific interregional transmission facilities for 
                construction or modification, including through the use 
                of advanced transmission conductors (including 
                superconductors) and reconductoring;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) consider, to the extent reasonable 
                and economical, modifications that maximize the 
                transmission capabilities of existing towers, 
                structures, or rights-of-way; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) consider existing transmission 
                plans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Transmission benefits.--A common set of 
        benefits for interregional transmission planning and cost 
        allocation, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) improved reliability;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) reduced congestion;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) reduced power losses;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) greater carrying capacity;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) reduced operating reserve 
                requirements; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) improved access to lower cost 
                generation that achieves reductions in the cost of 
                delivered power.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Selection criteria.--Criteria governing the 
        selection by transmission planning regions, for construction or 
        modification, of interregional transmission facilities that--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) provide improved 
                reliability;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) protect or benefit consumers; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) are consistent with the public 
                interest.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Deadline; Updates.--The joint interregional 
transmission plans required to be submitted to the Commission pursuant 
to the rule under subsection (c) shall be--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) submitted to the Commission not later than 2 
        years after the date of enactment of this section; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) updated not less frequently than once every 
        4 years.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Commission Review.--The Commission shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) review each joint interregional transmission 
        plan submitted pursuant to the rule under subsection (c); 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) approve the joint interregional transmission 
        plan if the Commission finds that the plan--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) meets the requirements of subsection 
                (d);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) allocates costs in accordance with 
                subsection (g);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) ensures that all rates, charges, 
                terms, and conditions will be just and reasonable and 
                not unduly discriminatory or preferential; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) is consistent with the public 
                interest.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Cost Allocation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Transmission tariffs.--For the purposes of 
        this section, any transmitting utility that owns, controls, or 
        operates electric transmission facilities constructed or 
        modified as a result of this section shall file a tariff or 
        tariff revision with the Commission pursuant to section 205 and 
        the regulations of the Commission allocating the costs of the 
        new or modified transmission facilities.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Requirement.--The Commission shall require 
        that tariffs or tariff revisions filed under this section are 
        just and reasonable and allocate the costs of providing service 
        to customers that benefit, in accordance with the cost-
        causation principle, including through the benefits described 
        in subsection (d)(2).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Ratepayer protection.--Customers that 
        receive no benefit, or benefits that are trivial in relation to 
        the costs sought to be allocated, from electric transmission 
        facilities constructed or modified under this section shall not 
        be involuntarily allocated any of the costs of those 
        transmission facilities.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Construction Permit.--For the purposes of obtaining 
a construction permit under section 216(b), a project that is selected 
by transmission planning regions pursuant to a joint interregional 
transmission plan shall be considered to satisfy paragraphs (2) through 
(6) and, if applicable, (7) of that section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(i) Dispute Resolution.--In the event of a dispute 
between transmission planning regions with respect to a material 
element of a joint interregional transmission plan--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the transmission planning regions shall 
        submit to the Commission their respective proposals for 
        resolving the material element in dispute for resolution; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) not later than 60 days after the proposals 
        are submitted under paragraph (1), the Commission shall issue 
        an order directing a resolution to the dispute.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(j) Failure To Submit Plan.--In the event that 
neighboring transmission planning regions fail to submit to the 
Commission a joint interregional transmission plan under this section, 
the Commission shall, as the Commission determines to be appropriate--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) grant a request to extend the time for 
        submission of the joint interregional transmission plan; 
        or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) require, by order, the transmitting 
        utilities within the affected transmission planning regions to 
        comply with a joint interregional transmission plan approved by 
        the Commission--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) based on the record of the planning 
                process conducted by the affected transmission planning 
                regions; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) in accordance with the cost 
                allocation provisions in subsection (g).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(k) NEPA.--For purposes of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) any approval of a joint interregional 
        transmission plan under subsection (f) or (j) or order 
        directing resolution of a dispute under subsection (i) shall 
        not be considered a major Federal action; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) any permit granted under section 216(b) for 
        a project that is selected by transmission planning regions 
        pursuant to a joint interregional transmission plan shall be 
        considered a major Federal action.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(l) Savings Provision.--Except as expressly provided in 
this section, nothing in this section shall be construed as conferring, 
limiting, or impairing any authority of the Commission under any other 
provision of law.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 201 of the Federal 
Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (b)(2)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in the first sentence, by striking 
                ``and 222'' and inserting ``222, and 225''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in the second sentence, by striking 
                ``or 222'' and inserting ``222, or 225''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (e)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``206(f),''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking ``or 222'' and inserting 
                ``222, or 225''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section or an 
amendment made by this section grants authority to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et 
seq.) over sales of electric energy at retail or the local distribution 
of electricity.</DELETED>

            <DELETED>TITLE V--ELECTRIC RELIABILITY</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 501. RELIABILITY ASSESSMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 215 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o) is 
amended by striking subsection (g) and inserting the 
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Reliability Reports.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Periodic assessments.--The ERO shall conduct 
        periodic assessments of the reliability and adequacy of the 
        bulk-power system in North America.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Reliability assessments for regulations.--
        (A) Whenever the Commission determines, on its own motion or on 
        request from another Federal agency, an affected transmission 
        organization, or any State commission, that a rule, regulation, 
        or standard proposed by a Federal agency other than the 
        Commission is likely to result in a violation of a tariff 
        requirement or process for resource adequacy on file with the 
        Commission or a mandatory standard for reliability approved by 
        the Commission, the Commission shall require, by order, the ERO 
        to assess and report on the effects of the proposed rule, 
        regulation, or standard on the reliable operation of the bulk-
        power system.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) An ERO reliability assessment ordered under 
        subparagraph (A) shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(i) identify any reasonably foreseeable 
                significant adverse effects on the reliable operation 
                of the bulk-power system that the ERO anticipates will 
                result from the proposed rule, regulation, or 
                standard;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(ii) account for mitigations that will 
                be available under existing rules, regulations, or 
                tariffs governing facilities of the bulk-power system 
                under this Act that will reduce or prevent significant 
                adverse effects on the reliable operation of the bulk-
                power system from the proposed rule, regulation, or 
                standard; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(iii) take into account the technical 
                views of affected transmission organizations regarding 
                effects on the reliable operation of the bulk-power 
                system from the proposed rule, regulation, or 
                standard.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) The ERO shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(i) submit the report required under 
                subparagraph (A) to the public docket of the Federal 
                agency proposing the rule, regulation, or standard, 
                and, if practicable, make such submission within the 
                time period established by such Federal agency for 
                submission of public comments on the proposed rule, 
                regulation, or standard;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(ii) submit such report to the 
                Commission; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(iii) publish such report in a publicly 
                available format.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(D) This paragraph shall apply to proposed 
        rules, regulations, or standards pending on, or proposed on or 
        after, the date of enactment of this paragraph.''.</DELETED>

       <DELETED>TITLE VI--LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORTS</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 601. ACTION ON APPLICATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (e)(3)(A), by inserting ``and 
        subsection (g)'' after ``subparagraph (B)''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Deadline To Act on Certain Export Applications.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall grant or 
        deny an application under subsection (a) to export to a foreign 
        country any natural gas from the United States not later than 
        90 days after the later of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the date on which the notice of 
                availability for each final review required under the 
                National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
                4321 et seq.) for the exporting facility is published 
                with respect to an application--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) under subsection (e); 
                        or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) for a license for the 
                        ownership, construction, or operation of a 
                        deepwater port, under section 4 of the 
                        Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1503); 
                        and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the date of enactment of this 
                subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Applications to re-export.--The Commission 
        shall grant or deny an application under subsection (a) to re-
        export to another foreign country any natural gas that has been 
        exported from the United States to Canada or Mexico for 
        liquefaction in Canada or Mexico, or the territorial waters of 
        Canada or Mexico, not later than 90 days after the later of--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the date on which the notice of 
                availability for each draft review required under the 
                National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
                4321 et seq.) for the application is published; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the date of enactment of this 
                subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Applications for extensions.--The Commission 
        shall grant or deny an application for an extension of a 
        previously issued authorization to export natural gas described 
        in paragraph (1) or (2) not later than 90 days after the later 
        of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the date the application for 
                extension is received by the Commission; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the date of enactment of this 
                subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Failure to act.--If the Commission fails to 
        grant or deny an application subject to this subsection by the 
        applicable date required by this subsection, the application 
        shall be considered to be granted and a final agency 
        order.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 602. SUPPLEMENTAL REVIEWS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) 2018 lng export study.--The term ``2018 LNG 
        Export Study'' means the report entitled ``Macroeconomic 
        Outcomes of Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports'', 
        prepared by NERA Economic Consulting for the National Energy 
        Technology Laboratory of the Department of Energy, published 
        June 7, 2018.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) 2019 life cycle ghg review.--The term ``2019 
        Life Cycle GHG Review'' means the report entitled ``Life Cycle 
        Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas 
        from the United States'', prepared by S. Roman-White, S. Rai, 
        J. Littlefield, G. Cooney, and T. J. Skone for the National 
        Energy Technology Laboratory of the Department of Energy, 
        published September 12, 2019.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of Energy.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Supplemental greenhouse gas review.--The term 
        ``supplemental greenhouse gas review'' means a review prepared 
        or commissioned by the Department of Energy and published after 
        January 26, 2024, that analyzes the life cycle greenhouse gas 
        emissions of liquefied natural gas exports from the United 
        States, including consideration of the modeling parameters used 
        in the 2019 Life Cycle GHG Review.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Supplemental macroeconomic review.--The term 
        ``supplemental macroeconomic review'' means a review prepared 
        or commissioned by the Department of Energy and published after 
        January 26, 2024, that analyzes the macroeconomic outcomes of 
        different levels of liquefied natural gas exports from the 
        United States, including consideration of the natural gas 
        market factors and macroeconomic factors analyzed in the 2018 
        LNG Export Study.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Supplemental review.--The term ``supplemental 
        review'' means a supplemental greenhouse gas review or a 
        supplemental macroeconomic review.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Requirements for Supplemental Reviews.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Notice and comment on proposed supplemental 
        reviews.--Before finalizing a supplemental review, the 
        Secretary shall publish a notice of availability of the 
        proposed supplemental review in the Federal Register pursuant 
        to the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of title 5, 
        United States Code.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Quality of supplemental reviews.--A 
        supplemental review shall be subject to a peer review process 
        consistent with the final bulletin of the Office of Management 
        and Budget entitled ``Final Information Quality Bulletin for 
        Peer Review'' (70 Fed. Reg. 2664 (January 14, 2005)) (or 
        successor guidance).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Pending applications.--For a review of an 
        application to grant, deny, or extend an order under section 
        3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(a)) to export to a 
        foreign country any natural gas from an LNG terminal in the 
        United States or from a facility subject to section 4 of the 
        Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1503), or to re-export to 
        another foreign country any natural gas that has been exported 
        from the United States to Canada or Mexico for liquefaction in 
        Canada or Mexico, or the territorial waters of Canada or 
        Mexico, the Secretary shall base any evaluation of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) macroeconomic outcomes on the results 
                of the 2018 LNG Export Study, or predecessor documents, 
                unless and until the Secretary finalizes and implements 
                a supplemental macroeconomic review; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) life cycle greenhouse gas emissions on 
                the results of the 2019 Life Cycle GHG Review, or 
                predecessor documents, unless and until the Secretary 
                finalizes and implements a supplemental greenhouse gas 
                review.</DELETED>

                <DELETED>TITLE VII--HYDROPOWER</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 701. HYDROPOWER LICENSE EXTENSIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definition of Covered Project.--In this section, the 
term ``covered project'' means a hydropower project with respect to 
which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a license before 
March 13, 2020.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Authorization of Extension.--Notwithstanding section 
13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806), on the request of a 
licensee of a covered project, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
may, after reasonable notice and for good cause shown, extend in 
accordance with subsection (c) the period during which the licensee is 
required to commence construction of the covered project for an 
additional 4 years beyond the 8 years authorized by that 
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Period of Extension.--An extension of time to commence 
construction of a covered project under subsection (b) shall--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) begin on the date on which the final extension 
        of the period for commencement of construction granted to the 
        licensee under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
        806) expires; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) end on the date that is 4 years after the 
        latest date to which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
        is authorized to extend the period for commencement of 
        construction under that section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Reinstatement of Expired License.--If the time period 
required under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) to 
commence construction of a covered project expires after December 31, 
2023, and before the date of enactment of this Act--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Commission may reinstate the license for 
        the applicable project effective as of the date of expiration 
        of the license; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the extension authorized under subsection (b) 
        shall take effect on the date of that expiration.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Permitting 
Reform Act of 2024''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                      TITLE I--ACCELERATING CLAIMS

Sec. 101. Accelerating claims.

