Utilizing America's Federal Lands for Wind Energy Act

Bill: 112-hr-2172
Sponsor: Rep. Noem, Kristi L. [R-SD-At Large]
Introduced: 2011-06-14 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alternative and renewable resources
Atmospheric science and weather
Department of the Interior
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: 
Utilizing America's Federal Lands for Wind Energy Act - Exempts projects determined by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service to be meteorological site testing and monitoring projects from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
 
Defines a "meteorological site testing and monitoring project" as a project that is carried out on land administered by BLM or the Forest Service to test or monitor weather using towers or other devices, that is decommissioned within five years of its commencement, that provides meteorological information to such agencies, that causes less than one acre of soil or vegetation disruption at the location of each meteorological tower or other device and no more than five acres of soil or disruption within the proposed right-of-way for the project, and that is installed: (1) using existing access roads, (2) in a manner that does not require off-road motorized access other than one installation activity and one decommissioning activity along an identified off-road route approved by the BLM Director or the Chief of the Forest Service, (3) without construction of new roads other than upgrading of existing minor drainage crossings for safety purposes, and (4) without the use of digging or drilling equipment vehicles other than rubber-tired vehicles with gross weight ratings under 8,500 pounds.
 
Requires the BLM Director or Chief of the Forest Service to: (1) decide whether to issue a permit for such a project within 30 days after receiving an application for such permit, and (2) provide to the applicant reasons why an application was denied and an opportunity to remedy any deficiencies.
 

action_date: 2011-12-01
text: 
Utilizing America's Federal Lands for Wind Energy Act - Exempts projects determined by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service to be meteorological site testing and monitoring projects from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
 
Defines a "meteorological site testing and monitoring project" as a project that is carried out on land administered by BLM or the Forest Service to test or monitor weather using towers or other devices, that is decommissioned within five years of its commencement, that provides meteorological information to such agencies, that causes less than one acre of soil or vegetation disruption at the location of each meteorological tower or other device and no more than five acres of soil or disruption within the proposed right-of-way for the project, and that is installed: (1) using existing access roads, (2) in a manner that does not require off-road motorized access other than one installation activity and one decommissioning activity along an identified off-road route approved by the BLM Director or the Chief of the Forest Service, (3) without construction of new roads other than upgrading of existing minor drainage crossings for safety purposes, and (4) without the use of digging or drilling equipment vehicles other than rubber-tired vehicles with gross weight ratings under 8,500 pounds.
 
Requires the BLM Director or Chief of the Forest Service: (1) to decide whether to issue a permit for such a project within 30 days after receiving an application for such permit; (2) during such period, to provide an opportunity for public comments and to consult with the heads of agencies that would be affected by issuance of the permit; and (3) to provide to the applicant reasons why an application is denied and an opportunity to remedy any deficiencies.
 
 Requires BLM and the Forest Service to treat the meteorological information provided under this Act as proprietary information and to protect it against disclosure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 200.
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-300, Part I.
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-300, Part I.
action_date: 2011-07-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 16.
action_date: 2011-07-13
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2011-07-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-06-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-06-23
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2011-06-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Introduced in House