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‘‘(e) Any right-of-way granted, issued, amended, or 
renewed under subsection (a)(4) may be limited to a term 
of not more than 50 years before such right-of-way is sub-
ject to renewal or amendment.’’. 
(b) MINERAL LEASING ACT.—Section 28(n) of the 
Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185(n)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘thirty’’ and inserting ‘‘50’’. 
SEC. 20209. FUNDING TO PROCESS PERMITS AND DEVELOP 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In fiscal years 2023 through 
2025, the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the 
Forest Service) and the Secretary of the Interior, after 
public notice, may accept and expend funds contributed 
by non-Federal entities for dedicated staff, information re-
source management, and information technology system 
development to expedite the evaluation of permits, biologi-
cal opinions, concurrence letters, environmental surveys 
and studies, processing of applications, consultations, and 
other activities for the leasing, development, or expansion 
of an energy facility under the jurisdiction of the respec-
tive Secretaries. 
(b) EFFECT ON PERMITTING.—In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that the 
use of funds accepted under subsection (a) will not impact 
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HR 2811 PCS
impartial decision making with respect to permits, either 
substantively or procedurally. 
(c) STATEMENT FOR FAILURE TO ACCEPT OR EX-
PEND FUNDS.—Not later than 60 days after the end of 
the applicable fiscal year, if the Secretary of Agriculture 
(acting through the Forest Service) or the Secretary of 
the Interior does not accept funds contributed under sub-
section (a) or accepts but does not expend such funds, that 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
a statement explaining why such funds were not accepted, 
were not expended, or both, as the case may be. 
(d) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through 
the Forest Service) and the Secretary of the Interior may 
not accept contributions, as authorized by subsection (a), 
from non-Federal entities owned by the Communist Party 
of China (or a person or entity acting on behalf of the 
Communist Party of China). 
(e) REPORT ON NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES.—Not later 
than 60 days after the end of the applicable fiscal year, 
the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Forest 
Service) and the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
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HR 2811 PCS
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a report that includes, for each 
expenditure authorized by subsection (a)— 
(1) the amount of funds accepted; and 
(2) the contributing non-Federal entity. 
SEC. 20210. OFFSHORE GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL 
SURVEY LICENSING. 
The Secretary of the Interior shall authorize geologi-
cal and geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities 
on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, except 
within areas subject to existing oil and gas leasing mora-
toria. Such authorizations shall be issued within 30 days 
of receipt of a completed application and shall, as applica-
ble to survey type, comply with the mitigation and moni-
toring measures in subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and 
(g) of section 217.184 of title 50, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (as in effect on January 1, 2022), and section 
217.185 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in 
effect on January 1, 2022). Geological and geophysical 
surveys authorized pursuant to this section are deemed to 
be in full compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and their 
implementing regulations. 
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HR 2811 PCS
SEC. 20211. DEFERRAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS TO 
DRILL. 
Section 17(p)(3) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
U.S.C. 226(p)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(D) DEFERRAL BASED ON FORMATTING 
ISSUES.—A decision on an application for a 
permit to drill may not be deferred under para-
graph (2)(B) as a result of a formatting issue 
with the permit, unless such formatting issue 
results in missing information.’’. 
SEC. 20212. PROCESSING AND TERMS OF APPLICATIONS 
FOR PERMITS TO DRILL. 
(a) EFFECT OF PENDING CIVIL ACTIONS.—Section 
17(p) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(p)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) EFFECT OF PENDING CIVIL ACTION ON 
PROCESSING
APPLICATIONS
FOR
PERMITS
TO 
DRILL.—Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 
(2), notwithstanding the existence of any pending 
civil actions affecting the application or related 
lease, the Secretary shall process an application for 
a permit to drill or other authorizations or approvals 
under a valid existing lease, unless a United States 
Federal court vacated such lease. Nothing in this 
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HR 2811 PCS
paragraph shall be construed as providing authority 
to a Federal court to vacate a lease.’’. 
(b) TERM OF PERMIT TO DRILL.—Section 17 of the 
Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226) is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(u) TERM OF PERMIT TO DRILL.—A permit to drill 
issued under this section after the date of the enactment 
of this subsection shall be valid for one four-year term 
from the date that the permit is approved, or until the 
lease regarding which the permit is issued expires, which-
ever occurs first.’’. 
SEC. 20213. AMENDMENTS TO THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 
2005. 