        TITLE II--FEDERAL ONSHORE ENERGY LEASING AND PERMITTING

Sec. 201. Onshore oil and gas leasing.
Sec. 202. Term of application for permit to drill.
Sec. 203. Permitting compliance on non-Federal land.
Sec. 204. Coal leases on Federal land.
Sec. 205. Rights-of-way across Indian land.
Sec. 206. Accelerating renewable energy permitting.
Sec. 207. Improving renewable energy coordination on Federal land.
Sec. 208. Geothermal leasing and permitting improvements.
Sec. 209. Electric grid projects.
Sec. 210. Hardrock mining mill sites.

       TITLE III--FEDERAL OFFSHORE ENERGY LEASING AND PERMITTING

Sec. 301. Offshore oil and gas leasing.
Sec. 302. Offshore wind energy.

                    TITLE IV--ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION

Sec. 401. Transmission permitting.
Sec. 402. Transmission planning.

                     TITLE V--ELECTRIC RELIABILITY

Sec. 501. Reliability assessments.

                TITLE VI--LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORTS

Sec. 601. Action on applications.
Sec. 602. Supplemental reviews.

                         TITLE VII--HYDROPOWER

Sec. 701. Hydropower license extensions.
Sec. 702. Identifying and removing market barriers to hydropower.
Sec. 703. Regulations to align timetables.

                    TITLE VIII--HIRING AND RETENTION

Sec. 801. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staffing.
Sec. 802. Compensation flexibility to address retention and hiring 
                            issues at the Bonneville Power 
                            Administration.
Sec. 803. Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
Sec. 804. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission personnel safety.

                      TITLE I--ACCELERATING CLAIMS

SEC. 101. ACCELERATING CLAIMS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Authorization.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``authorization'' means 
                any license, permit, approval, order, or other 
                administrative decision that is required or authorized 
                under Federal law (including regulations) to design, 
                plan, site, construct, reconstruct, or commence 
                operations of a project.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``authorization'' 
                includes--
                            (i) agency approvals of lease sales, 
                        permits, rights-of-way, or plans required to 
                        explore for, develop, or produce energy or 
                        minerals under--
                                    (I) the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
                                U.S.C. 181 et seq.);
                                    (II) the Act of August 7, 1947 
                                (commonly known as the ``Mineral 
                                Leasing Act for Acquired Lands'') (30 
                                U.S.C. 351 et seq.);
                                    (III) the Act of July 31, 1947 
                                (commonly known as the ``Materials Act 
                                of 1947'') (61 Stat. 681, chapter 406; 
                                30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                                    (IV) sections 2319 through 2344 of 
                                the Revised Statutes (commonly known as 
                                the ``Mining Law of 1872'') (30 U.S.C. 
                                22 et seq.);
                                    (V) the Outer Continental Shelf 
                                Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.);
                                    (VI) the Geothermal Steam Act of 
                                1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.);
                                    (VII) the Federal Land Policy and 
                                Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 
                                et seq.); or
                                    (VIII) title I of the Naval 
                                Petroleum Reserves Production Act (42 
                                U.S.C. 6501 et seq.);
                            (ii) statements or permits for a project 
                        under sections 7 and 10 of the Endangered 
                        Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536, 1539); and
                            (iii) agency approvals under the Healthy 
                        Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6501 
                        et seq.) of hazardous fuel reduction and forest 
                        restoration projects.
            (2) Environmental document.--The term ``environmental 
        document'' includes any of the following, as prepared under the 
        National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
        seq.):
                    (A) An environmental assessment.
                    (B) A finding of no significant impact.
                    (C) An environmental impact statement.
                    (D) A record of decision.
            (3) Project.--The term ``project'' means a project--
                    (A) proposed for--
                            (i) the construction of infrastructure--
                                    (I) to develop, produce, generate, 
                                store, transport, or distribute energy;
                                    (II) to capture, remove, transport, 
                                or store carbon dioxide; or
                                    (III) to mine, extract, 
                                beneficiate, or process minerals; or
                            (ii) hazardous fuel reduction and forest 
                        restoration for the protection of 
                        infrastructure or communities from wildfire; 
                        and
                    (B) subject to the requirements that--
                            (i) an environmental document be prepared; 
                        and
                            (ii) the applicable agency issue an 
                        authorization of the activity.
            (4) Project sponsor.--The term ``project sponsor'' means an 
        entity, including any private, public, or public-private 
        entity, seeking an authorization for a project.
    (b) Statute of Limitations.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, a civil action arising under Federal law seeking judicial review 
of a final agency action granting or denying an authorization shall be 
barred unless the civil action is filed by the date that is 150 days 
after the date on which the authorization was granted or denied, unless 
a shorter time is specified in the Federal law pursuant to which 
judicial review is allowed.
    (c) Expedited Review.--A reviewing court shall set for expedited 
consideration any civil action arising under Federal law seeking 
judicial review of a final agency action granting or denying an 
authorization.
    (d) Remanded Actions.--
            (1) In general.--If the reviewing court remands a final 
        Federal agency action granting or denying an authorization to 
        the Federal agency for further proceedings, whether on a motion 
        by the court, the agency, or another party, the court shall set 
        a reasonable schedule and deadline for the agency to act on 
        remand, which shall not exceed 180 days from the date on which 
        the order of the court was issued, unless a longer time period 
        is necessary to comply with applicable law.
            (2) Expedited treatment of remanded actions.--The head of 
        the Federal agency to which a court remands a final Federal 
        agency action under paragraph (1) shall take such actions as 
        may be necessary to provide for the expeditious disposition of 
        the action on remand in accordance with the schedule and 
        deadline set by the court under that paragraph.
    (e) Treatment of Supplemental or Revised Environmental Documents.--
For the purpose of subsection (b), the preparation of a supplemental or 
revised environmental document, when required, shall be considered to 
be a separate final agency action.
    (f) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which an 
agency is served a copy of a petition for review or a complaint in a 
civil action described in subsection (b), the head of the agency shall 
notify the project sponsor of the filing of the petition or complaint.
    (g) Permitting Council.--Nothing in this title precludes a project 
from being designated as a covered project (as defined in section 41001 
of the FAST Act (42 U.S.C. 4370m)) for the purposes of title XLI of 
that Act (42 U.S.C. 4370m et seq.).

        TITLE II--FEDERAL ONSHORE ENERGY LEASING AND PERMITTING

SEC. 201. ONSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING.

    (a) Limitation on Issuance of Certain Leases or Rights-of-way.--
Section 50265(b)(1)(B) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 3006(b)(1)(B)) 
is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting ``, 
including only acres that were nominated in previously submitted 
expressions of interest,'' after ``energy development''.
    (b) Mineral Leasing Act Reforms.--
            (1) Expressions of interest for oil and gas leasing.--
        Section 17(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(b)) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Subdivision.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A parcel of land included in an 
                expression of interest that the Secretary of the 
                Interior offers for lease shall be leased as nominated 
                and not subdivided into multiple parcels unless the 
                Secretary of the Interior determines that a subpart of 
                the submitted parcel is not open to oil or gas leasing 
                under the approved resource management plan.
                    ``(B) Required reviews.--Nothing in this paragraph 
                affects the obligations of the Secretary of the 
                Interior to complete requirements and reviews 
                established by other provisions of law before leasing a 
                parcel of land.
            ``(4) Resource management plans.--
                    ``(A) Lease terms and conditions.--A lease issued 
                under this section shall be subject to the terms and 
                conditions of the approved resource management plan.
                    ``(B) Effect of leasing decision.--Notwithstanding 
                section 1506.1 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations 
                (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
                paragraph), the Secretary may conduct a lease sale 
                under an approved resource management plan while 
                amendments to the approved plan are under 
                consideration.''.
            (2) Refund of expression of interest fee.--Section 17(q) of 
        the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(q)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``Secretary of the Interior'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                ``nonrefundable''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Refund for nonwinning bid.--If a person other than 
        the person who submitted the expression of interest is the 
        highest responsible qualified bidder for a parcel of land 
        covered by the applicable expression of interest in a lease 
        sale conducted under this section--
                    ``(A) as a condition of the issuance of the lease, 
                the person who is the highest responsible qualified 
                bidder shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior an 
                amount equal to the applicable fee paid by the person 
                who submitted the expression of interest; and
                    ``(B) not later than 60 days after the date of the 
                lease sale, the Secretary of the Interior shall refund 
                to the person who submitted the expression of interest 
                an amount equal to the amount of the initial fee paid.
            ``(4) Refundability.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (3)(B), the fee assessed under paragraph (1) shall be 
        nonrefundable.''.

SEC. 202. TERM OF APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO DRILL.

    Section 17(p) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(p)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Term.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A permit to drill approved under 
                this subsection shall be valid for a single non-
                renewable 4-year period beginning on the date of the 
                approval.
                    ``(B) Retroactivity.--In addition to all approved 
                applications for permits to drill submitted on or after 
                the date of enactment of this paragraph, subparagraph 
                (A) shall apply to--
                            ``(i) all valid, unexpired permits in 
                        effect on the date of enactment of this 
                        paragraph; and
                            ``(ii) all pending applications for permit 
                        to drill submitted prior to the date of 
                        enactment of this paragraph.''.

SEC. 203. PERMITTING COMPLIANCE ON NON-FEDERAL LAND.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
181 et seq.), the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 
(30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), or subpart 3162 of part 3160 of title 43, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), but subject to 
any applicable State or Tribal requirements and subsection (c), the 
Secretary of the Interior shall not require a permit to drill for an 
oil and gas lease under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) 
for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit 
if--
            (1) the Federal Government--
                    (A) owns less than 50 percent of the minerals 
                within the oil and gas drilling or spacing unit; and
                    (B) does not own or lease the surface estate within 
                the area directly impacted by the action;
            (2) the well is located on non-Federal land overlying a 
        non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the wellbore 
        enters and produces from the Federal mineral estate subject to 
        the lease; or
            (3) the well is located on non-Federal land overlying a 
        non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the wellbore 
        traverses but does not produce from the Federal mineral estate 
        subject to the lease.
    (b) Notification.--For each State permit to drill or drilling plan 
that would impact or extract oil and gas owned by the Federal 
Government--
            (1) each lessee of Federal minerals in the unit, or 
        designee of a lessee, shall--
                    (A) notify the Secretary of the Interior of the 
                submission of a State application for a permit to drill 
                or drilling plan on submission of the application; and
                    (B) provide a copy of the application described in 
                subparagraph (A) to the Secretary of the Interior not 
                later than 5 days after the date on which the permit or 
                plan is submitted;
            (2) each lessee, designee of a lessee, or applicable State 
        shall notify the Secretary of the Interior of the approved 
        State permit to drill or drilling plan not later than 45 days 
        after the date on which the permit or plan is approved; and
            (3) each lessee or designee of a lessee shall provide, 
        prior to commencing drilling operations, agreements authorizing 
        the Secretary of the Interior to enter non-Federal land, as 
        necessary, for inspection and enforcement of the terms of the 
        Federal lease.
    (c) Nonapplicability to Indian Lands.--Subsection (a) shall not 
apply to Indian lands (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Oil and 
Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1702)).
    (d) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects--
            (1) other authorities of the Secretary of the Interior 
        under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 
        (30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or
            (2) the amount of royalties due to the Federal Government 
        from the production of the Federal minerals within the oil and 
        gas drilling or spacing unit.
    (e) Authority on Non-Federal Land.--Section 17(g) of the Mineral 
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(g)) is amended--
            (1) by striking the subsection designation and all that 
        follows through ``Secretary of the Interior, or'' in the first 
        sentence and inserting the following:
    ``(g)(1) The Secretary of the Interior, or''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2)(A) In the case of an oil and gas lease under this Act on land 
described in subparagraph (B) located within an oil and gas drilling or 
spacing unit, nothing in this Act authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior--
            ``(i) to require a bond to protect non-Federal land;
            ``(ii) to enter non-Federal land without the consent of the 
        applicable landowner;
            ``(iii) to impose mitigation requirements; or
            ``(iv) to require approval for surface reclamation.
    ``(B) Land referred to in subparagraph (A) is land where--
            ``(i) the Federal Government--
                    ``(I) owns less than 50 percent of the minerals 
                within the oil and gas drilling or spacing unit; and
                    ``(II) does not own or lease the surface estate 
                within the area directly impacted by the action;
            ``(ii) the well is located on non-Federal land overlying a 
        non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the wellbore 
        enters and produces from the Federal mineral estate subject to 
        the lease; or
            ``(iii) the well is located on non-Federal land overlying a 
        non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the wellbore 
        traverses but does not produce from the Federal mineral estate 
        subject to the lease.''.

