North American Energy Infrastructure Act

Bill: 113-hr-3301
Sponsor: Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6]
Introduced: 2013-10-22 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alaska
Arizona
California
Canada
Department of Commerce
Department of Energy
Electric power generation and transmission
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Idaho
Latin America
Licensing and registrations
Maine
Mexico
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York State
North Dakota
Ohio
Oil and gas
Pennsylvania
Pipelines
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Texas
Trade restrictions
Vermont
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2013-10-22
text: 
North American Energy Infrastructure Act - Prohibits any person from constructing, connecting, operating, or maintaining an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility at the national boundary of the United States for the import or export of oil, natural gas, or electricity to or from Canada or Mexico without obtaining approval under this Act. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to oil pipelines, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), with respect to natural gas pipelines, or the Secretary of Energy (DOE), with respect to electric transmission facilities, to approve a request for approval of construction, connection, operation, or maintenance unless it is not in U.S. national security interests. 
 
Declares that such an approval shall not be construed to constitute a major federal action for purposes of environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
 
Makes conforming amendments to the Natural Gas Act and the Federal Power Act.

action_date: 2014-06-24
text: 
North American Energy Infrastructure Act - (Sec. 3) Prohibits any person from constructing, connecting, operating, or maintaining a cross-border segment of an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility at the national boundary of the United States for the import or export of oil, natural gas, or electricity to or from Canada or Mexico without obtaining a certificate of crossing under this Act. 
 
Requires the Secretary of State, with respect to oil pipelines, or the Secretary of Energy (DOE), with respect to electric transmission facilities, to issue a certificate of crossing for the cross-border segment within 120 days after final action is taken under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), unless it is not in U.S. public interest.
 
Directs DOE, as a condition of issuing a certificate, to require that the cross-border segment be constructed, connected, operated, or maintained consistent with the policies and standards of: (1) the Electric Reliability Organization and the applicable regional entity, and (2) any Regional Transmission Organization or Independent System Operator with operational or functional control over the segment.
 
 Exempts from such requirement any construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of a cross-border segment if: (1) it is operating for import, export, or electrical transmission upon the date of enactment of this Act; (2) the relevant permit or certificate of crossing has previously been issued under this Act; or (3) an permit application is pending on the date of enactment of this Act, until it is denied or July 1, 2016, whichever occurs first.
 
 Retains: (1) the requirement to obtain approval or authorization under the Natural Gas Act for the siting, construction, or operation of any facility to import or export natural gas, and (2) certain authority of the President under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). 
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Natural Gas Act to declare that no order of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is required for the export or import of natural gas to or from Canada or Mexico.
 
 (Sec. 5) Amends the Federal Power Act to repeal the requirement that the transmission of electric energy to a foreign country necessitates prior authorization by FERC.
 
 (Sec. 6) Declares that no Presidential permit shall be necessary for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility, including any cross-border segment.
 
(Sec. 7) Declares that no certificate of crossing or permit shall be required for a modification to the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility that: (1) operates for the import or export of oil or natural gas or the transmission of electricity to or from Canada or Mexico as of the date of enactment of this Act; (2) for which a permit for such construction, connection, operation, or maintenance has been issued; or (3) for which a certificate of crossing for the cross-border segment of the pipeline or facility has previously been issued.
 (Sec. 8) Sets forth deadlines for rulemaking.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-06-26
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 442.
action_date: 2014-06-25
text: Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 238 - 173 (Roll no. 354).
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 238 - 173 (Roll no. 354).
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 185 - 227 (Roll no. 353). (consideration: CR H5687)
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H5687)
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schneider motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a new section titled Protecting the Great Lakes and Our Nation's Drinking Water Supply.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: Mr. Schneider moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H5686-5687; text: CR H5686)
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of measure as reported in House: CR H5672)
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H5686)
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3301.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of amendments, which had been debated earlier, and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5683-5688)
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3301 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: Mr. Whitfield moved that the Committee rise.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Welch part B amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Welch demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 636, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Welch (VT) part B amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Waxman part B amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Waxman demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 636, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waxman (CA) part B amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Pallone part B amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 636, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone (NJ) part B amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3301.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Diane Black to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 636 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 6 and H.R. 3301. For H.R. 6, one hour of general debate and amendments are confined to those printed in part A of the report accompanying the resolution. For H.R. 3301, one hour of general debate and amendments are confined to those printed in part B of the report accompanying the resolution.
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 636. (consideration: CR H5665-5676)
action_date: 2014-06-24
text: Rule H. Res. 636 passed House.
action_date: 2014-06-23
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 636 Reported to House. For H.R. 6, one hour of general debate and amendments are confined to those printed in part A of the report accompanying this resolution. For H.R. 3301, one hour of general debate and amendments are confined to those printed in part B of the report accompanying this resolution.
action_date: 2014-06-19
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 358.
action_date: 2014-06-19
text: Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
action_date: 2014-06-19
text: Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
action_date: 2014-06-19
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2014-06-19
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2014-06-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-482, Part I.
action_date: 2014-06-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-482, Part I.
action_date: 2014-05-08
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 19.
action_date: 2014-05-08
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-05-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 10 .
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-11-19
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-10-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2013-10-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.
action_date: 2013-10-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2013-10-22
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: 2013-10-22
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: 2013-10-22
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: 2013-10-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-10-22
text: Introduced in House