Section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15942) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 390. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT RE-
VIEW. 
‘‘(a) NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT RE-
VIEW.—Action by the Secretary of the Interior, in man-
aging the public lands, or the Secretary of Agriculture, 
in managing National Forest System lands, with respect 
to any of the activities described in subsection (c), shall 
not be considered a major Federal action for the purposes 
of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, if the activity is conducted pursuant to the 
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HR 2811 PCS
Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) for the pur-
pose of exploration or development of oil or gas. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—This section shall not apply to 
an action of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary 
of Agriculture on Indian lands or resources managed in 
trust for the benefit of Indian Tribes. 
‘‘(c) ACTIVITIES
DESCRIBED.—The activities re-
ferred to in subsection (a) are as follows: 
‘‘(1) Reinstating a lease pursuant to section 31 
of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 188). 
‘‘(2) The following activities, provided that any 
new surface disturbance is contiguous with the foot-
print of the original authorization and does not ex-
ceed 20 acres or the acreage has previously been 
evaluated in a document previously prepared under 
section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) with re-
spect to such activity: 
‘‘(A) Drilling an oil or gas well at a well 
pad site at which drilling has occurred pre-
viously. 
‘‘(B) Expansion of an existing oil or gas 
well pad site to accommodate an additional well. 
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HR 2811 PCS
‘‘(C) Expansion or modification of an ex-
isting oil or gas well pad site, road, pipeline, fa-
cility, or utility submitted in a sundry notice. 
‘‘(3) Drilling of an oil or gas well at a new well 
pad site, provided that the new surface disturbance 
does not exceed 20 acres and the acreage evaluated 
in a document previously prepared under section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) with respect to such 
activity, whichever is greater. 
‘‘(4) Construction or realignment of a road, 
pipeline, or utility within an existing right-of-way or 
within a right-of-way corridor established in a land 
use plan. 
‘‘(5) The following activities when conducted 
from non-Federal surface into federally owned min-
erals, provided that the operator submits to the Sec-
retary concerned certification of a surface use agree-
ment with the non-Federal landowner: 
‘‘(A) Drilling an oil or gas well at a well 
pad site at which drilling has occurred pre-
viously. 
‘‘(B) Expansion of an existing oil or gas 
well pad site to accommodate an additional well. 
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HR 2811 PCS
‘‘(C) Expansion or modification of an ex-
isting oil or gas well pad site, road, pipeline, fa-
cility, or utility submitted in a sundry notice. 
‘‘(6) Drilling of an oil or gas well from non- 
Federal surface and non-Federal subsurface into 
Federal mineral estate. 
‘‘(7) Construction of up to 1 mile of new road 
on Federal or non-Federal surface, not to exceed 2 
miles in total. 
‘‘(8) Construction of up to 3 miles of individual 
pipelines or utilities, regardless of surface owner-
ship.’’. 
SEC. 20214. ACCESS TO FEDERAL ENERGY RESOURCES 
FROM NON-FEDERAL SURFACE ESTATE. 
(a) OIL AND GAS PERMITS.—Section 17 of the Min-
eral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226) is further amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(v) NO FEDERAL PERMIT REQUIRED FOR OIL AND 
GAS ACTIVITIES ON CERTAIN LAND.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall not re-
quire an operator to obtain a Federal drilling permit 
for oil and gas exploration and production activities 
conducted on non-Federal surface estate, provided 
that— 
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HR 2811 PCS
‘‘(A) the United States holds an ownership 
interest of less than 50 percent of the sub-
surface mineral estate to be accessed by the 
proposed action; and 
‘‘(B) the operator submits to the Secretary 
a State permit to conduct oil and gas explo-
ration and production activities on the non-Fed-
eral surface estate. 
‘‘(2) NO FEDERAL ACTION.—An oil and gas ex-
ploration and production activity carried out under 
paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) shall not be considered a major Fed-
eral action for the purposes of section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969; 
‘‘(B) shall require no additional Federal 
action; 
‘‘(C) may commence 30 days after submis-
sion of the State permit to the Secretary; and 
‘‘(D) shall not be subject to— 
‘‘(i) section 306108 of title 54, United 
States Code (commonly known as the Na-
tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966); 
and 
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HR 2811 PCS
‘‘(ii) section 7 of the Endangered Spe-
cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536). 