SEC. 204. COAL LEASES ON FEDERAL LAND.

    (a) Deadlines.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2(a) of the Mineral Leasing Act 
        (30 U.S.C. 201(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by 
                striking ``he shall, in his discretion, upon the 
                request of any qualified applicant or on his own motion 
                from time to time'' and insert ``the Secretary shall, 
                at the discretion of the Secretary but subject to 
                paragraph (6), on the request of any qualified 
                applicant or on a motion by the Secretary''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Deadlines.--
                    ``(A) Applicant motion.--Not later than 90 days 
                after the date on which a request of a qualified 
                applicant is received for a lease sale under paragraph 
                (1), or for a lease modification under section 3, the 
                Secretary of the Interior shall commence all necessary 
                consultations and reviews required under Federal law in 
                accordance with that paragraph or section, as 
                applicable.
                    ``(B) Decision.--Not later than 90 days after the 
                completion of an environmental impact statement or 
                environmental assessment consistent with the 
                requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act 
                of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for a lease sale under 
                paragraph (1), or for a lease modification under 
                section 3, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue a 
                record of decision or a finding of no significant 
                impact for the lease sale or lease modification.
                    ``(C) Fair market value.--Not later than 30 days 
                after the date on which the Secretary of the Interior 
                issues a record of decision or a finding of no 
                significant impact under subparagraph (B) for a lease 
                sale under paragraph (1), or for a lease modification 
                under section 3, the Secretary shall determine the fair 
                market value of the coal subject to the lease.''.
            (2) Lease modifications.--Section 3(b) of the Mineral 
        Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 203(b)) is amended by striking ``The 
        Secretary shall prescribe'' and inserting ``Subject to section 
        2(a)(6), the Secretary shall prescribe''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 2(a)(1) of the Mineral Leasing 
Act (30 U.S.C. 201(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``he finds appropriate'' and 
                inserting ``the Secretary of the Interior finds 
                appropriate''; and
                     (B) by striking ``he deems appropriate'' and 
                inserting ``the Secretary of the Interior determines to 
                be appropriate'';
            (2) in the sixth sentence, by striking ``Prior to his 
        determination'' and inserting ``Prior to a determination by the 
        Secretary of the Interior'';
            (3) in the seventh sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``to make public his judgment'' and 
                inserting ``to make public the judgment of the 
                Secretary of the Interior''; and
                    (B) by striking ``comments he receives'' and 
                inserting ``comments received by the Secretary of the 
                Interior''; and
            (4) in the eighth sentence, by striking ``He is hereby 
        authorized'' and inserting ``The Secretary of the Interior is 
        authorized''.
    (c) Technical Correction.--Section 2(b)(3) of the Mineral Leasing 
Act (30 U.S.C. 201(b)(3)) is amended, in the first sentence, by 
striking ``geophyscal'' and inserting ``geophysical''.

SEC. 205. RIGHTS-OF-WAY ACROSS INDIAN LAND.

    The Act of February 5, 1948 (62 Stat. 17, chapter 45), is amended--
            (1) in the first section (62 Stat. 17, chapter 45; 25 
        U.S.C. 323), by striking ``That the Secretary of the Interior 
        be, and he is hereby, empowered to'' and inserting the 
        following:

``SECTION 1. RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR ALL PURPOSES ACROSS INDIAN LAND.

    ``The Secretary of the Interior may'';
            (2) in section 2 (62 Stat. 18, chapter 45; 25 U.S.C. 324), 
        by striking ``organized under the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 
        Stat. 984), as amended; the Act of May 1, 1936 (49 Stat. 1250); 
        or the Act of June 26, 1936 (49 Stat. 1967),''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 8. TRIBAL GRANTS OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY.

    ``(a) Rights-of-way.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an Indian 
        tribe may grant a right-of-way over and across the Tribal land 
        of the Indian tribe for any purpose.
            ``(2) Authority.--A right-of-way granted under paragraph 
        (1) shall not require the approval of the Secretary of the 
        Interior or a grant by the Secretary of the Interior under 
        section 1 if the right-of-way granted under that paragraph is 
        executed in accordance with a Tribal regulation approved by the 
        Secretary of the Interior under subsection (b).
    ``(b) Review of Tribal Regulations.--
            ``(1) Tribal regulation submission and approval.--
                    ``(A) Submission.--An Indian tribe seeking to grant 
                a right-of-way under subsection (a) shall submit for 
                approval a Tribal regulation governing the granting of 
                rights-of-way over and across the Tribal land of the 
                Indian tribe.
                    ``(B) Approval.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
                Secretary of the Interior shall have the authority to 
                approve or disapprove any Tribal regulation submitted 
                under subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Considerations for approval.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior 
                shall approve a Tribal regulation submitted under 
                paragraph (1)(A), if the Tribal regulation--
                            ``(i) is consistent with any regulations 
                        (or successor regulations) issued by the 
                        Secretary of the Interior under section 6;
                            ``(ii) provides for an environmental review 
                        process that includes--
                                    ``(I) the identification and 
                                evaluation of any significant impacts 
                                the proposed action may have on the 
                                environment; and
                                    ``(II) a process for ensuring--
                                            ``(aa) that the public is 
                                        informed of, and has a 
                                        reasonable opportunity to 
                                        comment on, any significant 
                                        environmental impacts of the 
                                        proposed action identified by 
                                        the Indian tribe under 
                                        subclause (I); and
                                            ``(bb) the Indian tribe 
                                        provides a response to each 
                                        relevant and substantive public 
                                        comment on the significant 
                                        environmental impacts 
                                        identified by the Indian tribe 
                                        under subclause (I) before the 
                                        Indian tribe approves the 
                                        right-of-way.
                    ``(B) Applicable laws.--The Secretary of the 
                Interior, in making a decision to approve a Tribal 
                regulation under this subsection, shall not be subject 
                to--
                            ``(i) the National Environmental Policy Act 
                        of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
                            ``(ii) section 306108 of title 54, United 
                        States Code; or
                            ``(iii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
                        (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
            ``(3) Review process.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date on which the Indian tribe submits a Tribal 
                regulation to the Secretary of the Interior under 
                paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary of the Interior shall--
                            ``(i) review the Tribal regulation;
                            ``(ii) approve or disapprove the Tribal 
                        regulation; and
                            ``(iii) notify the Indian tribe that 
                        submitted the Tribal regulation of the approval 
                        or disapproval.
                    ``(B) Written documentation.--If the Secretary of 
                the Interior disapproves a Tribal regulation submitted 
                under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary of the Interior 
                shall include with the disapproval notification under 
                subparagraph (A)(iii) written documentation describing 
                the basis for the disapproval.
                    ``(C) Extension.--The Secretary of the Interior 
                may, after consultation with the Indian tribe that 
                submitted a Tribal regulation under paragraph (1)(A), 
                extend the 180-day period described in subparagraph 
                (A).
            ``(4) Federal environmental review.--Notwithstanding 
        paragraphs (2) and (3), if an Indian tribe carries out a 
        project or activity funded by a Federal agency, the Indian 
        tribe may rely on the environmental review process of the 
        applicable Federal agency rather than any Tribal environmental 
        review process required under this subsection.
    ``(c) Documentation.--An Indian tribe granting a right-of-way under 
subsection (a) shall provide to the Secretary of the Interior--
            ``(1) a copy of the right-of-way, including any amendments 
        or renewals; and
            ``(2) if the right-of-way allows for compensation to be 
        made directly to the Indian tribe, documentation of payments 
        that are sufficient, as determined by the Secretary of the 
        Interior, as to enable the Secretary of the Interior to 
        discharge the trust responsibility of the United States under 
        subsection (d).
    ``(d) Trust Responsibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--The United States shall not be liable 
        for losses sustained by any party to a right-of-way granted 
        under subsection (a).
            ``(2) Authority of the secretary.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Pursuant to the authority of the 
                Secretary of the Interior to fulfill the trust 
                obligation of the United States to the applicable 
                Indian tribe under Federal law (including regulations), 
                the Secretary of the Interior may, on reasonable notice 
                from the applicable Indian tribe and at the discretion 
                of the Secretary of the Interior, enforce the 
                provisions of, or cancel, any right-of-way granted by 
                the Indian tribe under subsection (a).
                    ``(B) Authority.--The enforcement or cancellation 
                of a right-of-way under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                conducted using regulatory procedures issued under 
                section 6.
    ``(e) Compliance.--
            ``(1) In general.--An interested party, after exhaustion of 
        any applicable Tribal remedies, may submit a petition to the 
        Secretary of the Interior, at such time and in such form as 
        determined by the Secretary of the Interior, to review the 
        compliance of an applicable Indian tribe with a Tribal 
        regulation approved by the Secretary of the Interior under 
        subsection (b).
            ``(2) Violations.--If the Secretary of the Interior 
        determines that a Tribal regulation was violated after 
        conducting a review under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the 
        Interior may take any action the Secretary of the Interior 
        determines to be necessary to remedy the violation, including 
        rescinding the approval of the Tribal regulation and reassuming 
        responsibility for approving rights-of-way through the trust 
        land of the applicable Indian tribe.
            ``(3) Documentation.--If the Secretary of the Interior 
        determines that a Tribal regulation was violated after 
        conducting a review under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the 
        Interior shall--
                    ``(A) provide written documentation, with respect 
                to the Tribal regulation that has been violated, to the 
                appropriate interested party and Indian tribe;
                    ``(B) provide the applicable Indian tribe with a 
                written notice of the alleged violation; and
                    ``(C) prior to the exercise of any remedy, 
                including rescinding the approval for the applicable 
                Tribal regulation or reassuming responsibility for 
                approving rights-of-way through the trust land of the 
                applicable Indian tribe, provide the applicable Indian 
                tribe with--
                            ``(i) a hearing that is on the record; and
                            ``(ii) a reasonable opportunity to cure the 
                        alleged violation.
    ``(f) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section affects the 
application of any Tribal regulations issued under Federal 
environmental law.
    ``(g) Effect of Tribal Regulations.--An approved Tribal regulation 
under subsection (b) shall not preclude an Indian tribe from, in the 
discretion of the Indian tribe, consenting to the grant of a right-of-
way by the Secretary of the Interior under section 1.
    ``(h) Terms of Right-of-way.--The compensation for, and terms of, a 
right-of-way granted under subsection (a) will be determined by--
            ``(1) negotiations by the Indian tribe; or
            ``(2) the regulations of the Indian tribe.
    ``(i) Jurisdiction.--The grant of a right-of-way under subsection 
(a) does not waive the sovereign immunity of the Indian tribe or 
diminish the jurisdiction of that Indian tribe over the Tribal land 
subject to the right-of-way, unless otherwise provided in--
            ``(1) the grant of the right-of-way; or
            ``(2) the regulations of the Indian tribe.''.

