FERC to become the lead environmental review agency for pipeline projects.
The House of Representatives recently passed a bill to expedite natural gas pipeline projects by making the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) “the only lead agency for the purpose of coordinating the environmental review of such projects.”
The Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act stipulates that efforts by FERC must be carried out under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Project applicants would no longer have to procure water quality certification from states. Instead, FERC would take water quality assessments into consideration in its environmental review processes.
The Senate is crafting its own legislation that seeks to reform energy permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom members of the House as they seek to accelerate project timelines.
- For senators to be discerning as they look at reforming energy permitting under separate legislation.
Sources: Congress, MSN, Department of Energy