‘‘(3) ROYALTIES AND PRODUCTION ACCOUNT-
ABILITY.—(A) Nothing in this subsection shall affect 
the amount of royalties due to the United States 
under this Act from the production of oil and gas, 
or alter the Secretary’s authority to conduct audits 
and collect civil penalties pursuant to the Federal 
Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 
‘‘(B) The Secretary may conduct onsite reviews 
and inspections to ensure proper accountability, 
measurement, and reporting of production of Fed-
eral oil and gas, and payment of royalties. 
‘‘(4) EXCEPTIONS.—This subsection shall not 
apply to actions on Indian lands or resources man-
aged in trust for the benefit of Indian Tribes. 
‘‘(5) INDIAN
LAND.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘Indian land’ means— 
‘‘(A) any land located within the bound-
aries of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or 
rancheria; and 
‘‘(B) any land not located within the 
boundaries of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or 
rancheria, the title to which is held— 
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HR 2811 PCS
‘‘(i) in trust by the United States for 
the benefit of an Indian tribe or an indi-
vidual Indian; 
‘‘(ii) by an Indian tribe or an indi-
vidual Indian, subject to restriction against 
alienation under laws of the United States; 
or 
‘‘(iii) by a dependent Indian commu-
nity.’’. 
(b) 
GEOTHERMAL
PERMITS.—The 
Geothermal 
Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 30. NO FEDERAL PERMIT REQUIRED FOR GEO-
THERMAL ACTIVITIES ON CERTAIN LAND. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall not require 
an operator to obtain a Federal drilling permit for geo-
thermal exploration and production activities conducted on 
a non-Federal surface estate, provided that— 
‘‘(1) the United States holds an ownership in-
terest of less than 50 percent of the subsurface geo-
thermal estate to be accessed by the proposed action; 
and 
‘‘(2) the operator submits to the Secretary a 
State permit to conduct geothermal exploration and 
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HR 2811 PCS
production activities on the non-Federal surface es-
tate. 
‘‘(b) NO FEDERAL ACTION.—A geothermal explo-
ration and production activity carried out under para-
graph (1)— 
‘‘(1) shall not be considered a major Federal 
action for the purposes of section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; 
‘‘(2) shall require no additional Federal action; 
‘‘(3) may commence 30 days after submission 
of the State permit to the Secretary; and 
‘‘(4) shall not be subject to— 
‘‘(A) section 306108 of title 54, United 
States Code (commonly known as the National 
Historic Preservation Act of 1966); and 
‘‘(B) section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536). 
‘‘(c) 
ROYALTIES
AND
PRODUCTION
ACCOUNT-
ABILITY.—(1) Nothing in this section shall affect the 
amount of royalties due to the United States under this 
Act from the production of electricity using geothermal re-
sources (other than direct use of geothermal resources) or 
the production of any byproducts. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may conduct onsite reviews and 
inspections to ensure proper accountability, measurement, 
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HR 2811 PCS
and reporting of the production described in paragraph 
(1), and payment of royalties. 
‘‘(d) EXCEPTIONS.—This section shall not apply to 
actions on Indian lands or resources managed in trust for 
the benefit of Indian Tribes. 
‘‘(e) INDIAN LAND.—In this section, the term ‘Indian 
land’ means— 
‘‘(1) any land located within the boundaries of 
an Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria; and 
‘‘(2) any land not located within the boundaries 
of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria, the 
title to which is held— 
‘‘(A) in trust by the United States for the 
benefit of an Indian tribe or an individual In-
dian; 
‘‘(B) by an Indian tribe or an individual 
Indian, subject to restriction against alienation 
under laws of the United States; or 
‘‘(C) by a dependent Indian community.’’. 
SEC. 20215. SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS FOR OIL 
AND GAS LEASES. 
An environmental review for an oil and gas lease or 
permit prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.) and its implementing regulations— 
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HR 2811 PCS
(1) shall apply only to areas that are within or 
immediately adjacent to the lease plot or plots and 
that are directly affected by the proposed action; 
and 
(2) shall not require consideration of down-
stream, indirect effects of oil and gas consumption. 
SEC. 20216. EXPEDITING APPROVAL OF GATHERING LINES. 
Section 11318(b)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment 
and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 15943(b)(1)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘to be an action that is categorically excluded (as 
defined in section 1508.1 of title 40, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act))’’ and inserting ‘‘to not be a major Federal action’’. 
