HR3668-119

What This Bill Does

The Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act centralizes federal environmental review for natural gas pipeline and LNG authorization decisions. When FERC acts as lead agency under the Natural Gas Act for authorizations under section 3 or certificates under section 7, it must be the only lead agency for project-related NEPA review. FERC must identify, within 30 days after receiving an application, federal agencies, state agencies, local governments, and Indian tribes that may issue a federal authorization or must consult with FERC. FERC must invite those entities within 45 days and designate participating agencies within 60 days unless they disclaim jurisdiction, expertise, or intent to comment. Agencies not designated as participating agencies may not request or conduct supplemental NEPA review unless they show legal necessity and a need for information unavailable during FERC's review, and FERC may not consider comments from nonparticipating agencies in the project-related NEPA record. The bill also removes Clean Water Act section 401 certification requirements for covered federal authorizations.

Who Benefits and How

Natural gas pipeline developers, LNG export terminal developers, pipeline construction contractors, FERC certificate applicants, project-finance lenders, natural gas shippers, third-party environmental consultants, and FERC permitting staff benefit because the bill creates one lead NEPA review, tighter deadlines for participating agencies, fewer supplemental reviews, and less state water-certification leverage over covered natural gas authorizations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff, Environmental Protection Agency reviewers, state environmental agencies, local permitting offices, Indian tribes with consultation interests, state water-quality agencies, environmental advocacy organizations, communities along proposed pipeline routes, and agencies that miss participating-agency deadlines bear burdens because their separate NEPA review authority is narrowed, comments can be excluded, section 401 certification leverage is removed, and FERC must coordinate the full project-related record on a compressed schedule.

Key Provisions

• Requires FERC to be the only lead agency for project-related NEPA review of covered Natural Gas Act authorizations and certificates.
• Requires FERC to identify potential participating agencies within 30 days and invite them within 45 days.
• Requires participating-agency designations within 60 days unless an agency disclaims jurisdiction, expertise, or intent to comment.
• Prohibits nonparticipating agencies from conducting supplemental NEPA review absent legal necessity and unavailable information.
• Removes Clean Water Act section 401 certification requirements for the covered federal authorizations.