Wildfire Wireless Resiliency Act
Bill: H.R.1073 | Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Wildfire Wireless Resiliency Act
This bill exempts from certain environmental or historic preservation review requirements a project that replaces or makes improvements to a communications facility following a governor-declared major disaster or emergency related to a wildfire.
Specifically, the bill exempts these projects from any requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. These projects are also exempt from considerations about the effect they will have on any historic property.

To provide that construction, rebuilding, or hardening of 
  communications facilities following a major emergency declared by a 
  Governor relating to a wildfire are not subject to requirements to 
   prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Wildfire Wireless Resiliency Act''.

SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO COVERED COMMUNICATIONS 
              PROJECTS.

    (a) NEPA Exemption.--A covered project shall not be subject to the 
requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
    (b) National Historic Preservation Act Exemption.--A covered 
project shall not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of 
title 54, United States Code.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Communications facility.--The term ``communications 
        facility'' includes--
                    (A) any wireless or wireline infrastructure for the 
                transmission of writing, sign, signal, data, image, 
                picture, or sound of any kind;
                    (B) any transmitting device, tower, or support 
                structure, and any equipment, switch, wiring, cabling, 
                power source, shelter, or cabinet, associated with the 
                provision of communications services; and
                    (C) any antenna or apparatus that--
                            (i) is designed for the purpose of emitting 
                        radio frequency;
                            (ii) is designed to be operated, or is 
                        operating, from a fixed location; and
                            (iii) is added to a tower, building, or 
                        other structure.
            (2) Communications service.--The term ``communications 
        service'' means a service for the transmission of any writing, 
        sign, signal, data, image, picture, or sound of any kind.
            (3) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a 
        project that--
                    (A) is to be carried out entirely within an area 
                for which a Governor has declared a major disaster or 
                an emergency related to a wildfire;
                    (B) is to be carried out not later than 5 years 
                after the date the Governor made such declaration; and
                    (C) replaces a communications facility damaged by 
                such disaster or emergency or makes improvements to a 
                communications facility in such area that could 
                reasonably be considered as necessary for recovery from 
                such disaster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate 
                any future disaster or emergency.
                                 <all>