North American Energy Access Act

Bill: 112-hr-3548
Sponsor: Rep. Terry, Lee [R-NE-2]
Introduced: 2011-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Energy
Environmental regulatory procedures
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Licensing and registrations
Nebraska
Oil and gas
Pipelines

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: 
North American Energy Access Act - Prohibits construction, operation, or maintenance of the oil pipeline and related facilities described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Keystone XL Pipeline Project issued by the Department of State on August 26, 2011 (including any modified version of that pipeline and related facilities), unless it is in compliance with the terms of a permit prescribed under this Act.
 
Instructs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), to issue, within 30 days after receipt of an application, a permit for such pipeline and related facilities implemented in accordance with such Final EIS. 
 
Deems a permit to have been issued if FERC has not acted upon a permit application within 30 days after receipt.
 
Declares FERC approval a prerequisite to authorization for a permit applicant to make substantial modifications to either the pipeline route or any other term of the Final EIS. 
 
Directs FERC to: (1) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the state of Nebraska for review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 of any modification to the proposed pipeline route, and (2) complete consideration and approval of such modification within 30 days after receiving the governor's approval.
 
Deems approval to have been issued if FERC has not acted within 30 days after receiving an application for approval of a modification.
 
Declares a permit issued under this Act to be the sole legal authority to construct, operate, and maintain the Keystone XL Pipeline Project and related facilities.
 

 

action_date: 2012-12-17
text: 
North American Energy Access Act - (Sec. 2) Prohibits construction, operation, or maintenance of the oil pipeline and related facilities described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Keystone XL Pipeline Project issued by the Department of State on August 26, 2011, unless it is in compliance with the terms of a permit prescribed under this Act (including any modified version of that pipeline and related facilities).
 
(Sec. 3) Instructs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), to issue a permit without additional conditions within 30 days after receipt of an application for the pipeline and related facilities, to be implemented in accordance with such Final EIS. 
 
States that FERC shall not be required to prepare a specified Record of Decision under of the Code of Federal Regulations with respect to issuance of such permit.
 
Deems a permit to have been issued if FERC has not acted upon a permit application within 30 days after its receipt.
 
 Requires a permit applicant to first obtain FERC approval before making any substantial modifications to either the pipeline route or any other term of the Final EIS. 
 
Directs FERC to expedite consideration of any such proposal to modify.
 
Directs FERC, within 30 days after enactment of this Act, to: (1) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the state of Nebraska for review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 of any modification to the proposed pipeline route in Nebraska, and (2) complete consideration and to approve such modification within 30 days after receiving the governor's approval.
 
Deems approval to have been issued if FERC has not acted within 30 days after receiving an application to approve a modification.
 
Authorizes the permit holder, while modification of the proposed pipeline route in Nebraska is under consideration, to commence or continue construction of any portion of the pipeline and related facilities that are not located within Nebraska.
 
(Sec. 4) Declares that no presidential permit shall be required for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the pipeline and related facilities.
 
 Declares that nothing in this Act shall affect application to the pipeline and related facilities of: (1) federal pipeline safety requirements of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011; and (2) FERC authority to regulate oil pipeline rates and services.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 515.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 112-703, Part I.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 112-703, Part I.
action_date: 2012-02-07
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 20.
action_date: 2012-02-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2012-02-03
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2012-01-25
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2011-12-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2011-12-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Natural Resources, 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: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Natural Resources, 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: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Natural Resources, 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: 2011-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Introduced in House