I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4423 
To limit claims under Federal law seeking judicial review of any environmental 
impact statement, environmental review, or authorization for the Lower 
Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir Project in Fannin County, Texas, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 16, 2017 
Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas (for himself, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. RATCLIFFE, and 
Mr. HENSARLING) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To limit claims under Federal law seeking judicial review 
of any environmental impact statement, environmental 
review, or authorization for the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek 
Reservoir Project in Fannin County, Texas, 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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘North Texas Water 
Supply Security Act of 2017’’. 
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SEC. 2. LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS UNDER FEDERAL LAW 
SEEKING JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ANY ENVI-
RONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, ENVIRON-
MENTAL REVIEW, AND/OR AUTHORIZATION 
FOR THE LOWER BOIS D’ARC CREEK RES-
ERVOIR PROJECT IN FANNIN COUNTY, TEXAS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION.—The term ‘‘authoriza-
tion’’ means any license, permit, approval, finding, 
determination, certification, or other administrative 
decision issued by an agency or a State agency act-
ing under delegated or other Federal authority that 
is required or authorized under Federal law in order 
to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence oper-
ations of the reservoir project. 
(3) ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
STATEMENT.— 
The term ‘‘environmental impact statement’’ means 
the detailed statement required under section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). 
(4) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.—The term ‘‘en-
vironmental review’’ means procedures and processes 
conducted to comply with section 102 of the Na-
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tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332). 
(5) PROJECT
SPONSOR.—The term ‘‘project 
sponsor’’ means the North Texas Municipal Water 
District. 
(6) RESERVOIR PROJECT.—The term ‘‘reservoir 
project’’ means the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Res-
ervoir Project located in Fannin County, Texas, pro-
posed for construction by the North Texas Municipal 
Water District. 
(b) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, a claim arising under Federal law seeking 
judicial review of any environmental impact statement, en-
vironmental review, and/or authorization issued by an 
agency or a State agency acting under delegated or other 
Federal authority for the reservoir project shall be barred 
unless— 
(1) the action is filed not later than 60 days 
after the date of publication in the Federal Register 
of the final record of decision or approval or, unless 
a shorter time is specified in Federal law under 
which judicial review is allowed; and 
(2) in the case of an action pertaining to an en-
vironmental impact statement for, environmental re-
view of, or authorization for the reservoir project, 
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the action is filed by a party that submitted a com-
ment during the public comment period on the re-
vised draft environmental impact statement for the 
reservoir project. 
(c) SEPARATE ACTION.—The final agency action that 
follows preparation of a supplemental environmental im-
pact statement, if required, shall be considered a separate 
final agency action, and the deadline for filing a claim for 
judicial review shall be 60 days after the date of the Fed-
eral Register notice of the final agency action. 
(d) DISTRICT COURT VENUE AND DEADLINE.—All 
actions related to the reservoir project— 
(1) shall be brought in the United States Dis-
trict Court for the Eastern District of Texas; and 
(2) shall be resolved as expeditiously as pos-
sible. 
(e) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to considering 
any other applicable equitable factors, in any motion 
for a temporary restraining order or any injunction 
against an agency, a State agency acting under dele-
gated or other Federal authority or the project spon-
sor in connection with review or authorization of the 
reservoir project, the court shall— 
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