SEC. 20217. LEASE SALE LITIGATION. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any oil 
and gas lease sale held under section 17 of the Mineral 
Leasing Act (26 U.S.C. 226) or the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) shall not be 
vacated and activities on leases awarded in the sale shall 
not be otherwise limited, delayed, or enjoined unless the 
court concludes allowing development of the challenged 
lease will pose a risk of an imminent and substantial envi-
ronmental harm and there is no other equitable remedy 
available as a matter of law. No court, in response to an 
action brought pursuant to the National Environmental 
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HR 2811 PCS
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. et seq.), may enjoin or issue 
any order preventing the award of leases to a bidder in 
a lease sale conducted pursuant to section 17 of the Min-
eral Leasing Act (26 U.S.C. 226) or the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) if the Depart-
ment of the Interior has previously opened bids for such 
leases or disclosed the high bidder for any tract that was 
included in such lease sale. 
SEC. 20218. LIMITATION ON CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, a claim arising under Federal law seeking ju-
dicial review of a permit, license, or approval issued by 
a Federal agency for a mineral project, energy facility, or 
energy storage device shall be barred unless— 
(1) the claim is filed within 120 days after pub-
lication of a notice in the Federal Register announc-
ing that the permit, license, or approval is final pur-
suant to the law under which the agency action is 
taken, unless a shorter time is specified in the Fed-
eral law pursuant to which judicial review is allowed; 
and 
(2) the claim is filed by a party that submitted 
a comment during the public comment period for 
such permit, license, or approval and such comment 
was sufficiently detailed to put the agency on notice 
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HR 2811 PCS
of the issue upon which the party seeks judicial re-
view. 
(b) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
create a right to judicial review or place any limit on filing 
a claim that a person has violated the terms of a permit, 
license, or approval. 
(c) TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.—Subsection (a) 
shall not apply to or supersede a claim subject to section 
139(l)(1) of title 23, United States Code. 
(d) MINERAL PROJECT.—In this section, the term 
‘‘mineral project’’ means a project— 
(1) located on— 
(A) a mining claim, millsite claim, or tun-
nel site claim for any mineral; 
(B) lands open to mineral entry; or 
(C) a Federal mineral lease; and 
(2) for the purposes of exploring for or pro-
ducing minerals. 
SEC. 20219. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE RE-
PORT ON PERMITS TO DRILL. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall issue a report detailing— 
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HR 2811 PCS
(1) the approval timelines for applications for 
permits to drill issued by the Bureau of Land Man-
agement from 2018 through 2022; 
(2) the number of applications for permits to 
drill that were not issued within 30 days of receipt 
of a completed application; and 
(3) the causes of delays resulting in applica-
tions for permits to drill pending beyond the 30 day 
deadline required under section 17(p)(2) of the Min-
eral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(p)(2)). 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The report issued under 
subsection (a) shall include recommendations with respect 
to— 
(1) actions the Bureau of Land Management 
can take to streamline the approval process for ap-
plications for permits to drill to approve applications 
for permits to drill within 30 days of receipt of a 
completed application; 
(2) aspects of the Federal permitting process 
carried out by the Bureau of Land Management to 
issue applications for permits to drill that can be 
turned over to States to expedite approval of appli-
cations for permits to drill; and 
(3) legislative actions that Congress must take 
to allow States to administer certain aspects of the 
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HR 2811 PCS
Federal permitting process described in paragraph 
(2). 
SEC. 20220. E–NEPA. 
(a) PERMITTING PORTAL STUDY.—The Council on 
Environmental Quality shall conduct a study and submit 
a report to Congress within 1 year of the enactment of 
this Act on the potential to create an online permitting 
portal for permits that require review under section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) that would— 
(1) allow applicants to— 
(A) submit required documents or mate-
rials for their application in one unified portal; 
(B) upload additional documents as re-
quired by the applicable agency; and 
(C) track the progress of individual appli-
cations; 
(2) enhance interagency coordination in con-
sultation by— 
(A) allowing for comments in one unified 
portal; 
(B) centralizing data necessary for reviews; 
and 
(C) streamlining communications between 
other agencies and the applicant; and 
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HR 2811 PCS
(3) boost transparency in agency decision-
making. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for the Council 
of Environmental Quality to carry out the study directed 
by this section. 
SEC. 20221. LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 139(l) of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘150 days’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘90 days’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 330(e) of title 23, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘150 
days’’ and inserting ‘‘90 days’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by striking 
‘‘150 days’’ and inserting ‘‘90 days’’. 