SEC. 206. ACCELERATING RENEWABLE ENERGY PERMITTING.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible project.--The term ``eligible project'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 3101 of the Energy Act of 
        2020 (43 U.S.C. 3001).
            (2) Previously disturbed or developed.--The term 
        ``previously disturbed or developed'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 1021.410(g)(1) of title 10, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (or successor regulations).
    (b) Deadline for Consideration of Applications for Rights-of-way.--
            (1) Completeness of review.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                date on which the Secretary of the Interior or the 
                Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, receives an 
                application for a right-of-way under section 501 of the 
                Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
                U.S.C. 1761) for an eligible project, the applicable 
                Secretary shall--
                            (i) notify the applicant that the 
                        application is complete; or
                            (ii) notify the applicant that information 
                        is missing from the application and specify any 
                        information that is required to be submitted 
                        for the application to be complete.
                    (B) Environmental impact statement.--For an 
                eligible project that requires an environmental impact 
                statement for an application submitted under 
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary of the Interior or the 
                Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, shall issue a 
                notice of intent not later than 90 days after the date 
                on which the applicable Secretary determines that an 
                application is complete under subparagraph (A).
            (2) Cost recovery and issuance or deferral.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                date on which an applicant submits a complete 
                application for a right-of-way under paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
                Agriculture, as applicable, shall, if a cost recovery 
                agreement is required under section 2804.14 of title 
                43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
                regulations), or section 251.58 of title 36, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), issue a 
                cost recovery agreement.
                    (B) Decision.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                date on which an applicant submits a complete 
                application for a right-of-way under paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
                Agriculture, as applicable, shall--
                            (i) grant or deny the application, if the 
                        requirements under the National Environmental 
                        Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and 
                        any other applicable law have been completed; 
                        or
                            (ii) defer the decision on the application 
                        and provide to the applicant notice--
                                    (I) that specifies steps that the 
                                applicant can take for the decision on 
                                the application to be issued; and
                                    (II) of a list of actions that need 
                                to be taken by the agency in order to 
                                comply with applicable law, and 
                                timelines and deadlines for completing 
                                those actions.
    (c) Low Disturbance Activities for Renewable Energy Projects.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, to facilitate timely permitting of 
        eligible projects, the Secretary of the Interior and the 
        Secretary of Agriculture shall each develop or adopt 1 or more 
        categorical exclusions, including allowing for extraordinary 
        circumstances under which the categorical exclusion shall not 
        be available, under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
        1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for low disturbance activities 
        necessary for renewable energy projects.
            (2) Activities described.--Low disturbance activities 
        referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
                    (A) Individual surface disturbances of less than 5 
                acres that have undergone site-specific analysis in a 
                document prepared pursuant to the National 
                Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
                seq.) that has been previously completed.
                    (B) Activities at a location at which the same type 
                of activity has previously occurred within 5 years 
                prior to the date of commencement of the activity.
                    (C) Activities on previously disturbed or developed 
                land for which an approved land use plan or any 
                environmental document prepared pursuant to the 
                National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
                4321 et seq.) analyzed such activity as reasonably 
                foreseeable, so long as such plan or document was 
                approved within 5 years prior to the date of the 
                activity.
                    (D) The installation, modification, operation, or 
                removal of commercially available solar photovoltaic 
                systems located on--
                            (i) a building or other structure (such as 
                        a rooftop, parking lot, or facility, or mounted 
                        to signage, lighting, gates, or fences); or
                            (ii) previously disturbed or developed land 
                        comprising less than 10 acres.
                    (E) Maintenance of a minor activity, other than any 
                construction or major renovation, or a building or 
                facility.
                    (F) Preliminary geotechnical investigations.
                    (G) The construction and removal of meteorological 
                evaluation towers.

SEC. 207. IMPROVING RENEWABLE ENERGY COORDINATION ON FEDERAL LAND.

    (a) National Goal for Renewable Energy Production on Federal 
Land.--
            (1) Goal.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, in accordance with section 3104 of the 
        Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3004), the Secretary of the 
        Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and 
        other heads of relevant Federal agencies, shall establish a 
        target date for the authorization of not less than 50 gigawatts 
        of renewable energy production on Federal land by not later 
        than 2030.
            (2) Periodic goal revision.--Section 3104 of the Energy Act 
        of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3004) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and 
                periodically revise'' after ``establish''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Permitting.--Subject to the limitations described in section 
50265(b)(1) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 3006(b)(1)), the Secretary 
shall, in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal agencies, 
seek to issue permits that authorize, in total, sufficient electricity 
from eligible projects to meet or exceed the national goals established 
and revised under this section.''.
    (b) Definition of Eligible Project.--Paragraph (4) of section 3101 
of the Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3001) is amended by inserting ``or 
store'' after ``generate''.
    (c) Renewable Energy Project Review Standards.--Section 3102 of the 
Energy Act of 2020 (43 U.S.C. 3002) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by inserting 
        ``sufficient to achieve goals for renewable energy production 
        on Federal land established under section 3104'' before the 
        period at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (h); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) Renewable Energy Project Review Standards.--Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of the Energy Permitting Reform Act 
of 2024, for the purpose of encouraging standardized reviews and 
facilitating the permitting of eligible projects, the National 
Renewable Energy Coordination Office of the Bureau of Land Management 
shall promulgate renewable energy project review standards to be 
adopted by regional renewable energy coordination offices.
    ``(g) Clarification of Existing Authority.--Under section 307 of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1737), 
the Secretary may accept donations from renewable energy companies to 
improve community engagement for the permitting of energy projects.''.
    (d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section, or an amendment made 
by this section, modifies the limitations described in section 
50265(b)(1) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 3006(b)(1)).

SEC. 208. GEOTHERMAL LEASING AND PERMITTING IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Preliminary Geothermal Activities.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each develop or adopt 1 or more 
categorical exclusions, including allowing for extraordinary 
circumstances under which the categorical exclusion shall not be 
available, under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for individual disturbances of less than 10 acres 
for activities required to test, monitor, calibrate, explore, or 
confirm geothermal resources, provided those activities do not 
involve--
            (1) the commercial production of geothermal resources;
            (2) the use of geothermal resources for commercial 
        operations; or
            (3) construction of permanent roads.
    (b) Annual Leasing.--Section 4(b) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 
1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``every 2 years'' and 
        inserting ``per year''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Replacement sales.--If a lease sale under this 
        section for a year is cancelled or delayed, the Secretary shall 
        conduct a replacement sale not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the cancellation or delay, as applicable, and the 
        replacement sale may not be cancelled or delayed.''.
    (c) Deadlines for Consideration of Geothermal Drilling Permits.--
Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Deadlines for Consideration of Geothermal Drilling Permits.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 10 days after the date on 
        which the Secretary receives an application for any geothermal 
        drilling permit, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide written notice to the applicant that 
                the application is complete; or
                    ``(B) notify the applicant that information is 
                missing from the application and specify any 
                information that is required to be submitted for the 
                application to be complete.
            ``(2) Decision.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
        which an applicant submits a complete application for a 
        geothermal drilling permit under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) grant or deny the application, if the 
                requirements under the National Environmental Policy 
                Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and any other 
                applicable law have been completed; or
                    ``(B) defer the decision on the application and 
                provide to the applicant notice--
                            ``(i) that specifies steps that the 
                        applicant can take for the decision on the 
                        application to be issued; and
                            ``(ii) of a list of actions that need to be 
                        taken by the agency in order to comply with 
                        applicable law, and timelines and deadlines for 
                        completing those actions.''.
    (d) Cost Recovery Authority.--Section 24 of the Geothermal Steam 
Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1023) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section designation and all that 
        follows through ``The Secretary'' and inserting the following:

``SEC. 24. RULES AND REGULATIONS.

    ``The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following: ``The Secretary 
        shall, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
        the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, promulgate rules for 
        cost recovery, to be paid by permit applicants or lessees, to 
        facilitate the timely coordination and processing of leases, 
        permits, and authorizations and to reimburse the Secretary for 
        all reasonable administrative costs incurred from the 
        inspection and monitoring of activities thereunder.''.
    (e) Federal Permitting Process.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
promulgate regulations and establish a Federal permitting process to 
allow for simultaneous, concurrent consideration of multiple phases of 
a geothermal project, including--
            (1) surface exploration;
            (2) geophysical exploration (including well drilling);
            (3) production well drilling; and
            (4) use of geothermal resources (including power plant 
        construction).
    (f) Geothermal Production Parity.--Section 390 of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15942) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(NEPA)'' and inserting ``(42 
                U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (referred to in this section as 
                `NEPA')'';
                    (B) by inserting ``(30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.)'' after 
                ``Mineral Leasing Act''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``, or the Geothermal Steam Act of 
                1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) for the purpose of 
                exploration or development of geothermal resources'' 
                before the period at the end; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``oil or gas'' 
                and inserting ``oil, gas, or geothermal resources''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``oil or gas'' 
                and inserting ``oil, gas, or geothermal resources''.
    (g) Geothermal Ombudsman.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
        appoint within the Bureau of Land Management a Geothermal 
        Ombudsman.
            (2) Duties.--The Geothermal Ombudsman appointed under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) act as a liaison between--
                            (i) the individual field offices of the 
                        Bureau of Land Management;
                            (ii) the Division Chief of the National 
                        Renewable Energy Coordination Office of the 
                        Bureau of Land Management; and
                            (iii) the Director of the Bureau of Land 
                        Management;
                    (B) provide dispute resolution services between the 
                individual field offices of the Bureau of Land 
                Management and applicants for geothermal resource 
                permits;
                    (C) monitor and facilitate permit processing 
                practices and timelines across individual field offices 
                of the Bureau of Land Management;
                    (D) develop best practices for the permitting and 
                leasing process for geothermal resources; and
                    (E) coordinate with the Federal Permitting 
                Improvement Steering Council.
            (3) Report.--The Geothermal Ombudsman shall submit to the 
        Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
        an annual report that describes the activities of the 
        Geothermal Ombudsman and evaluates the effectiveness of 
        geothermal permit processing during the preceding 1-year 
        period.

SEC. 209. ELECTRIC GRID PROJECTS.

    (a) Definition of Previously Disturbed or Developed.--In this 
section, the term ``previously disturbed or developed'' has the meaning 
given the term in section 1021.410(g)(1) of title 10, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or successor regulations).
    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, to facilitate timely permitting, the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each develop or 
adopt 1 or more categorical exclusions, including allowing for 
extraordinary circumstances under which the categorical exclusion shall 
not be available, under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for the following activities:
            (1) Placement of an electric transmission or distribution 
        facility in an approved right-of-way corridor, if the corridor 
        was approved during the 5-year period ending on the date of 
        placement of the facility.
            (2) Any repair, maintenance, replacement, upgrade, 
        modification, optimization, or minor relocation of, or addition 
        to, an existing electric transmission or distribution facility 
        or associated infrastructure, including electrical substations, 
        within an existing right-of-way or on otherwise previously 
        disturbed or developed land, including reconductoring and 
        installation of grid-enhancing technologies.
            (3) Construction, operation, upgrade, or decommissioning of 
        a battery or other energy storage technology on previously 
        disturbed or developed land.

SEC. 210. HARDROCK MINING MILL SITES.

