summary
Introduced
05/13/2015
05/13/2015
In Committee
06/11/2015
06/11/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
National Energy Security Corridors Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to allow natural gas pipeline rights-of-way through all federally owned lands, including lands in the National Park System, except lands held in trust for an Indian or Indian tribe and lands on the outer Continental Shelf. The Department of the Interior must: (1) identify and designate suitable federal lands as National Energy Security Corridors for construction, operation, and maintenance of natural gas transmission facilities; and (2) incorporate such Corridors into the relevant agency land use and resource management plans. Additionally, Interior shall: (1) take into account certain considerations when evaluating federal land for designation as a National Energy Security Corridor, and (2) establish specified procedures to expedite and approve applications for rights-of-way for natural gas pipelines across National Energy Security Corridors. The governor of a state may request Corridors to be designated on federal land within that state. For purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 neither the designation of a Corridor, nor the incorporation of a Corridor into agency plans, shall be treated as a major federal action subject to environmental impact evaluation. All applications for rights-of-way for natural gas transmission facilities across the designated Corridors shall be subject to specified environmental protections. (Sec. 3) Interior shall notify certain congressional committees whenever an agency or Interior official fails to comply with federal authorization schedules established under the Natural Gas Act.
AI Summary
This bill, the National Energy Security Corridors Act, amends the Mineral Leasing Act to allow for the construction of natural gas pipelines across nearly all federally owned lands, with exceptions for lands held in trust for Native Americans and the outer Continental Shelf. The Department of the Interior is required to identify and designate specific areas as "National Energy Security Corridors" for these pipelines and integrate them into existing land management plans. The bill also mandates expedited procedures for approving pipeline rights-of-way within these corridors, aiming for approval within one year, and requires the Secretary of the Interior to consider factors like domestic energy security and cost-effectiveness when designating corridors. Importantly, the designation of these corridors and their incorporation into plans will not be considered a "major federal action" under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), meaning they will not require a full environmental impact evaluation, though specific environmental protections will still apply to pipeline applications. Additionally, state governors can request the designation of corridors within their states, and the Department of the Interior must notify Congress if it fails to meet established timelines for natural gas pipeline authorizations.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (15)
Thomas MacArthur (R)*,
Jeff Duncan (R),
Blake Farenthold (R),
Paul Gosar (R),
Mike Kelly (R),
Cynthia Lummis (R),
David McKinley (R),
Stevan Pearce (R),
Scott Perry (R),
Cedric Richmond (D),
Keith Rothfus (R),
David Schweikert (R),
G.T. Thompson (R),
Mike Turner (R),
Bruce Westerman (R),
Last Action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 217. (on 10/06/2015)
Official Document
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