Wildfire Wireless Resiliency Act

Bill: 116-hr-7373
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2020-06-25
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental regulatory procedures

Fires

Forests, forestry, trees

Historic sites and heritage areas

State and local government operations

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Wildfire Wireless Resiliency Act </b></p> <p>This bill excludes certain communications facility replacement projects from specified review requirements.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill excludes from specified environmental and historic preservation review a project that replaces a communications facility damaged by a major disaster or a wildfire and that could reasonably be considered as necessary (1) for recovery from such disaster or emergency, or (2) to prevent or mitigate future disasters or emergencies. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7373 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2020 Mrs. Rodgers of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , 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 A BILL To provide that construction, rebuilding, or hardening of communications facilities following a major emergency declared by a Governor relating to a wildfire is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Wireless Resiliency Act . 2. Application of NEPA and NHPA to covered communications projects (a) NEPA categorical exclusion (1) In general A covered project shall be categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332 ). (2) Relation to extraordinary circumstances procedures The use of the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1) shall not be considered to include extraordinary circumstances under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, or section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor to those regulations). (b) National historic preservation act exemption A covered project shall not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code. (c) Definitions In this Act: (1) Communications facility The term communications facility includes— (A) any wireless or wireline infrastructure for the transmission of writing, signs, signals, data, images, pictures, or sounds of all kinds; (B) any transmitting device, tower, or support structure, and any equipment, switches, wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabinets, associated with the provision of communications services; and (C) any antenna or apparatus that— (i) is designed for the purpose of emitting radio frequency; (ii) is designed to be operated, or is operating, from a fixed location; and (iii) is added to a tower, building, or other structure. (2) Communications service The term communications service means a service for the transmission of writing, signs, signals, data, images, pictures, or sounds of all kinds. (3) Covered project The term covered project means a project that— (A) is to be carried out entirely within an area for which a Governor has declared a major disaster or an emergency related to a wildfire; (B) is to be carried out not later than 5 years after the date the Governor made such declaration; and (C) replaces a communications facility damaged by such disaster or emergency or makes improvements to a communications facility in such area that could reasonably be considered as necessary for recovery from such disaster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate future disasters or emergencies.