    (a) Multiple Mill Sites.--Section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (30 
U.S.C. 42) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Additional Mill Sites.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Mill site.--The term `mill site' means a 
                location of public land that is reasonably necessary 
                for waste rock or tailings disposal or other operations 
                reasonably incident to mineral development on, or 
                production from land included in a plan of operations.
                    ``(B) Operations; operator.--The terms `operations' 
                and `operator' have the meanings given those terms in 
                section 3809.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations 
                (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
                subsection).
                    ``(C) Plan of operations.--The term `plan of 
                operations' means a plan of operations that an operator 
                must submit and the Secretary of the Interior or the 
                Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, must approve 
                before an operator may begin operations, in accordance 
                with, as applicable--
                            ``(i) subpart 3809 of title 43, Code of 
                        Federal Regulations (or successor regulations 
                        establishing application and approval 
                        requirements); and
                            ``(ii) part 228 of title 36, Code of 
                        Federal Regulations (or successor regulations 
                        establishing application and approval 
                        requirements).
                    ``(D) Public land.--The term `public land' means 
                land owned by the United States that is open to 
                location under sections 2319 through 2344 of the 
                Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.), including--
                            ``(i) land that is mineral-in-character (as 
                        defined in section 3830.5 of title 43, Code of 
                        Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date 
                        of enactment of this subsection));
                            ``(ii) nonmineral land (as defined in 
                        section 3830.5 of title 43, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations (as in effect on the date of 
                        enactment of this subsection)); and
                            ``(iii) land where the mineral character 
                        has not been determined.
            ``(2) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), 
        where public land is needed by the proprietor of a lode or 
        placer claim for operations in connection with any lode or 
        placer claim within the proposed plan of operations, the 
        proprietor may--
                    ``(A) locate and include within the plan of 
                operations as many mill site claims under this 
                subsection as are reasonably necessary for its 
                operations; and
                    ``(B) use or occupy public land in accordance with 
                an approved plan of operations.
            ``(3) Mill sites convey no mineral rights.--A mill site 
        under this subsection does not convey mineral rights to the 
        locator.
            ``(4) Size of mill sites.--A location of a single mill site 
        under this subsection shall not exceed 5 acres.
            ``(5) Mill site and lode or placer claims on same tracts of 
        public land.--A mill site may be located under this subsection 
        on a tract of public land on which the claimant or operator 
        maintains a previously located lode or placer claim.
            ``(6) Effect on mining claims.--The location of a mill site 
        under this subsection shall not affect the validity of any lode 
        or placer claim, or any rights associated with such a claim.
            ``(7) Patenting.--A mill site under this section shall not 
        be eligible for patenting.
            ``(8) Savings provisions.--Nothing in this subsection--
                    ``(A) diminishes any right (including a right of 
                entry, use, or occupancy) of a claimant;
                    ``(B) creates or increases any right (including a 
                right of exploration, entry, use, or occupancy) of a 
                claimant on land that is not open to location under the 
                general mining laws;
                    ``(C) modifies any provision of law or any prior 
                administrative action withdrawing land from location or 
                entry;
                    ``(D) limits the right of the Federal Government to 
                regulate mining and mining-related activities 
                (including requiring claim validity examinations to 
                establish the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit) 
                in areas withdrawn from mining, including under--
                            ``(i) the general mining laws;
                            ``(ii) the Federal Land Policy and 
                        Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
                        seq.);
                            ``(iii) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 
                        et seq.);
                            ``(iv) sections 100731 through 100737 of 
                        title 54, United States Code;
                            ``(v) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
                        (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
                            ``(vi) division A of subtitle III of title 
                        54, United States Code (commonly referred to as 
                        the `National Historic Preservation Act'); or
                            ``(vii) section 4 of the Act of July 23, 
                        1955 (commonly known as the `Surface Resources 
                        Act of 1955') (69 Stat. 368, chapter 375; 30 
                        U.S.C. 612);
                    ``(E) restores any right (including a right of 
                entry, use, or occupancy, or right to conduct 
                operations) of a claimant that--
                            ``(i) existed prior to the date on which 
                        the land was closed to, or withdrawn from, 
                        location under the general mining laws; and
                            ``(ii) that has been extinguished by such 
                        closure or withdrawal; or
                    ``(F) modifies section 404 of division E of the 
                Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-
                42).''.
    (b) Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
        the United States a separate account, to be known as the 
        ``Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund'' (referred to in this 
        subsection as the ``Fund'').
            (2) Source of deposits.--Any amounts collected by the 
        Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the claim maintenance fee 
        under section 10101(a)(1) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
        Act of 1993 (30 U.S.C. 28f(a)(1)) on mill sites located under 
        subsection (c) of section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (30 
        U.S.C. 42) shall be deposited into the Fund, to remain 
        available until expended.
            (3) Use.--The Secretary of the Interior may make 
        expenditures from amounts available in the Fund, without 
        further appropriations or fiscal year limitation, only to carry 
        out section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
        (30 U.S.C. 1245).
            (4) Allocation of funds.--Amounts made available under 
        paragraph (3)--
                    (A) shall be allocated in accordance with section 
                40704(e)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
                Act (30 U.S.C. 1245(e)(1));
                    (B) may be transferred in accordance with section 
                40704(e)(2) of that Act (30 U.S.C. 1245(e)(2)); and
                    (C) may be used for the administration of the Fund 
                and section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and 
                Jobs Act (30 U.S.C. 1245) in amounts not to exceed 5 
                percent of amounts deposited into the Fund.
    (c) Clerical Amendments.--Section 10101 of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1993 (30 U.S.C. 28f) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28-
        28e)'' each place it appears and inserting ``sections 2319 
        through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.)'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the second sentence, by striking 
                        ``Such claim maintenance fee'' and inserting 
                        the following:
                    ``(B) Fee.--The claim maintenance fee under 
                subparagraph (A)''; and
                            (ii) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``The holder of'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The holder of''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the second sentence, by striking 
                        ``Such claim maintenance fee'' and inserting 
                        the following:
                    ``(B) Fee.--The claim maintenance fee under 
                subparagraph (A)''; and
                            (ii) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``The holder of'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The holder of''; and
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the second sentence, by striking ``The 
                location fee'' and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Fee.--The location fee''; and
                    (B) in the first sentence, by striking ``The claim 
                main tenance fee'' and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The claim maintenance fee''.

       TITLE III--FEDERAL OFFSHORE ENERGY LEASING AND PERMITTING

SEC. 301. OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING.

    (a) Requirement.--Notwithstanding the 2024-2029 National Outer 
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (and any successor 
leasing program that does not satisfy the requirements of this 
section), the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this title as 
the ``Secretary'') shall conduct not less than 1 oil and gas lease sale 
in each of calendar years 2025 through 2029, each of which shall be 
conducted not later than August 31 of the applicable calendar year.
    (b) Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) conduct offshore oil and gas lease sales of sufficient 
        acreage to meet the conditions described in section 50265(b)(2) 
        of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 3006(b)(2));
            (2) with respect to an oil and gas lease sale conducted 
        under subsection (a), offer the same lease form, lease terms, 
        economic conditions, and stipulations as contained in the 
        revised final notice of sale entitled ``Gulf of Mexico Outer 
        Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261'' (88 Fed. Reg. 
        80750 (November 20, 2023)); and
            (3) if any acceptable bids have been received for any tract 
        offered in an oil and gas lease sale conducted under subsection 
        (a), issue such leases not later than 90 days after the lease 
        sale to the highest bids on the tracts offered, subject to the 
        procedures described in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 
        document entitled ``Summary of Procedures for Determining Bid 
        Adequacy at Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Sales Effective March 
        2016, with Central Gulf of Mexico Sale 241 and Eastern Gulf of 
        Mexico Sale 226''.

SEC. 302. OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

    (a) Offshore Wind Lease Sale Requirement.--Effective on the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) subject to the limitations described in section 
        50265(b)(2) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 3006(b)(2)), 
        conduct not less than 1 offshore wind lease sale in each of 
        calendar years 2025 through 2029, each of which shall be 
        conducted not later than August 31 of the applicable calendar 
        year; and
            (2) if any acceptable bids have been received for a tract 
        offered in the lease sale, as determined by the Secretary, 
        issue such leases not later than 90 days after the lease sale 
        to the highest bidder on the offered tract.
    (b) Area Offered for Leasing.--
            (1) Total acres for lease.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
        Secretary shall offer for offshore wind leasing a sum total of 
        not less than 400,000 acres per calendar year.
            (2) Minimum acreage.--An offshore wind lease issued by the 
        Secretary that is less than 80,000 acres shall not be counted 
        toward the acreage requirement under paragraph (1).
    (c) Production Goal for Offshore Wind Energy.--
            (1) Initial goal.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an 
        initial target date for an offshore wind energy production goal 
        of 30 gigawatts.
            (2) Periodic goal revision.--The Secretary shall, in 
        consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, 
        periodically revise national goals for offshore wind energy 
        production on the outer Continental Shelf as initially 
        established under paragraph (1).
    (d) Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.--Section 8(p) of the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)(I), by striking ``prevention of 
        interference with reasonable uses'' and inserting ``prevention 
        of unreasonable interference with other uses'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (10) and inserting the following:
            ``(10) Applicability.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), this subsection does not apply to any 
                area on the outer Continental Shelf within the exterior 
                boundaries of any unit of the National Park System, the 
                National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Marine 
                Sanctuary System, or any National Monument.
                    ``(B) Exception.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), 
                the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Commerce under section 304(d) of the National Marine 
                Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1434(d)), may grant rights-
                of-way on the outer Continental Shelf within units of 
                the National Marine Sanctuary System for the 
                transmission of electricity generated by or produced 
                from renewable energy.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) Duration of permits in marine sanctuaries.--
        Notwithstanding section 310(c)(2) of the National Marine 
        Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1441(c)(2)), any permit or 
        authorization granted under that Act that authorizes the 
        installation, operation, or maintenance of electric 
        transmission cables on a right-of-way granted by the Secretary 
        described in paragraph (10)(B) shall be issued for a term equal 
        to the duration of the right-of-way granted by the 
        Secretary.''.
    (e) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section, or an amendment made 
by this section, modifies the limitations described in section 
50265(b)(2) of Public Law 117-169 (43 U.S.C. 3006(b)(2)).

