Public Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-3730
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2013-12-12 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Defense
Emergency planning and evacuation
Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Floods and storm protection
Infrastructure development
Judicial review and appeals
Licensing and registrations
Military civil functions
Natural disasters
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2013-12-12
text: 
Public Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of the Army to approve or disapprove a covered permit application for a public safety project within two years after the application is submitted. Requires an application upon which the Secretary fails to act within such time to be considered under an expedited process, unless the governor of the state in which the project is to be located issues a declaration of emergency with respect to the project. Defines &quot;covered permit application&quot; as an application for a permit to discharge dredge or fill material submitted by a state or municipality under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act).

Directs the Secretary to establish such an expedited process, under which the Secretary shall: (1) prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement, (2) weigh the public safety aspects of the project as greater than the environmental costs, and (3) complete consultation with other agencies within six months. Provides that the Secretary, in issuing a permit under the expedited process: (1) may not require mitigation costs in an amount that exceeds 20% of the project's total cost, and (2) may relocate from the project any of the members of a threatened or endangered species of plant or animal that the relevant federal agencies determine would be taken in the course of the project. 
 
 Authorizes the state or municipality that submitted a covered permit application for a project, if a governor issues a declaration of emergency with respect to the project, to request that: (1) the application be considered under the expedited process; or (2) the Council on Environmental Quality approve the project or create an alternative, which must be done within 90 days or the application shall be deemed approved and the environmental requirements shall be deemed satisfied.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-12-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2013-12-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on 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: 2013-12-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on 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: 2013-12-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1863-1864)
action_date: 2013-12-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-12-12
text: Introduced in House