S.Amdt. 1386

1. Adds Subtitle D--Miscellaneous SEC. 24__. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION PERMITTING AND REVIEW at the end of title II

   Adds a section

   Inserted: Subtitle D--Miscellaneous SEC. 24__. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION PERMITTING AND REVIEW.

   Inserted: (a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--

   Inserted: (1) the Federal Government plays a central role in the review and approval of projects to maintain and build the energy infrastructure of the United States, including--

   Inserted: (A) interstate gas pipelines;

   Inserted: (B) projects that cross Federal land; and

   Inserted: (C) projects that impact wildlife, cultural or historic resources, or waters of the United States;

   Inserted: (2) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission--

   Inserted: (A) has jurisdiction under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) to regulate interstate natural gas pipelines, including siting of the interstate natural gas pipelines; and

   Inserted: (B) is required under section 15 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717n), as a lead agency, to coordinate with other Federal agencies in the environmental review and processing of each Federal authorization relating to natural gas infrastructure;

   Inserted: (3) a report of the Government Accountability Office entitled "Pipeline Permitting: Interstate and Intrastate Natural Gas Permitting Processes Include Multiple Steps, and Time Frames Vary", and dated February 2013, reported that--

   Inserted: (A) public interest groups and State officials that were interviewed believed that members of the public need more opportunity to comment on a proposed pipeline project during the permitting process conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

   Inserted: (B) officials from Federal and State agencies and representatives from industry and public interest groups reported several management practices that--

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   Inserted: (i) could help overcome challenges;

   Inserted: (ii) are associated with an efficient permitting process and obtaining public input; and

   Inserted: (iii) include--

   Inserted: (I) ensuring effective collaboration among the numerous stakeholders involved in the permitting process; and

   Inserted: (II) increasing opportunities for public comment; and

   Inserted: (4) robust engagement by the public and stakeholders is essential for the credibility of the siting, permitting, and review of Federal processes by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

   Inserted: (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that, in accordance with Executive Order 13604 (5 U.S.C. 601 note; relating to improving performance of Federal permitting and review of infrastructure projects), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should prioritize meaningful public engagement and coordination with State and local governments to ensure that the Federal permitting and review processes of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission--

   Inserted: (1) remain transparent and consistent; and

   Inserted: (2) ensure the health, safety, and security of the environment and each community affected by the Federal permitting and review processes.

   Original wording

   At the end of title II, add the following:

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As printed