                    TITLE IV--ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION

SEC. 401. TRANSMISSION PERMITTING.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
824p) is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the Federal 
        Energy Regulatory Commission.
            ``(2) Improved reliability.--The term `improved 
        reliability' has the meaning given the term in section 225(a).
            ``(3) Landowner input.--The term `landowner input' means 
        input received--
                    ``(A) by the Commission;
                    ``(B) from affected landowners, such as farmers and 
                ranchers, in the path of the proposed construction or 
                modification of an electric transmission facility; and
                    ``(C) pursuant to notification provided to, and 
                consultation with, those affected landowners, farmers, 
                and ranchers by the Commission.
            ``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.''.
    (b) Construction Permit.--Section 216(b) of the Federal Power Act 
(16 U.S.C. 824p(b)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``Except'' and all that follows through ``finds that'' and 
        inserting ``Except as provided in subsections (d)(1) and (i), 
        the Commission may, after notice and an opportunity for 
        hearing, including a public comment period of at least 60 days, 
        issue one or more permits for the construction or modification 
        of electric transmission facilities necessary in the national 
        interest if the Commission finds that'';
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting ``or 
                modification'' after ``siting''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
                        inserting ``or modification'' after ``siting''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in clause (i), by striking ``the later 
                        of'' in the matter preceding subclause (I) and 
                        all that follows through the semicolon at the 
                        end of subclause (II) and inserting ``the date 
                        on which the application was filed with the 
                        State commission or other entity;''; and
            (3) by striking paragraphs (2) through (6) and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(2) the proposed facilities will be used for the 
        transmission of electric energy in interstate (including 
        transmission from the outer Continental Shelf to a State) or 
        foreign commerce;
            ``(3) the proposed construction or modification is 
        consistent with the public interest;
            ``(4) the proposed construction or modification will 
        significantly reduce transmission congestion in interstate 
        commerce, protect or benefit consumers, and provide improved 
        reliability;
            ``(5) the proposed construction or modification is 
        consistent with sound national energy policy and will enhance 
        energy independence;
            ``(6) the electric transmission facilities are capable of 
        transmitting electric energy at a voltage of not less than 100 
        kilovolts or, in the case of facilities that include advanced 
        transmission conductors (including superconductors), as defined 
        by the Commission, voltages determined to be appropriate by the 
        Commission; and
            ``(7) the proposed modification (including reconductoring) 
        will maximize, to the extent reasonable and economical, the 
        transmission capabilities of existing towers, structures, or 
        rights-of-way.''.
    (c) State Siting and Consultation.--Section 216 of the Federal 
Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p) is amended by striking subsection (d) and 
inserting the following:
    ``(d) State Siting and Consultation.--
            ``(1) Preservation of state siting authority.--The 
        Commission shall have no authority to issue a permit under 
        subsection (b) for the construction or modification of an 
        electric transmission facility within a State except as 
        provided in paragraph (1) of that subsection.
            ``(2) Consultation.--In any proceeding before the 
        Commission under subsection (b), the Commission shall afford 
        each State in which a transmission facility covered by the 
        permit is or will be located, each affected Federal agency and 
        Indian Tribe, private property owners, and other interested 
        persons, a reasonable opportunity to present their views and 
        recommendations with respect to the need for and impact of a 
        facility covered by the permit.
            ``(3) Landowner input.--In authorizing the construction or 
        modification of an electric transmission facility under 
        subsection (b), the Commission shall take into account 
        landowner input.''.
    (d) Rights-of-way.--Section 216(e)(3) of the Federal Power Act (16 
U.S.C. 824p(e)(3)) is amended by striking ``shall conform'' and all 
that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``shall be in 
accordance with rule 71.1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.''.
    (e) Cost Allocation.--
            (1) In general.--Section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 
        U.S.C. 824p) is amended by striking subsection (f) and 
        inserting the following:
    ``(f) Cost Allocation.--
            ``(1) Transmission tariffs.--For the purposes of this 
        section, any transmitting utility that owns, controls, or 
        operates electric transmission facilities that the Commission 
        finds to be consistent with the findings under paragraphs (2) 
        through (6) and, if applicable, (7) of subsection (b) shall 
        file a tariff or tariff revision with the Commission pursuant 
        to section 205 and the regulations of the Commission allocating 
        the costs of the new or modified transmission facilities.
            ``(2) Transmission benefits.--The Commission shall require 
        that tariffs or tariff revisions filed under this subsection 
        are just and reasonable and allocate the costs of providing 
        service to customers that benefit, in accordance with the cost-
        causation principle, including through--
                    ``(A) improved reliability;
                    ``(B) reduced congestion;
                    ``(C) reduced power losses;
                    ``(D) greater carrying capacity;
                    ``(E) reduced operating reserve requirements; and
                    ``(F) improved access to lower cost generation that 
                achieves reductions in the cost of delivered power.
            ``(3) Ratepayer protection.--Customers that receive no 
        benefit, or benefits that are trivial in relation to the costs 
        sought to be allocated, from electric transmission facilities 
        constructed or modified under this section shall not be 
        involuntarily allocated any of the costs of those transmission 
        facilities, provided, however, that nothing in this section 
        shall prevent a transmitting utility from recovering such costs 
        through voluntary agreement with its customers.''.
            (2) Savings provision.--If the Federal Energy Regulatory 
        Commission finds that the considerations under paragraphs (2) 
        through (6) and, if applicable, (7) of subsection (b) of 
        section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p) (as 
        amended by subsection (b)) are met, nothing in this section or 
        the amendments made by this section shall be construed to 
        exclude transmission facilities located on the outer 
        Continental Shelf from being eligible for cost allocation 
        established under subsection (f)(1) of that section (as amended 
        by paragraph (1)).
    (f) Coordination of Federal Authorizations for Transmission 
Facilities.--Section 216(h) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
824p(h)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting the following: ``, except that--
            ``(A) the Commission shall act as the lead agency in the 
        case of facilities permitted under subsection (b) and section 
        225; and
            ``(B) the Department of the Interior shall act as the lead 
        agency in the case of facilities located on a lease, easement, 
        or right-of-way granted by the Secretary of the Interior under 
        section 8(p)(1)(C) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
        U.S.C. 1337(p)(1)(C)).'';
            (2) in each of paragraphs (3), (4)(B), (4)(C), (5)(B), 
        (6)(A), (7)(A), (7)(B)(i), (8)(A)(i), and (9), by striking 
        ``Secretary'' each place it appears and inserting ``lead 
        agency'';
            (3) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``As head of the lead 
        agency, the Secretary'' and inserting ``The lead agency'';
            (4) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ``As lead agency head, 
        the Secretary'' and inserting ``The lead agency''; and
            (5) in paragraph (7)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``18 months 
                after the date of enactment of this section'' and 
                inserting ``18 months after the date of enactment of 
                the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``1 year 
                after the date of enactment of this section'' and 
                inserting ``18 months after the date of enactment of 
                the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024''.
    (g) Interstate Compacts.--Section 216(i) of the Federal Power Act 
(16 U.S.C. 824p(i)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``, including facilities 
        in national interest electric transmission corridors''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a period;
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (B); and
                    (C) by striking ``in disagreement'' in the matter 
                preceding subparagraph (A) and all that follows through 
                ``(A) the'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting ``unable 
                to reach an agreement on an application seeking 
                approval by the''.
    (h) Transmission Infrastructure Investment.--Section 219(b)(4) of 
the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824s(b)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) all prudently incurred costs associated with 
                payments to jurisdictions impacted by electric 
                transmission facilities developed pursuant to section 
                216 or 225.''.
    (i) Jurisdiction.--Section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
824p) is amended by striking subsection (k) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(k) Jurisdiction.--
            ``(1) ERCOT.--This section shall not apply within the area 
        referred to in section 212(k)(2)(A).
            ``(2) Other utilities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For the purposes of this 
                section, the Commission shall have jurisdiction over 
                all transmitting utilities, including transmitting 
                utilities described in section 201(f), but excluding 
                any ERCOT utility (as defined in section 212(k)(2)(B)).
                    ``(B) Clarification.--Being subject to Commission 
                jurisdiction for the purposes of this section shall not 
                make an entity described in section 201(f) a public 
                utility for the purposes of section 201(e).''.
    (j) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 50151(b) of Public Law 117-169 (42 U.S.C. 
        18715(b)) is amended by striking ``facilities designated by the 
        Secretary to be necessary in the national interest under 
        section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(a))'' 
        and inserting ``facilities in a geographic area identified 
        under section 224 of the Federal Power Act''.
            (2) Section 1222 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
        U.S.C. 16421) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ``in a 
                national interest electric transmission corridor 
                designated under section 216(a)'' and inserting ``in a 
                geographic area identified under section 224''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``in an 
                area designated under section 216(a)'' and inserting 
                ``in a geographic area identified under section 224''.
            (3) Section 40106(h)(1)(A) of the Infrastructure Investment 
        and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 18713(h)(1)(A)) is amended by striking 
        ``in an area designated as a national interest electric 
        transmission corridor pursuant to section 216(a) of the Federal 
        Power Act 16 U.S.C. 824p(a)'' and inserting ``in a geographic 
        area identified under section 224 of the Federal Power Act''.
    (k) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section or an amendment 
made by this section grants authority to the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) over 
sales of electric energy at retail or the local distribution of 
electricity.

SEC. 402. TRANSMISSION PLANNING.

    (a) In General.--Part II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 224. TRANSMISSION STUDY.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary 
of Energy (referred to in this section as the `Secretary'), in 
consultation with affected States and Indian Tribes, shall conduct a 
study of electric transmission capacity constraints and congestion.
    ``(b) Report.--Not less frequently than once every 3 years, the 
Secretary, after considering alternatives and recommendations from 
interested parties (including an opportunity for comment from affected 
States and Indian Tribes), shall issue a report, based on the study 
under subsection (a) or other information relating to electric 
transmission capacity constraints and congestion, which may identify 
any geographic area that--
            ``(1) is experiencing electric energy transmission capacity 
        constraints or congestion that adversely affects consumers; or
            ``(2) is expected to experience such energy transmission 
        capacity constraints or congestion.
    ``(c) Consultation.--Not less frequently than once every 3 years, 
the Secretary, in conducting the study under subsection (a) and issuing 
the report under subsection (b), shall consult with affected 
transmission planning regions (as defined in section 225(a)) and any 
appropriate regional entity referred to in section 215.
    ``(d) Alaska.--The Secretary--
            ``(1) shall, in consultation with the State of Alaska and 
        affected Indian Tribes, consider any intrastate transmission 
        capacity constraints and congestion within the State of Alaska 
        in the study under subsection (a); and
            ``(2) in issuing the report under subsection (b), may, 
        subject to the approval of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, 
        identify any geographic area in the State of Alaska that--
                    ``(A) is experiencing electric energy transmission 
                capacity constraints or congestion that adversely 
                affects consumers; or
                    ``(B) is expected to experience such energy 
                transmission capacity constraints or congestion.

