I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6909 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to give priority to consideration 
of applications for permits and other authorizations required for renew-
able energy projects on Federal public land, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 
Mr. PORTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to give priority to 
consideration of applications for permits and other au-
thorizations required for renewable energy projects on 
Federal public land, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS ON PUBLIC 
LANDS. 
(a) 
APPLICATIONS
FOR
RENEWABLE
ENERGY 
PROJECTS ON FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior— 
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(A) shall give priority to consideration of 
applications for permits and other authoriza-
tions required for renewable energy projects on 
Federal public land; 
(B) shall issue regulations that establish 
an expedited and efficient process for the sub-
mission and consideration of such applications, 
including projects pending before the Depart-
ment of the Interior on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act; and 
(C) shall approve or disapprove such an 
application by not later than 180 days after the 
date the application is submitted. 
(2) FAILURE TO ACT ON APPLICATION.—If the 
Secretary fails to approve or disapprove an applica-
tion in accordance with paragraph (1)(C), the appli-
cation is deemed approved by the Secretary 
(b) TREATMENT
UNDER
NATIONAL
ENVIRON-
MENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969.—For purposes of the Na-
tional the Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the regu-
lations under that Act— 
(1) any renewable energy project on Federal 
public land is deemed to be in the public interest; 
and 
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(2) no statement under section 102(2)(C) of 
that Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) is required for such 
a project if an environmental assessment is prepared 
for the project in accordance with those regulations. 
(c) LEASE OR SALE OF FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In any lease or sale of Fed-
eral public land for use for a renewable energy 
project, the amount required to be paid to the 
United States as rent or the purchase price shall not 
exceed the fair market value of the land before any 
construction or other improvement of the land for 
such project. 
(2) LIMITATION.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply with respect to any part of the land that is 
used for any purpose other than for the renewable 
energy project. 
(d) IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE LAND.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior shall promptly identify Federal pub-
lic land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary that is suitable and feasible for renewable energy 
projects. 
Æ 
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