(2) Section 24201(a)(4) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘of 150 days’’. 
SEC. 20222. ONE FEDERAL DECISION FOR PIPELINES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 601 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
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HR 2811 PCS
‘‘§ 60144. Efficient environmental reviews and one 
Federal decision 
‘‘(a) EFFICIENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall apply the project development proce-
dures, to the greatest extent feasible, described in 
section 139 of title 23 to any pipeline project that 
requires the approval of the Secretary under the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.). 
‘‘(2) REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES.—In car-
rying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall incor-
porate into agency regulations and procedures per-
taining to pipeline projects described in paragraph 
(1) aspects of such project development procedures, 
or portions thereof, determined appropriate by the 
Secretary in a manner consistent with this section, 
that increase the efficiency of the review of pipeline 
projects. 
‘‘(3) DISCRETION.—The Secretary may choose 
not to incorporate into agency regulations and proce-
dures pertaining to pipeline projects described in 
paragraph (1) such project development procedures 
that could only feasibly apply to highway projects, 
public 
transportation 
capital 
projects, 
and 
multimodal projects. 
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‘‘(4) APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (l) of section 
139 of title 23 shall apply to pipeline projects de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS.—The 
Secretary shall maintain and make publicly available, in-
cluding on the Internet, a database that identifies project- 
specific information on the use of a categorical exclusion 
on any pipeline project carried out under this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘60144. Efficient environmental reviews and one Federal decision.’’. 
SEC. 20223. EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN WILDFIRE MITIGA-
TION ACTIVITIES FROM CERTAIN ENVIRON-
MENTAL REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Wildfire mitigation activities of 
the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agri-
culture may be carried out without regard to the provi-
sions of law specified in subsection (b). 
(b) PROVISIONS OF LAW SPECIFIED.—The provisions 
of law specified in this section are all Federal, State, or 
other laws, regulations, and legal requirements of, deriving 
from, or related to the subject of, the following laws: 
(1) Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). 
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(2) The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
(c) WILDFIRE MITIGATION ACTIVITY.—For purposes 
of this section, the term ‘‘wildfire mitigation activity’’— 
(1) is an activity conducted on Federal land 
that is— 
(A) under the administration of the Direc-
tor of the National Park System, the Director 
of the Bureau of Land Management, or the 
Chief of the Forest Service; and 
(B) within 300 feet of any permanent or 
temporary road, as measured from the center of 
such road; and 
(2) includes forest thinning, hazardous fuel re-
duction, prescribed burning, and vegetation manage-
ment. 
SEC. 20224. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FACILITY INSPEC-
TION, AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 
RELATING TO ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND 
DISTRIBUTION FACILITY RIGHTS OF WAY. 
(a) HAZARD TREES WITHIN 50 FEET OF ELECTRIC 
POWER LINE.—Section 512(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1772(a)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking ‘‘10’’ and in-
serting ‘‘50’’. 
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(b) CONSULTATION WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS.— 
Section 512(c)(3)(E) of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(3)(E)) is 
amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period and in-
serting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) consulting with private land-
owners with respect to any hazard trees 
identified for removal from land owned by 
such private landowners.’’. 
(c) REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS.—Clause (iv) 
of section 512(c)(4)(A) of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(4)(A)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(iv) ensures that— 
‘‘(I) a plan submitted without a 
modification under clause (iii) shall be 
automatically approved 60 days after 
review; and 
‘‘(II) a plan submitted with a 
modification under clause (iii) shall be 
automatically approved 67 days after 
review.’’. 
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SEC. 20225. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR ELECTRIC UTIL-
ITY LINES RIGHTS-OF-WAY. 
(a) SECRETARY CONCERNED DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means— 
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
National Forest System lands; and 
(2) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect 
to public lands. 
(b) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION ESTABLISHED.—For-
est management activities described in subsection (c) are 
a category of activities designated as being categorically 
excluded from the preparation of an environmental assess-
ment or an environmental impact statement under section 
102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4332). 
(c) FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES DESIGNATED 
FOR CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—The forest management 
activities designated as being categorically excluded under 
subsection (b) are— 
(1) the development and approval of a vegeta-
tion management, facility inspection, and operation 
and maintenance plan submitted under section 
512(c)(1) of the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(1)) by the 
Secretary concerned; and 
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(2) the implementation of routine activities con-
ducted under the plan referred to in paragraph (1). 