``SEC. 225. PLANNING FOR TRANSMISSION FACILITIES THAT ENHANCE GRID 
              RELIABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND RESILIENCE.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the Federal 
        Energy Regulatory Commission.
            ``(2) ERO.--The term `ERO' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 215(a).
            ``(3) Improved reliability.--The term `improved 
        reliability' means that, on balance, considering each of the 
        matters described in subparagraphs (A) through (D), reliability 
        is improved in a material manner that benefits customers 
        through at least one of the following:
                    ``(A) facilitating compliance with a mandatory 
                standard for reliability approved by the Commission 
                under section 215;
                    ``(B) a reduction in expected unserved energy, loss 
                of load hours, or loss of load probability (as defined 
                by the ERO);
                    ``(C) facilitating compliance with a tariff 
                requirement or process for resource adequacy on file 
                with the Commission; and
                    ``(D) any other similar material improvement, 
                including a reduction in correlated outage risk, such 
                as achieved through increased geographic or resource 
                diversification.
            ``(4) Interregional transmission facility.--The term 
        `interregional transmission facility' means a transmission 
        facility that--
                    ``(A) is located within 2 or more neighboring 
                transmission planning regions; or
                    ``(B) significantly impacts the ability of 1 or 
                more transmission planning regions to transmit electric 
                energy among neighboring transmission planning regions.
            ``(5) Transmission planning region.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `transmission planning 
                region'--
                            ``(i) when used in a geographical sense, 
                        means a region for which the Commission 
                        determines that electric transmission planning 
                        is appropriate, such as a region established in 
                        accordance with Order No. 1000 of the 
                        Commission, entitled `Transmission Planning and 
                        Cost Allocation by Transmission Owning and 
                        Operating Public Utilities' (76 Fed. Reg. 49842 
                        (August 11, 2011)); and
                            ``(ii) when used in a corporate sense, 
                        means the Transmission Organization or other 
                        entity responsible for planning or operating 
                        electric transmission facilities within a 
                        region described in clause (i).
                    ``(B) Exclusion.--The term `transmission planning 
                region' does not include the Electric Reliability 
                Council of Texas or the region served by members of the 
                Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
    ``(b) Jurisdiction.--
            ``(1) ERCOT.--This section shall not apply within the area 
        referred to in section 212(k)(2)(A).
            ``(2) Other utilities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For the purposes of this 
                section, the Commission shall have jurisdiction over 
                all transmitting utilities, including transmitting 
                utilities described in section 201(f), but excluding 
                any ERCOT utility (as defined in section 212(k)(2)(B)).
                    ``(B) Clarification.--Being subject to Commission 
                jurisdiction for the purposes of this section shall not 
                make an entity described in section 201(f) a public 
                utility for the purposes of section 201(e).
    ``(c) Rulemaking Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall, consistent 
with the requirements of this section, by rule--
            ``(1) require neighboring transmission planning regions to 
        jointly plan with each other;
            ``(2) require each transmission planning region to submit 
        to the Commission for approval a joint interregional 
        transmission plan with each of its neighboring transmission 
        planning regions, which requirement may, at the discretion of 
        the transmission planning region, be satisfied through the 
        submission of--
                    ``(A) a separate joint interregional transmission 
                plan with each of its neighboring transmission planning 
                regions; or
                    ``(B) 1 or more joint interregional transmission 
                plans, any of which may be submitted with any 1 or more 
                of its neighboring transmission planning regions; and
            ``(3) establish rate treatments for interregional 
        transmission planning and cost allocation.
    ``(d) Plan Elements.--The Commission shall require, within the rule 
under subsection (c), that joint interregional transmission plans 
contain the following elements:
            ``(1) Compatibility.--A common set of input assumptions and 
        models, on a consistent timeline, that--
                    ``(A) allow for the joint identification and 
                selection, by transmission planning regions, of 
                specific interregional transmission facilities for 
                construction or modification, including through the use 
                of advanced transmission conductors (including 
                superconductors) and reconductoring;
                    ``(B) consider, to the extent reasonable and 
                economical, modifications that maximize the 
                transmission capabilities of existing towers, 
                structures, or rights-of-way; and
                    ``(C) consider existing transmission plans.
            ``(2) Transmission benefits.--A common set of benefits for 
        interregional transmission planning and cost allocation, 
        including--
                    ``(A) improved reliability;
                    ``(B) reduced congestion;
                    ``(C) reduced power losses;
                    ``(D) greater carrying capacity;
                    ``(E) reduced operating reserve requirements; and
                    ``(F) improved access to lower cost generation that 
                achieves reductions in the cost of delivered power.
            ``(3) Selection criteria.--Criteria governing the selection 
        by transmission planning regions, for construction or 
        modification, of interregional transmission facilities that--
                    ``(A) provide improved reliability;
                    ``(B) protect or benefit consumers; and
                    ``(C) are consistent with the public interest.
    ``(e) Deadline; Updates.--The joint interregional transmission 
plans required to be submitted to the Commission pursuant to the rule 
under subsection (c) shall be--
            ``(1) submitted to the Commission not later than 2 years 
        after the date of enactment of this section; and
            ``(2) updated not less frequently than once every 4 years.
    ``(f) Commission Review.--The Commission shall--
            ``(1) review each joint interregional transmission plan 
        submitted pursuant to the rule under subsection (c); and
            ``(2) approve the joint interregional transmission plan if 
        the Commission finds that the plan--
                    ``(A) meets the requirements of subsection (d);
                    ``(B) allocates costs in accordance with subsection 
                (g);
                    ``(C) ensures that all rates, charges, terms, and 
                conditions will be just and reasonable and not unduly 
                discriminatory or preferential; and
                    ``(D) is consistent with the public interest.
    ``(g) Cost Allocation.--
            ``(1) Transmission tariffs.--For the purposes of this 
        section, any transmitting utility that owns, controls, or 
        operates electric transmission facilities constructed or 
        modified as a result of this section shall file a tariff or 
        tariff revision with the Commission pursuant to section 205 and 
        the regulations of the Commission allocating the costs of the 
        new or modified transmission facilities.
            ``(2) Requirement.--The Commission shall require that 
        tariffs or tariff revisions filed under this section are just 
        and reasonable and allocate the costs of providing service to 
        customers that benefit, in accordance with the cost-causation 
        principle, including through the benefits described in 
        subsection (d)(2).
            ``(3) Ratepayer protection.--Customers that receive no 
        benefit, or benefits that are trivial in relation to the costs 
        sought to be allocated, from electric transmission facilities 
        constructed or modified under this section shall not be 
        involuntarily allocated any of the costs of those transmission 
        facilities.
    ``(h) Construction Permit.--For the purposes of obtaining a 
construction permit under section 216(b), a project that is selected by 
transmission planning regions pursuant to a joint interregional 
transmission plan shall be considered to satisfy paragraphs (2) through 
(6) and, if applicable, (7) of that section.
    ``(i) Dispute Resolution.--In the event of a dispute between 
transmission planning regions with respect to a material element of a 
joint interregional transmission plan--
            ``(1) the transmission planning regions shall submit to the 
        Commission their respective proposals for resolving the 
        material element in dispute for resolution; and
            ``(2) not later than 60 days after the proposals are 
        submitted under paragraph (1), the Commission shall issue an 
        order directing a resolution to the dispute.
    ``(j) Failure to Submit Plan.--In the event that neighboring 
transmission planning regions fail to submit to the Commission a joint 
interregional transmission plan under this section, the Commission 
shall, as the Commission determines to be appropriate--
            ``(1) grant a request to extend the time for submission of 
        the joint interregional transmission plan; or
            ``(2) require, by order, the transmitting utilities within 
        the affected transmission planning regions to comply with a 
        joint interregional transmission plan approved by the 
        Commission--
                    ``(A) based on the record of the planning process 
                conducted by the affected transmission planning 
                regions; and
                    ``(B) in accordance with the cost allocation 
                provisions in subsection (g).
    ``(k) NEPA.--For purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)--
            ``(1) any approval of a joint interregional transmission 
        plan under subsection (f) or (j) or order directing resolution 
        of a dispute under subsection (i) shall not be considered a 
        major Federal action; and
            ``(2) any permit granted under section 216(b) for a project 
        that is selected by transmission planning regions pursuant to a 
        joint interregional transmission plan shall be considered a 
        major Federal action.
    ``(l) Savings Provision.--Except as expressly provided in this 
section, nothing in this section shall be construed as conferring, 
limiting, or impairing any authority of the Commission under any other 
provision of law.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 201 of the Federal Power Act 
(16 U.S.C. 824) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``and 222'' 
                and inserting ``222, and 225''; and
                    (B) in the second sentence, by striking ``or 222'' 
                and inserting ``222, or 225''; and
            (2) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by striking ``206(f),''; and
                    (B) by striking ``or 222'' and inserting ``222, or 
                225''.
    (c) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section or an amendment 
made by this section grants authority to the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) over 
sales of electric energy at retail or the local distribution of 
electricity.

                     TITLE V--ELECTRIC RELIABILITY

SEC. 501. RELIABILITY ASSESSMENTS.

    Section 215 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o) is amended by 
striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:
    ``(g) Reliability Reports.--
            ``(1) Periodic assessments.--The ERO shall conduct periodic 
        assessments of the reliability and adequacy of the bulk-power 
        system in North America.
            ``(2) Reliability assessments for regulations.--(A) 
        Whenever the Commission determines, on its own motion or on 
        request from another Federal agency, an affected transmission 
        organization, or any State commission, that a rule, regulation, 
        or standard proposed by a Federal agency other than the 
        Commission is likely to result in a violation of a tariff 
        requirement or process for resource adequacy on file with the 
        Commission or a mandatory standard for reliability approved by 
        the Commission, the Commission shall require, by order, the ERO 
        to assess and report on the effects of the proposed rule, 
        regulation, or standard on the reliable operation of the bulk-
        power system.
            ``(B) An ERO reliability assessment ordered under 
        subparagraph (A) shall--
                    ``(i) identify any reasonably foreseeable 
                significant adverse effects on the reliable operation 
                of the bulk-power system that the ERO anticipates will 
                result from the proposed rule, regulation, or standard;
                    ``(ii) account for mitigations that will be 
                available under existing rules, regulations, or tariffs 
                governing facilities of the bulk-power system under 
                this Act that will reduce or prevent significant 
                adverse effects on the reliable operation of the bulk-
                power system from the proposed rule, regulation, or 
                standard; and
                    ``(iii) take into account the technical views of 
                affected transmission organizations regarding effects 
                on the reliable operation of the bulk-power system from 
                the proposed rule, regulation, or standard.
            ``(C) The ERO shall--
                    ``(i) submit the report required under subparagraph 
                (A) to the public docket of the Federal agency 
                proposing the rule, regulation, or standard, and, if 
                practicable, make such submission within the time 
                period established by such Federal agency for 
                submission of public comments on the proposed rule, 
                regulation, or standard;
                    ``(ii) submit such report to the Commission; and
                    ``(iii) publish such report in a publicly available 
                format.
            ``(D) This paragraph shall apply to proposed rules, 
        regulations, or standards pending on, or proposed on or after, 
        the date of enactment of this paragraph.''.

                TITLE VI--LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORTS

SEC. 601. ACTION ON APPLICATIONS.

    Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (e)(3)(A), by inserting ``and subsection 
        (g)'' after ``subparagraph (B)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Deadline to Act on Certain Export Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall grant or deny an 
        application under subsection (a) to export to a foreign country 
        any natural gas from the United States not later than 90 days 
        after the later of--
                    ``(A) the date on which the notice of availability 
                for each final review required under the National 
                Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
                seq.) for the exporting facility is published with 
                respect to an application--
                            ``(i) under subsection (e); or
                            ``(ii) for a license for the ownership, 
                        construction, or operation of a deepwater port, 
                        under section 4 of the Deepwater Port Act of 
                        1974 (33 U.S.C. 1503); and
                    ``(B) the date of enactment of this subsection.
            ``(2) Applications to re-export.--The Commission shall 
        grant or deny an application under subsection (a) to re-export 
        to another foreign country any natural gas that has been 
        exported from the United States to Canada or Mexico for 
        liquefaction in Canada or Mexico, or the territorial waters of 
        Canada or Mexico, not later than 90 days after the later of--
                    ``(A) the date on which the notice of availability 
                for each draft review required under the National 
                Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
                seq.) for the application is published; and
                    ``(B) the date of enactment of this subsection.
            ``(3) Applications for extensions.--The Commission shall 
        grant or deny an application for an extension of a previously 
        issued authorization to export natural gas described in 
        paragraph (1) or (2) not later than 90 days after the later 
        of--
                    ``(A) the date the application for extension is 
                received by the Commission; and
                    ``(B) the date of enactment of this subsection.
            ``(4) Failure to act.--If the Commission fails to grant or 
        deny an application subject to this subsection by the 
        applicable date required by this subsection, the application 
        shall be considered to be granted and a final agency order.''.

SEC. 602. SUPPLEMENTAL REVIEWS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) 2018 lng export study.--The term ``2018 LNG Export 
        Study'' means the report entitled ``Macroeconomic Outcomes of 
        Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports'', prepared by 
        NERA Economic Consulting for the National Energy Technology 
        Laboratory of the Department of Energy, published June 7, 2018.
            (2) 2019 life cycle ghg review.--The term ``2019 Life Cycle 
        GHG Review'' means the report entitled ``Life Cycle Greenhouse 
        Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas from the 
        United States'', prepared by S. Roman-White, S. Rai, J. 
        Littlefield, G. Cooney, and T. J. Skone for the National Energy 
        Technology Laboratory of the Department of Energy, published 
        September 12, 2019.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (4) Supplemental greenhouse gas review.--The term 
        ``supplemental greenhouse gas review'' means a review prepared 
        or commissioned by the Department of Energy and published after 
        January 26, 2024, that analyzes the life cycle greenhouse gas 
        emissions of liquefied natural gas exports from the United 
        States, including consideration of the modeling parameters used 
        in the 2019 Life Cycle GHG Review.
            (5) Supplemental macroeconomic review.--The term 
        ``supplemental macroeconomic review'' means a review prepared 
        or commissioned by the Department of Energy and published after 
        January 26, 2024, that analyzes the macroeconomic outcomes of 
        different levels of liquefied natural gas exports from the 
        United States, including consideration of the natural gas 
        market factors and macroeconomic factors analyzed in the 2018 
        LNG Export Study.
            (6) Supplemental review.--The term ``supplemental review'' 
        means a supplemental greenhouse gas review or a supplemental 
        macroeconomic review.
    (b) Requirements for Supplemental Reviews.--
            (1) Notice and comment on proposed supplemental reviews.--
        Before finalizing a supplemental review, the Secretary shall 
        publish a notice of availability of the proposed supplemental 
        review in the Federal Register pursuant to the notice and 
        comment provisions of section 553 of title 5, United States 
        Code.
            (2) Quality of supplemental reviews.--A supplemental review 
        shall be subject to a peer review process consistent with the 
        final bulletin of the Office of Management and Budget entitled 
        ``Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review'' (70 Fed. 
        Reg. 2664 (January 14, 2005)) (or successor guidance).
            (3) Pending applications.--For a review of an application 
        to grant, deny, or extend an order under section 3(a) of the 
        Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(a)) to export to a foreign 
        country any natural gas from an LNG terminal in the United 
        States or from a facility subject to section 4 of the Deepwater 
        Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1503), or to re-export to another 
        foreign country any natural gas that has been exported from the 
        United States to Canada or Mexico for liquefaction in Canada or 
        Mexico, or the territorial waters of Canada or Mexico, the 
        Secretary shall base any evaluation of--
                    (A) macroeconomic outcomes on the results of the 
                2018 LNG Export Study, or predecessor documents, unless 
                and until the Secretary finalizes and implements a 
                supplemental macroeconomic review; and
                    (B) life cycle greenhouse gas emissions on the 
                results of the 2019 Life Cycle GHG Review, or 
                predecessor documents, unless and until the Secretary 
                finalizes and implements a supplemental greenhouse gas 
                review.

