SEC. 2002. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ELECTRIC
RELIABILITY
ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘‘Electric Reliability Organization’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(a)). 
(2) INDEPENDENT
SYSTEM
OPERATOR.—The 
term ‘‘Independent System Operator’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 3 of the Federal Power 
Act (16 U.S.C. 796). 
(3) NATURAL GAS.—The term ‘‘natural gas’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the 
Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717a). 
(4) OIL.—The term ‘‘oil’’ means petroleum or 
a petroleum product. 
(5) REGIONAL
ENTITY.—The term ‘‘regional 
entity’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
215(a) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 
824o(a)). 
(6) REGIONAL TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘‘Regional Transmission Organization’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796). 
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SEC. 2003. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN ENERGY INFRA-
STRUCTURE PROJECTS AT THE NATIONAL 
BOUNDARY OF THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Except as provided in sub-
sections (d) and (e), no person may construct, connect, 
operate, or maintain an oil or natural gas pipeline or elec-
tric transmission facility at the national boundary of the 
United States for the import or export of oil, natural gas, 
or electricity to or from Canada or Mexico without obtain-
ing approval of the construction, connection, operation, or 
maintenance under this section. 
(b) APPROVAL.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 120 days 
after receiving a request for approval of construc-
tion, connection, operation, or maintenance under 
this section, the relevant official identified under 
paragraph (2), in consultation with appropriate Fed-
eral agencies, shall approve the request unless the 
relevant official finds that the construction, connec-
tion, operation, or maintenance harms the national 
security interests of the United States. 
(2) RELEVANT OFFICIAL.—The relevant official 
referred to in paragraph (1) is— 
(A) the Secretary of Commerce with re-
spect to oil pipelines; 
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(B) the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission with respect to natural gas pipelines; 
and 
(C) the Secretary of Energy with respect 
to electric transmission facilities. 
(3) APPROVAL NOT MAJOR FEDERAL ACTION.— 
An approval of construction, connection, operation, 
or maintenance under paragraph (1) shall not be 
considered a major Federal action under the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.). 
(4) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR ELECTRIC 
TRANSMISSION FACILITIES.—In the case of a request 
for approval of the construction, connection, oper-
ation, or maintenance of an electric transmission fa-
cility, the Secretary of Energy shall require, as a 
condition of approval of the request under paragraph 
(1), that the electric transmission facility be con-
structed, connected, operated, or maintained con-
sistent with all applicable policies and standards 
of— 
(A) the Electric Reliability Organization 
and the applicable regional entity; and 
(B) any Regional Transmission Organiza-
tion or Independent System Operator with 
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operational or functional control over the elec-
tric transmission facility. 
(c) NO OTHER APPROVAL REQUIRED.—No Presi-
dential permit (or similar permit) required under Execu-
tive Order 13337 (3 U.S.C. 301 note; 69 Fed. Reg. 25299 
(April 30, 2004)), Executive Order 11423 (3 U.S.C. 301 
note; 33 Fed. Reg. 11741 (August 16, 1968)), section 301 
of title 3, United States Code, Executive Order 12038 (43 
Fed. Reg. 3674 (January 26, 1978)), Executive Order 
10485 (18 Fed. Reg. 5397 (September 9, 1953)), or any 
other Executive order shall be necessary for construction, 
connection, operation, or maintenance to which this sec-
tion applies. 
(d) EXCLUSIONS.—This section shall not apply to— 
(1) any construction, connection, operation, or 
maintenance of an oil or natural gas pipeline or elec-
tric transmission facility at the national boundary of 
the United States for the import or export of oil, 
natural gas, or electricity to or from Canada or Mex-
ico if— 
(A) the pipeline or facility is operating at 
the national boundary for that import or export 
as of the date of enactment of this Act; 
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(B) a permit described in subsection (c) 
for the construction, connection, operation, or 
maintenance has been issued; 
(C) approval of the construction, connec-
tion, operation, or maintenance has previously 
been obtained under this section; or 
(D) an application for a permit described 
in subsection (c) for the construction, connec-
tion, operation, or maintenance is pending on 
the date of enactment of this Act, until the ear-
lier of— 
(i) the date on which the application 
is denied; and 
(ii) July 1, 2015; or 
(2) the construction, connection, operation, or 
maintenance of the Keystone XL pipeline. 
(e) MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING PROJECTS.—No 
approval under this section, or permit described in sub-
section (c), shall be required for modifications to construc-
tion, connection, operation, or maintenance described in 
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (d)(1), includ-
ing reversal of flow direction, change in ownership, volume 
expansion, downstream or upstream interconnection, or 
adjustments to maintain flow (such as a reduction or in-
crease in the number of pump or compressor stations). 
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