(d) AVAILABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.— 
On and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary concerned may use the categorical exclusion es-
tablished under subsection (b) in accordance with this sec-
tion. 
(e) EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.—Use of the 
categorical exclusion established under subsection (b) shall 
not be subject to the extraordinary circumstances proce-
dures in section 220.6, title 36, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, or section 1508.4, title 40, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(f) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN AREAS.—The categor-
ical exclusion established under subsection (b) shall not 
apply to any forest management activity conducted— 
(1) in a component of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System; or 
(2) on National Forest System lands on which, 
by Act of Congress, the removal of vegetation is re-
stricted or prohibited. 
(g) PERMANENT ROADS.— 
(1) PROHIBITION ON ESTABLISHMENT.—A for-
est management activity designated under subsection 
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(c) shall not include the establishment of a perma-
nent road. 
(2) EXISTING
ROADS.—The Secretary con-
cerned may carry out necessary maintenance and re-
pair on an existing permanent road for the purposes 
of conducting a forest management activity des-
ignated under subsection (c). 
(3) TEMPORARY
ROADS.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall decommission any temporary road con-
structed for a forest management activity designated 
under subsection (c) not later than 3 years after the 
date on which the action is completed. 
(h) APPLICABLE LAWS.—A forest management activ-
ity designated under subsection (c) shall not be subject 
to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1536), section 106 of the National Historic Preser-
vation Act, or any other applicable law. 
SEC. 20226. STAFFING PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 365 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, each local unit of the Na-
tional Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and 
Forest Service shall conduct an outreach plan for dissemi-
nating and advertising open civil service positions with 
functions relating to permitting or natural resources in 
their offices. Each such plan shall include outreach to local 
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HR 2811 PCS
high schools, community colleges, institutions of higher 
education, and any other relevant institutions, as deter-
mined by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary 
of Agriculture (as the case may be). 
(b) COLLABORATION PERMITTED.—Such local units 
of the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, and Forest Service located in reasonably close geo-
graphic areas may collaborate to produce a joint outreach 
plan that meets the requirements of subsection (a). 
Subtitle C—Permitting for Mining 
Needs 
SEC. 20301. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) BYPRODUCT.—The term ‘‘byproduct’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 7002(a) of 
the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)). 
(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(3) MINERAL.—The term ‘‘mineral’’ means any 
mineral of a kind that is locatable (including, but 
not limited to, such minerals located on ‘‘lands ac-
quired by the United States’’, as such term is de-
fined in section 2 of the Mineral Leasing Act for Ac-
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HR 2811 PCS
quired Lands) under the Act of May 10, 1872 
(Chapter 152; 17 Stat. 91). 
(4) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise provided, 
the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the In-
terior. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State; 
(B) the District of Columbia; 
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
(D) Guam; 
(E) American Samoa; 
(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands; and 
(G) the United States Virgin Islands. 
SEC. 20302. MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN AND RELIABILITY. 
Section 40206 of the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act (30 U.S.C. 1607) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘CRIT-
ICAL MINERALS’’ and inserting ‘‘MINERALS’’; 
(2) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) LEAD AGENCY.—The term ‘lead agency’ 
means the Federal agency with primary responsi-
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bility for issuing a mineral exploration or mine per-
mit or lease for a mineral project. 
‘‘(2) MINERAL.—The term ‘mineral’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 20301 of the 
TAPP American Resources Act. 
‘‘(3) MINERAL
EXPLORATION
OR
MINE
PER-
MIT.—The term ‘mineral exploration or mine permit’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) an authorization of the Bureau of 
Land Management or the Forest Service, as ap-
plicable, for exploration for minerals that re-
quires analysis under the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969; 
‘‘(B) a plan of operations for a mineral 
project approved by the Bureau of Land Man-
agement or the Forest Service; or 
‘‘(C) any other Federal permit or author-
ization for a mineral project. 
