IB Union Calendar No. 166 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2170 [Report No. 112–250] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 14, 2011 Mr. Hastings of Washington (for himself, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Duncan of Tennessee, and Mr. Wittman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources October 14, 2011 Additional sponsors: Mr. McClintock, Mr. Landry, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Southerland, Mr. Flores, Mr. Labrador, and Mrs. McMorris Rodgers October 14, 2011 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 14, 2011 A BILL Streamlining Federal review to facilitate renewable energy projects.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Cutting Federal Red Tape to Facilitate Renewable Energy Act.

2.

Environmental review for renewable energy projects

(a)

Compliance with NEPA for renewable energy projects

In complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (41 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to any action authorizing or facilitating a proposed renewable energy project, at the election of the applicant a Federal agency shall— (1)consider only the proposed action and the no action alternative; (2)analyze only the proposed action and the no action alternative; and (3)identify and analyze potential mitigation measures only for the proposed action and the no action alternative. (b)

Public comment

In complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 with respect to a proposed renewable energy project, a Federal agency shall only consider public comments that specifically address the proposed action or the no action alternative (or both) and are filed within 30 days after publication of a draft environmental assessment or draft environmental impact statement. (c)

Definitions

For purposes of this section: (1)

Federal waters

The term Federal waters means waters seaward of the coastal zone (as that term is defined in section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453)), to the limits of the exclusive economic zone or the Outer Continental Shelf, whichever is farther. (2)

Outer Continental Shelf

The term Outer Continental Shelf has the meaning the term outer Continental Shelf has in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.). (3)

Renewable energy project

The term renewable energy project means a project on Federal lands or in Federal waters, including a project on the Outer Continental Shelf, using wind, solar power, geothermal power, biomass, or marine and hydrokinetic energy to generate energy, that is constructed encouraging the use of equipment and materials manufactured in the United States.

October 14, 2011 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed