I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4293 
To authorize the approval of natural gas pipelines and establish deadlines 
and expedite permits for certain natural gas gathering lines on Federal 
land and Indian land. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 25, 2014 
Mr. CRAMER (for himself and Mrs. LUMMIS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To authorize the approval of natural gas pipelines and estab-
lish deadlines and expedite permits for certain natural 
gas gathering lines on Federal land and Indian land. 
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 ‘‘Natural Gas Gathering 
Enhancement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) record volumes of natural gas production in 
the United States as of the date of enactment of this 
Act are providing enormous benefits to the United 
States, including by— 
(A) reducing the need for imports of nat-
ural gas, thereby directly reducing the trade 
deficit; 
(B) strengthening trade ties among the 
United States, Canada, and Mexico; 
(C) providing the opportunity for the 
United States to join the emerging global gas 
trade through the export of liquefied natural 
gas; 
(D) creating and supporting millions of 
new jobs across the United States; 
(E) adding billions of dollars to the gross 
domestic product of the United States every 
year; 
(F) generating additional Federal, State, 
and local government tax revenues; and 
(G) revitalizing the manufacturing sector 
by providing abundant and affordable feedstock; 
(2) large quantities of natural gas are lost due 
to venting and flaring, primarily in areas where nat-
ural gas infrastructure has not been developed 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
quickly enough, such as States with large quantities 
of Federal land and Indian land; 
(3) permitting processes can hinder the develop-
ment of natural gas infrastructure, such as pipeline 
lines and gathering lines on Federal land and Indian 
land; and 
(4) additional authority for the Secretary of the 
Interior to approve natural gas pipelines and gath-
ering lines on Federal land and Indian land would— 
(A) assist in bringing gas to market that 
would otherwise be vented or flared; and 
(B) significantly increase royalties collected 
by the Secretary of the Interior and disbursed 
to Federal, State, and tribal governments and 
individual Indians. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO APPROVE NATURAL GAS PIPELINES. 
Section 1 of the Act of February 15, 1901 (31 Stat. 
790, chapter 372; 16 U.S.C. 79), is amended by inserting 
‘‘, for natural gas pipelines’’ after ‘‘distribution of elec-
trical power’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. CERTAIN NATURAL GAS GATHERING LINES LO-
CATED ON FEDERAL LAND AND INDIAN 
LAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle B of title III of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 
685) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 319. CERTAIN NATURAL GAS GATHERING LINES LO-
CATED ON FEDERAL LAND AND INDIAN 
LAND. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) GAS GATHERING LINE AND ASSOCIATED 
FIELD COMPRESSION UNIT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘gas gath-
ering line and associated field compression unit’ 
means— 
‘‘(i) a pipeline that is installed to 
transport natural gas production associ-
ated with 1 or more wells drilled and com-
pleted to produce crude oil; and 
‘‘(ii) if necessary, a compressor to 
raise the pressure of that transported nat-
ural gas to higher pressures suitable to en-
able the gas to flow into pipelines and 
other facilities. 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘gas gath-
ering line and associated field compression unit’ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
does not include a pipeline or compression unit 
that is installed to transport natural gas from 
a processing plant to a common carrier pipeline 
or facility. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL LAND.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘Federal 
land’ means land the title to which is held by 
the United States. 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘Federal 
land’ does not include— 
‘‘(i) a unit of the National Park Sys-
tem; 
‘‘(ii) a unit of the National Wildlife 
Refuge System; or 
‘‘(iii) a component of the National 
Wilderness Preservation System. 
‘‘(3) INDIAN
LAND.—The term ‘Indian land’ 
means land the title to which is held by— 
‘‘(A) the United States in trust for an In-
dian tribe or an individual Indian; or 
‘‘(B) an Indian tribe or an individual In-
dian subject to a restriction by the United 
States against alienation. 
‘‘(b) CERTAIN NATURAL GAS GATHERING LINES.— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the issuance of a sundry notice or right-of-way for 
a gas gathering line and associated field compression 
unit that is located on Federal land or Indian land 
and that services any oil well shall be considered to 
be an action that is categorically excluded (as de-
fined in section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment 
of this Act)) for purposes of the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
if the gas gathering line and associated field com-
pression unit are— 
‘‘(A) within a field or unit for which an ap-
proved land use plan or an environmental docu-
ment prepared pursuant to the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.) analyzed transportation of natural gas 
produced from 1 or more oil wells in that field 
or unit as a reasonably foreseeable activity; and 
‘‘(B) located adjacent to an existing dis-
turbed area for the construction of a road or 
pad. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL
LAND.—Paragraph (1) 
shall not apply to Federal land, or a portion of 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Federal land, for which the Governor of the 
State in which the Federal land is located sub-
mits to the Secretary of the Interior or the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, as applicable, a written 
request that paragraph (1) not apply to that 
Federal land (or portion of Federal land). 
