Bill > HR1655

This bill aims to streamline the process of rebuilding and improving communications infrastructure in areas affected by wildfires by exempting certain projects from environmental and historical preservation review requirements. Specifically, the bill creates a "covered project" designation for communications facility repairs, replacements, or improvements that occur within 5 years of a wildfire-related emergency or major disaster declaration by the President, a State Governor, or an Indian tribal government leader. These projects would be exempt from two key regulatory processes: the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which typically requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts, and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), which mandates reviews of potential impacts on historic sites. The bill defines "communications facility" broadly, drawing from existing telecommunications law, and includes projects that either replace damaged infrastructure or make improvements necessary for recovery or future disaster prevention. By removing these regulatory hurdles, the bill seeks to expedite the restoration and resilience of communication networks in wildfire-impacted regions, potentially helping communities recover more quickly from such disasters.

Business and Industry, Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1655/all-info