                         TITLE VII--HYDROPOWER

SEC. 701. HYDROPOWER LICENSE EXTENSIONS.

    (a) Definition of Covered Project.--In this section, the term 
``covered project'' means a hydropower project with respect to which 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a license before March 
13, 2020.
    (b) Authorization of Extension.--Notwithstanding section 13 of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806), on the request of a licensee of a 
covered project, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may, after 
reasonable notice and for good cause shown, extend in accordance with 
subsection (c) the period during which the licensee is required to 
commence construction of the covered project for an additional 4 years 
beyond the 8 years authorized by that section.
    (c) Period of Extension.--An extension of time to commence 
construction of a covered project under subsection (b) shall--
            (1) begin on the date on which the final extension of the 
        period for commencement of construction granted to the licensee 
        under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) 
        expires; and
            (2) end on the date that is 4 years after the latest date 
        to which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is authorized 
        to extend the period for commencement of construction under 
        that section.
    (d) Reinstatement of Expired License.--If the time period required 
under section 13 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) to commence 
construction of a covered project expires after December 31, 2023, and 
before the date of enactment of this Act--
            (1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may reinstate 
        the license for the applicable project effective as of the date 
        of expiration of the license; and
            (2) the extension authorized under subsection (b) shall 
        take effect on the date of that expiration.

SEC. 702. IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING MARKET BARRIERS TO HYDROPOWER.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Energy Regulatory Commission.
            (2) Water power technologies.--The term ``water power 
        technologies'' means hydropower in all its forms and modes of 
        operation, including--
                    (A) conventional water power projects that use 
                dams, conduits, or similar infrastructure to store, 
                divert, or impound water to generate electricity; and
                    (B) marine and hydrokinetic technologies that use--
                            (i) waves, tides, and currents; or
                            (ii) temperature differentials in oceans, 
                        estuaries, tidal areas, rivers, lakes, streams, 
                        or manmade channels.
    (b) Report on Hydropower Market Barriers.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the Committee on Energy 
        and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy 
        and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report--
                    (A) describing any market barriers to the 
                development and proper compensation of conventional, 
                storage, conduit, and emerging hydropower technologies 
                related to--
                            (i) rules of Transmission Organizations (as 
                        defined in section 3 of the Federal Power Act 
                        (16 U.S.C. 796));
                            (ii) regulations or policies--
                                    (I) of the Commission; or
                                    (II) under the Federal Power Act 
                                (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.); or
                            (iii) other Federal and State laws and 
                        policies unique to hydropower development, 
                        operation, and regulation, as compared to other 
                        sources of electricity;
                    (B) containing recommendations of the Commission 
                for reducing market barriers described in subparagraph 
                (A);
                    (C) identifying and determining any regulatory, 
                market, procurement, or cost recovery mechanisms that 
                would--
                            (i) encourage development of conventional, 
                        storage, conduit, and emerging hydropower 
                        technologies; and
                            (ii) properly compensate conventional, 
                        storage, conduit, and emerging hydropower 
                        technologies for the full range of services 
                        provided to the electric grid, including--
                                    (I) balancing electricity supply 
                                and demand;
                                    (II) ensuring grid reliability;
                                    (III) providing ancillary services;
                                    (IV) contributing to the 
                                decarbonization of the electric grid; 
                                and
                                    (V) integrating intermittent power 
                                sources into the grid in a cost-
                                effective manner; and
                    (D) identifying ownership and development models 
                that could reduce market barriers to the development of 
                conventional, storage, conduit, and emerging hydropower 
                technologies, including--
                            (i) opportunities for risk-sharing 
                        mechanisms and partnerships, including co-
                        ownership models; and
                            (ii) opportunities to foster lease-sale and 
                        lease-back arrangements with publicly owned 
                        electric utilities.
            (2) Technical conference and public comment.--In preparing 
        the report under paragraph (1), the Commission shall solicit 
        public input, including by convening a technical conference and 
        providing an opportunity for public submission of written 
        comments on a draft report.

SEC. 703. REGULATIONS TO ALIGN TIMETABLES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (referred to in 
this section as the ``Commission'') shall issue regulations under part 
I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 792 et seq.), as the Commission 
determines to be appropriate, that seek to ensure all original 
licensing and relicensing decisions under that part may be made by the 
date that is not later than 180 days after the date on which an 
environmental document prepared in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) is published 
with respect to the applicable project.
    (b) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
        which the regulations required under subsection (a) are issued, 
        the Commission shall submit to Congress a report describing any 
        regulations outside of the jurisdiction of the Commission, and 
        any relevant statutory requirements, that would prevent a 
        project from meeting the timetables established pursuant to 
        those regulations.
            (2) Annual report under nepa.--The Commission shall include 
        in each annual report submitted under section 107(h) of the 
        National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336a(h)) 
        a description of--
                    (A) all licensing and relicensing applications that 
                failed to meet the applicable timetable established 
                pursuant to subsection (a) during the period covered by 
                the report; and
                    (B) the reasons for each failure to meet that 
                timetable.
    (c) Effect.--Nothing in this section modifies the obligations of 
the Commission or any other agency under--
            (1) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
        U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
            (2) the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.); or
            (3) any other Federal law.

                    TITLE VIII--HIRING AND RETENTION

SEC. 801. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFFING.

    (a) Consultation Requirement.--Section 401(k) of the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7171(k)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (6); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (6).
    (b) Certification Requirements.--Section 401(k)(2)(A) of the 
Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7171(k)(2)(A)) is 
amended by striking ``or mathematical'' and inserting ``mathematical, 
economic, or legal''.

SEC. 802. COMPENSATION FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS RETENTION AND HIRING 
              ISSUES AT THE BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION.

    Section 10 of the Act of August 20, 1937 (commonly known as the 
``Bonneville Project Act of 1937'') (50 Stat. 736, chapter 720; 16 
U.S.C. 832i), is amended by striking the section designation and 
subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the following:

``SEC. 10. EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL.

    ``(a) Employee Compensation Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other law, rule, 
        regulation, or directive relating to the payment of Federal 
        employees (other than chapter 83 of title 5, United States 
        Code), the administrator shall develop, implement, and, as 
        appropriate, update, based on the results of an annual review 
        under paragraph (4), a compensation plan that specifies and 
        fixes the compensation (including salary or any other pay, 
        bonuses, benefits, incentives, and any other form of 
        remuneration) for employees of the administrator, including 
        members of the Senior Executive Service (as defined in section 
        2101a of title 5, United States Code).
            ``(2) Initial compensation plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of the Energy Permitting Reform Act 
                of 2024, the administrator shall, in consultation with 
                the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and 
                subject to confirmation and approval by the Secretary 
                of Energy, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, 
                develop an initial compensation plan under paragraph 
                (1).
                    ``(B) Implementation.--Not later than 1 year after 
                the date on which the initial compensation plan is 
                developed under subparagraph (A), the administrator 
                shall implement the initial compensation plan.
            ``(3) Requirements.--A compensation plan developed under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) be based on an annual survey of the 
                prevailing compensation for similar positions in the 
                public sectors of the electric industry;
                    ``(B) be consistent with the approved annual 
                general and administrative budget of the administrator 
                and encourage the widest diversified use of electric 
                power at the lowest possible rates to consumers 
                consistent with sound business principles;
                    ``(C) provide that education, experience, level of 
                responsibility, geographic differences, and retention 
                and recruitment needs are to be taken into account in 
                determining the compensation of employees of the 
                administrator;
                    ``(D) provide that the individual total 
                compensation of the administrator and any employee of 
                the administrator shall be comparable to and 
                competitive with similar positions among consumer-owned 
                utilities in the Western Interconnection.
            ``(4) Annual review.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Annually, the administrator 
                shall review and update, as appropriate, the 
                compensation plan developed under paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Compensation of the administrator.--
                Notwithstanding any other law, rule, regulation, or 
                directive relating to the payment of the administrator 
                (other than chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code), 
                the Secretary shall periodically review and update, as 
                appropriate, the compensation of the administrator 
                consistent with paragraph (3)(D).
                    ``(C) Publication of information.--The 
                administrator shall include in the quarterly public 
                business review of the administrator or any other 
                appropriate public review of the operations and 
                finances of the administrator information on the 
                applicable annual compensation plan review under 
                subparagraph (A), including information on the amount 
                of salaries of any employees whose annual salaries 
                would exceed the annual rate payable for positions at 
                Level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 
                of title 5, United States Code.
            ``(5) Annual publication.--Annually, the administrator 
        shall publish the compensation plan developed under paragraph 
        (1) or updated under paragraph (4), as applicable.
    ``(b) Appointment; Employment.--
            ``(1) In general.--The administrator may, as the 
        administrator determines to be necessary to carry out this Act, 
        subject to applicable civil service laws--
                    ``(A) appoint any officers and employees;
                    ``(B) employ laborers, mechanics, and workers for 
                construction work or the operation and maintenance of 
                electrical facilities; and
                    ``(C) fix the compensation of individuals appointed 
                under subparagraph (A) or (B), respectively, consistent 
                with the applicable compensation plan developed under 
                subsection (a)(1).
            ``(2) Exemption from certain civil service laws.--In 
        carrying out the authority provided by paragraph (1), the 
        administrator shall be exempt from chapters 34, 43, 51, 53, 57, 
        and 59 of title 5, United States Code.
            ``(3) Application of merit system principles.--Employees of 
        the administrator are subject to the application of the merit 
        system principles set forth in section 2301 of title 5, United 
        States Code, to the extent that the principles apply to a 
        wholly owned Government corporation.
            ``(4) Employment of physicians.--The administrator may 
        employ physicians, without regard to the civil service laws 
        (including regulations), to perform physical examinations of 
        employees of the administrator or prospective employees of the 
        administrator who are or may become laborers, mechanics, and 
        workers described in paragraph (1)(B).
            ``(5) Employment of experts.--The administrator may 
        appoint, without regard to the civil service laws (including 
        regulations), any experts that the administrator determines to 
        be necessary to carry out the functions of the administrator 
        under this Act.''.

SEC. 803. NORTHWEST POWER AND CONSERVATION COUNCIL.

    Section 4(c)(10)(B) of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power 
Planning and Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 839b(c)(10)(B)) is amended by 
striking the period at the end and inserting ``, adjusted for inflation 
since the date of enactment of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 
2024.''.

SEC. 804. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION PERSONNEL SAFETY.

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may authorize employees of 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to perform law enforcement 
duties as needed to ensure the safety of the Chairman and Commissioners 
of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the performance of the 
official duties of the Chairman and Commissioners, respectively.
                                                       Calendar No. 756

118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 4753

                          [Report No. 118-336]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To reform leasing, permitting, and judicial review for certain energy 
             and minerals projects, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

            December 19 (legislative day, December 16), 2024

                       Reported with an amendment
```