Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes regulations to expedite the review process for natural gas or liquefied natural gas pipeline projects.

Highlights:

• Amends the Natural Gas Act to expedite the environmental review of certain natural gas pipeline projects or liquefied natural gas (LNG) import or export terminals (Sec. 2).

• Establishes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the only lead agency for the purpose of coordinating the environmental review of such projects under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (Sec. 2).

• Requires agencies involved in the environmental review process to defer to FERC's approved scope for a NEPA review (Sec. 2).

• Requires FERC to invite certain federal, state, local, or tribal governmental agencies to participate in the review process for an authorization and designate the applicable governments as participating agencies by deadlines established by the bill (Sec. 2).

• Requires FERC to consult with the Transportation Security Administration regarding various pipeline security measures (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits FERC from establishing a deadline for authorizing a project that is more than 90 days after the completion of the NEPA review, and requires concurrent reviews when multiple federal or state agencies are involved (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that applicants for projects do not have to obtain a water quality certification from states under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (Sec. 2).

• Requires FERC to coordinate its NEPA review with states where a potential discharge into navigable waters may occur (Sec. 2).

• Requires a federal or state agency that requires an applicant for a pipeline authorization to submit data to consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that is submitted (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text