Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act

Bill: 115-hr-2910
Sponsor: Rep. Flores, Bill [R-TX-17]
Introduced: 2017-06-15 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Oil and gas
Pipelines
State and local government operations
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: 

Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act

 
This bill expands the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)to act as the lead agency for the purpose of coordinating all applicable federal authorizations and environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) with respect to authorizing a natural gas pipeline project under the Natural Gas Act.
 
Federal, state, and local agencies involved in the environmental review process must defer to FERC's approved scope for a NEPA review.
 
FERC must invite and designate the other participating agencies involved in the authorization process. A federal, state, or local agency may not participate if it informs FERC that it does not have the necessary authority or expertise, or does not intend to submit comments.
 
An agency that is not designated may not conduct an environmental review unless it is legally required to do so and the agency requires information that FERC could not obtain through its NEPA review.
 
The bill establishes a 90 day deadline to complete an authorization application for other authorizing agencies and requires concurrent reviews when multiple agencies are involved in the authorization process.

If a federal or state agency considering an aspect of an application for authorization requires the person applying for such authorization to submit data, the agency must consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that the person submits.
 
FERC must track and publicly display on its website specific information related to the actions required to complete an authorization.

action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act

 
(Sec.2)This bill expands the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)to act as the lead agency for the purpose of coordinating all applicable federal authorizations and environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) with respect to authorizing a natural gas pipeline project under the Natural Gas Act.
 
Federal, state, and local agencies involved in the environmental review process must defer to FERC's approved scope for a NEPA review.
 
FERC must invite and designate the other participating agencies involved in the authorization process. A federal, state, or local agency may not participate if it informs FERC that it does not have the necessary authority or expertise, or does not intend to submit comments.
 
An agency that is not designated may not request or conduct an environmental review unless it is legally required to do so and the agency requires information that FERC could not obtain through its NEPA review.
 
The bill establishes a 90-day deadline to complete an authorization application for other authorizing agencies and requires concurrent reviews when multiple agencies are involved in the authorization process.

If a federal or state agency considering an aspect of an application for authorization requires the person applying for such authorization to submit data, the agency must consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that the person submits.
 
FERC must track and publicly display on its website specific information related to the actions required to complete an authorization.The information shall include:(1)the review schedule established by FERC under the Natural Gas Act;(2)a list of all the actions required by each applicable agency to complete permitting, reviews, and other actions necessary to obtain a final decision on the application;(3)the expected completion date for each such action;(4)a point of contact at the agency responsible for each such action;and(5)in the event that an action is still pending as of the expected date of completion, a brief explanation of the reasons for the delay.
 
(Sec.3)In considering an application for an authorization or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under the Natural Gas Act, FERC shall consult with the Transportation Security Administration regarding an applicant's compliance with security guidance and for best practice recommendations regarding pipeline infrastructure security, pipeline cybersecurity, pipeline personnel security, and other pipeline security measures. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 248 - 179 (Roll no. 402). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H6006-6007)
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 248 - 179 (Roll no. 402).(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H6006-6007)
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 239 (Roll no. 401).
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Watson Coleman 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 at the end of the bill a section pertaining to no eminent domain authority under section 7(h) of such Act.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Mrs. Watson Coleman moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H6025)
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2910.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6023-6027)
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2910 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Mr. Upton moved that the Committee rise.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Beyer amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Beyer demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 454, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Beyer amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 454, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lynch amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Tsongas amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Tsongas demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 454, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tsongas amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2910.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable John J. Duncan, Jr. to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 454 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2910, H.R. 2883 and H.R. 218. The resolution makes in order at anytime on the legislative day of July 20, 2017, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules, relating to the bill H.R. 2825. Also the rule provides that the Committee on Appropriations may at any time before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 21, 2017, file privileged reports to accompany measures making appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 454. (consideration: CR H6001-6010)
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 454 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2910, H.R. 2883 and H.R. 218. The resolution makes in order at anytime on the legislative day of July 20, 2017, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules, relating to the bill H.R. 2825. Also the rule provides that the Committee on Appropriations may at any time before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 21, 2017, file privileged reports to accompany measures making appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 158.
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-223.
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 115-223.
action_date: 2017-06-28
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 23.
action_date: 2017-06-28
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-06-22
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 14 .
action_date: 2017-06-22
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-06-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Introduced in House