Bill > S2823

This bill, titled the North American Energy Infrastructure Act, establishes a new approval process for oil or natural gas pipelines and electric transmission facilities that cross the U.S. border with Canada or Mexico. Under this act, any new construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of such cross-border infrastructure requires a "certificate of crossing" unless specific exceptions apply, such as existing operations or previously issued permits. For oil pipelines, the Secretary of State is the relevant official to issue this certificate, while for electric transmission facilities, it's the Secretary of Energy, who must also ensure compliance with reliability standards set by organizations like the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) and regional entities. The bill also streamlines the approval process for natural gas imports and exports to Canada and Mexico by setting a 30-day deadline for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve applications, and it repeals the requirement for Presidential permits for these types of cross-border energy projects, aiming to create a more uniform and efficient North American energy market.