IB 
Union Calendar No. 166 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2170 
[Report No. 112–250] 
Streamlining Federal review to facilitate renewable energy projects. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 14, 2011 
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington (for himself, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. BROUN of 
Georgia, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, and Mr. WITTMAN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
OCTOBER 14, 2011 
Additional sponsors: Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. LANDRY, Mr. DUNCAN of South 
Carolina, Mr. SOUTHERLAND, Mr. FLORES, Mr. LABRADOR, and Mrs. 
MCMORRIS RODGERS 
OCTOBER 14, 2011 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 14, 2011] 
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A BILL 
Streamlining Federal review to facilitate renewable energy 
projects. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cutting Federal Red 
Tape to Facilitate Renewable Energy Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR RENEWABLE EN-
ERGY PROJECTS. 
(a) COMPLIANCE WITH NEPA FOR RENEWABLE EN-
ERGY PROJECTS.—In complying with the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (41 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with 
respect to any action authorizing or facilitating a proposed 
renewable energy project, at the election of the applicant 
a Federal agency shall— 
(1) consider only the proposed action and the no 
action alternative; 
(2) analyze only the proposed action and the no 
action alternative; and 
(3) identify and analyze potential mitigation 
measures only for the proposed action and the no ac-
tion alternative. 
(b) PUBLIC COMMENT.—In complying with the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 with respect to 
a proposed renewable energy project, a Federal agency shall 
only consider public comments that specifically address the 
proposed action or the no action alternative (or both) and 
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are filed within 30 days after publication of a draft envi-
ronmental assessment or draft environmental impact state-
ment. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) FEDERAL
WATERS.—The term ‘‘Federal 
waters’’ means waters seaward of the coastal zone (as 
that term is defined in section 304 of the Coastal 
Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453)), to 
the limits of the exclusive economic zone or the Outer 
Continental Shelf, whichever is farther. 
(2) OUTER
CONTINENTAL
SHELF.—The term 
‘‘Outer Continental Shelf’’ has the meaning the term 
‘‘outer Continental Shelf’’ has in the Outer Conti-
nental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.). 
(3) RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT.—The term 
‘‘renewable energy project’’ means a project on Fed-
eral lands or in Federal waters, including a project 
on the Outer Continental Shelf, using wind, solar 
power, geothermal power, biomass, or marine and 
hydrokinetic energy to generate energy, that is con-
structed encouraging the use of equipment and mate-
rials manufactured in the United States. 
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Union Calendar No. 166 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2170 
[Report No. 112–250] 
A BILL 
Streamlining Federal review to facilitate renewable 
energy projects. 
OCTOBER 14, 2011 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:29 Oct 14, 2011
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PO 00000
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