‘‘(4) MINERAL
PROJECT.—The term ‘mineral 
project’ means a project— 
‘‘(A) located on— 
‘‘(i) a mining claim, millsite claim, or 
tunnel site claim for any mineral; 
‘‘(ii) lands open to mineral entry; or 
‘‘(iii) a Federal mineral lease; and 
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‘‘(B) for the purposes of exploring for or 
producing minerals.’’; 
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘critical’’ each 
place such term appears; 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘critical mineral production 
on Federal land’’ and inserting ‘‘mineral 
projects’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, and in accordance with 
subsection (h)’’ after ‘‘to the maximum extent 
practicable’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘shall complete the’’ and 
inserting ‘‘shall complete such’’; 
(D) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘critical 
mineral-related activities on Federal land’’ and 
inserting ‘‘mineral projects’’; 
(E) in paragraph (8), by striking the 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(F) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘proce-
dures.’’ and inserting ‘‘procedures; and’’; and 
(G) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) deferring to and relying on baseline data, 
analyses, and reviews performed by State agencies 
with jurisdiction over the environmental or reclama-
tion permits for the proposed mineral project.’’; 
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(5) in subsection (d)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘critical’’ each place such 
term appears; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘mineral- 
related activities on Federal land’’ and inserting 
‘‘mineral projects’’; 
(6) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘critical’’; 
(7) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘critical’’ each 
place such term appears; 
(8) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘critical’’ each 
place such term appears; and 
(9) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.—For pur-
poses of maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of 
the Federal permitting and review processes de-
scribed under subsection (c), the lead agency in the 
Federal permitting and review processes of a min-
eral project shall (in consultation with any other 
Federal agency involved in such Federal permitting 
and review processes, and upon request of the 
project applicant, an affected State government, 
local government, or an Indian Tribe, or other entity 
such lead agency determines appropriate) enter into 
a memorandum of agreement with a project appli-
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cant where requested by the applicant to carry out 
the activities described in subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) TIMELINES
AND
SCHEDULES
FOR
NEPA 
REVIEWS.— 
‘‘(A) EXTENSION.—A project applicant 
may enter into 1 or more agreements with a 
lead agency to extend the deadlines described in 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (h)(1) 
of section 107 of title I of the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 by, with respect 
to each such agreement, not more than 6 
months. 
‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENT
OF
TIMELINES.—At 
the request of a project applicant, the lead 
agency and any other entity which is a signa-
tory to a memorandum of agreement under 
paragraph (1) may, by unanimous agreement, 
adjust— 
‘‘(i) any deadlines described in sub-
paragraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) any deadlines extended under 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(3) EFFECT
ON
PENDING
APPLICATIONS.— 
Upon a written request by a project applicant, the 
requirements of this subsection shall apply to any 
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application for a mineral exploration or mine permit 
or mineral lease that was submitted before the date 
of the enactment of the TAPP American Resources 
Act.’’. 
SEC. 20303. FEDERAL REGISTER PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. 
Section 7002(f) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 
U.S.C. 1606(f)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘critical’’ both 
places such term appears; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (4). 
SEC. 20304. DESIGNATION OF MINING AS A COVERED SEC-
TOR FOR FEDERAL PERMITTING IMPROVE-
MENT PURPOSES. 
Section 41001(6)(A) of the FAST Act (42 U.S.C. 
4370m(6)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘mineral produc-
tion,’’ before ‘‘or any other sector’’. 
SEC. 20305. TREATMENT OF ACTIONS UNDER PRESI-
DENTIAL DETERMINATION 2022–11 FOR FED-
ERAL 
PERMITTING 
IMPROVEMENT 
PUR-
POSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided by subsection 
(c), an action described in subsection (b) shall be— 
(1) treated as a covered project, as defined in 
section 41001(6) of the FAST Act (42 U.S.C. 
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‘‘(3)(A) If the United States held a vested fu-
ture interest in a mineral estate that, immediately 
prior to becoming a vested present interest, was sub-
ject to a lease under which oil or gas was being pro-
duced, or had a well capable of producing, in paying 
quantities at an annual average production volume 
per well per day of either not more than 15 barrels 
per day of oil or condensate, or not more than 
60,000 cubic feet of gas, the holder of the lease may 
elect to continue the lease as a noncompetitive lease 
under subsection (c)(1). 
‘‘(B) An election under this paragraph is effec-
tive— 
‘‘(i) in the case of an interest which vested 
after January 1, 1990, and on or before Octo-
ber 24, 1992, if the election is made before the 
date that is 1 year after October 24, 1992; 
‘‘(ii) in the case of an interest which vests 
within 1 year after October 24, 1992, if the 
election is made before the date that is 2 years 
after October 24, 1992; and 
‘‘(iii) in any case other than those de-
scribed in clause (i) or (ii), if the election is 
made prior to the interest becoming a vested 
present interest.’’; 
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