Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act

Bill: 113-hr-1900
Sponsor: Rep. Pompeo, Mike [R-KS-4]
Introduced: 2013-05-09 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Department of Energy
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Licensing and registrations
Oil and gas
Pipelines

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-09
text: 
Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act - Amends the Natural Gas Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve or deny a certificate of public convenience and necessity within 12 months after providing public notice of the permit application for a natural gas pipeline project.
 
Requires the responsible agency issuing any federal license, permit, or approval regarding the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a project for which a certificate is sought to approve or deny issuance of the certificate within 90 days after FERC issues its final environmental document regarding the project.
 
Directs FERC to grant an agency request for a 30-day extension of the 90-day time period if the agency demonstrates necessity due to unforeseen circumstances beyond its control.
 
States that any license, permit or approval shall go into effect if the responsible agency neither approves nor denies its issuance within that time period.

action_date: 2013-11-18
text: 
Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act - Amends the Natural Gas Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve or deny a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a prefiled project within 12 months after receiving a complete application that is ready to be processed. 
 
Defines "prefiled project" as a project for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a natural gas pipeline with respect to which a prefiling docket number has been assigned by FERC pursuant to a prefiling process established by FERC for the purpose of facilitating the formal application process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.
 
Requires the agency responsible for issuing any federal license, permit, or approval regarding the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a project for which a certificate is sought to approve or deny issuance of the certificate within 90 days after FERC issues its final environmental document regarding the project.
 
Requires FERC to grant an agency request for a 30-day extension of the 90-day time period if the agency demonstrates that it cannot otherwise complete the process required to approve or deny the license, permit, or approval, and therefore will be compelled to deny it. 
 
Authorizes FERC, in granting such an extension, to offer technical assistance to the agency in order to address conditions preventing completion of the application review.
 
Declares that, if the agency fails to approve or deny issuance of a permit, license or approval within the prescribed time-frame, the license, permit, or approval shall take effect upon expiration of 30 days after the period's end.
 
Directs FERC to incorporate into the terms of a license, permit, or approval any conditions proffered by the agency that FERC does not find to be inconsistent with the final environmental document.

action_date: 2013-11-21
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on November 18, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act - Amends the Natural Gas Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve or deny a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a prefiled project within 12 months after receiving a complete application that is ready to be processed. 
 
Defines "prefiled project" as a project for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a natural gas pipeline with respect to which a prefiling docket number has been assigned by FERC pursuant to a prefiling process established by FERC for the purpose of facilitating the formal application process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.
 
Requires the agency responsible for issuing any federal license, permit, or approval regarding the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a project for which a certificate is sought to approve or deny issuance of the certificate within 90 days after FERC issues its final environmental document regarding the project.
 
Requires FERC to grant an agency request for a 30-day extension of the 90-day time period if the agency demonstrates that it cannot otherwise complete the process required to approve or deny the license, permit, or approval, and therefore will be compelled to deny it. 
 
Authorizes FERC, in granting such an extension, to offer technical assistance to the agency in order to address conditions preventing completion of the application review.
 
Declares that, if the agency fails to approve or deny issuance of a permit, license, or approval within the prescribed time-frame, the license, permit, or approval shall take effect upon expiration of 30 days after the period's end.
 
Directs FERC to incorporate into the terms of a license, permit, or approval any conditions proffered by the agency that FERC does not find to be inconsistent with the final environmental document.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-12-09
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 252 - 165 (Roll no. 611). (text: CR H7322)
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 252 - 165 (Roll no. 611).(text: CR H7322)
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 180 - 233 (Roll no. 610). (consideration: CR H7333-7334)
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H7332)
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tierney motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith, with an amendment to prevent any provisions of the underlying bill from taking effect unless the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in consultation with appropriate regulatory agencies, determines that the implementation of the bill will not: adversely impact natural gas pipeline safety; or inhibit the ability of communities to meaningfully engage in the siting of natural gas pipelines that affect them.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Mr. Tierney moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H7332; text: CR H7332)
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H7332)
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1900.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Dingell amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Dingell demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Dingell amendment No. 5.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee (TX) demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Speier amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Speier demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Speier amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Castor (FL) amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Castor demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Castor (FL) amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Tonko amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Tonko demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 420, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tonko amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1900.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 420 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1900 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2013-11-21
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 420. (consideration: CR H7315-7332, H7334-7335)
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Rule H. Res. 420 passed House.
action_date: 2013-11-19
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 420 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1900 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2013-11-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 192.
action_date: 2013-11-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-269.
action_date: 2013-11-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-269.
action_date: 2013-07-17
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 14.
action_date: 2013-07-17
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-07-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-07-11
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee .
action_date: 2013-07-11
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-07-10
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-07-08
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-05-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2013-05-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2013-05-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-05-09
text: Introduced in House