‘‘(B) INDIAN LAND.—Paragraph (1) shall 
apply to Indian land, or a portion of Indian 
land, for which the Indian tribe with jurisdic-
tion over the Indian land submits to the Sec-
retary of the Interior a written request that 
paragraph (1) apply to that Indian land (or 
portion of Indian land). 
‘‘(c) EFFECT ON OTHER LAW.—Nothing in this sec-
tion affects or alters any requirement— 
‘‘(1) relating to prior consent under— 
‘‘(A) section 2 of the Act of February 5, 
1948 (25 U.S.C. 324); or 
‘‘(B) section 16(e) of the Act of June 18, 
1934 (25 U.S.C. 476(e)) (commonly known as 
the ‘Indian Reorganization Act’); or 
‘‘(2) under any other Federal law (including 
regulations) relating to tribal consent for rights-of- 
way across Indian land.’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) ASSESSMENTS.—Title XVIII of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 1122) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1841. NATURAL GAS GATHERING SYSTEM ASSESS-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF GAS GATHERING LINE AND AS-
SOCIATED FIELD COMPRESSION UNIT.—In this section, 
the term ‘gas gathering line and associated field compres-
sion unit’ has the meaning given the term in section 319. 
‘‘(b) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of the Natural Gas Gathering Enhancement 
Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with 
other appropriate Federal agencies, States, and Indian 
tribes, shall conduct a study to identify— 
‘‘(1) any actions that may be taken, under Fed-
eral law (including regulations), to expedite permit-
ting for gas gathering lines and associated field com-
pression units that are located on Federal land or 
Indian land, for the purpose of transporting natural 
gas associated with crude oil production on any land 
to a processing plant or a common carrier pipeline 
for delivery to markets; and 
‘‘(2) any proposed changes to Federal law (in-
cluding regulations) to expedite permitting for gas 
gathering lines and associated field compression 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
units that are located on Federal land or Indian 
land, for the purpose of transporting natural gas as-
sociated with crude oil production on any land to a 
processing plant or a common carrier pipeline for 
delivery to markets. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Natural Gas Gathering Enhance-
ment Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary 
of the Interior, in consultation with other appropriate Fed-
eral agencies, States, and Indian tribes, shall submit to 
Congress a report that describes— 
‘‘(1) the progress made in expediting permits 
for gas gathering lines and associated field compres-
sion units that are located on Federal land or Indian 
land, for the purpose of transporting natural gas as-
sociated with crude oil production on any land to a 
processing plant or a common carrier pipeline for 
delivery to markets; and 
‘‘(2) any issues impeding that progress.’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 1(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 594) is amend-
ed by adding at the end of subtitle B of title III the 
following: 
‘‘Sec. 319. Natural gas gathering lines located on Federal land and Indian 
land.’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) Section (1)(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 594) is amend-
ed by adding at the end of title XXVIII the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Sec. 1841. Natural gas gathering system assessments.’’. 
SEC. 5. DEADLINES FOR PERMITTING NATURAL GAS GATH-
ERING LINES UNDER THE MINERAL LEASING 
ACT. 
Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 
185) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(z) NATURAL GAS GATHERING LINES.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior or other appropriate agency head 
shall issue a sundry notice or right-of-way for a gas gath-
ering line and associated field compression unit (as de-
fined in section 319(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005) 
that is located on Federal lands— 
‘‘(1) for a gas gathering line and associated 
field compression unit described in section 319(b) of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005, not later than 30 
days after the date on which the applicable agency 
head receives the request for issuance; and 
‘‘(2) for all other gas gathering lines and asso-
ciated field compression units, not later than 60 
days after the date on which the applicable agency 
head receives the request for issuance.’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 6. DEADLINES FOR PERMITTING NATURAL GAS GATH-
ERING LINES UNDER THE FEDERAL LAND 
POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976. 
Section 504 of the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1764) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) NATURAL GAS GATHERING LINES.—The Sec-
retary concerned shall issue a sundry notice or right-of- 
way for a gas gathering line and associated field compres-
sion unit (as defined in section 319(a) of the Energy Pol-
icy Act of 2005) that is located on public lands— 
‘‘(1) for a gas gathering line and associated 
field compression unit described in section 319(b) of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005, not later than 30 
days after the date on which the applicable agency 
head receives the request for issuance; and 
‘‘(2) for all other gas gathering lines and asso-
ciated field compression units, not later than 60 
days after the date on which the applicable agency 
head receives the request for issuance.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:07 Mar 26, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4293.IH
H4293
jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with BILLS