National Energy Security Corridors Act

Bill: 114-hr-2295
Sponsor: Rep. MacArthur, Thomas [R-NJ-3]
Introduced: 2015-05-13 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Energy prices
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Land use and conservation
Oil and gas
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pipelines

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: 

National Energy Security Corridors Act 

 
This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to allow natural gas pipeline rights-of-way through all federally owned lands, including lands in the National Park System, except lands held in trust for an Indian or Indian tribe and lands on the outer Continental Shelf.
 
The Department of the Interior must: (1) identify and designate suitable federal lands as National Energy Security Corridors for use by natural gas transmission facilities, and (2) incorporate such Corridors into the relevant agency land use and resource management plans. 
 
Additionally, Interior shall: (1) take into account certain considerations when evaluating federal land for designation as a National Energy Security Corridor, and (2) establish specified procedures to expedite and approve applications for rights-of-way for natural gas pipelines across National Energy Security Corridors.
 
The governor of a state may request a Corridor designation on federal land within that state. 
 
For purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 neither the designation of a Corridor, nor the incorporation of a Corridor into agency plans, shall be treated as a major federal action subject to environmental impact evaluation. 
 
Interior shall notify certain congressional committees whenever an agency or Interior official fails to comply with federal authorization schedules established under the Natural Gas Act. 

action_date: 2015-10-06
text: 

National Energy Security Corridors Act 

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to allow natural gas pipeline rights-of-way through all federally owned lands, including lands in the National Park System, except lands held in trust for an Indian or Indian tribe and lands on the outer Continental Shelf.
 
The Department of the Interior must: (1) identify and designate suitable federal lands as National Energy Security Corridors for construction, operation, and maintenance of natural gas transmission facilities; and (2) incorporate such Corridors into the relevant agency land use and resource management plans. 
 
Additionally, Interior shall: (1) take into account certain considerations when evaluating federal land for designation as a National Energy Security Corridor, and (2) establish specified procedures to expedite and approve applications for rights-of-way for natural gas pipelines across National Energy Security Corridors.
 
The governor of a state may request Corridors to be designated on federal land within that state. 
 
For purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 neither the designation of a Corridor, nor the incorporation of a Corridor into agency plans, shall be treated as a major federal action subject to environmental impact evaluation.
 
All applications for rights-of-way for natural gas transmission facilities across the designated Corridors shall be subject to specified environmental protections.
 
(Sec. 3) Interior shall notify certain congressional committees whenever an agency or Interior official fails to comply with federal authorization schedules established under the Natural Gas Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 217.
action_date: 2015-10-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-285.
action_date: 2015-10-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 114-285.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 15.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Discharged.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Introduced in House