117 S1254 IS: Rebuild America Now Act
U.S. Senate
2021-04-20
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Rebuild America Now Act
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.TITLE I—Environmental and project review modernizationSec. 101. Expansion of State responsibility for categorical exclusions.Sec. 102. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 reform.Sec. 103. Designation of categorical exclusions for emergency projects and structurally deficient infrastructure.Sec. 104. Categorical exclusion for projects of limited Federal assistance.Sec. 105. Simplifying environmental documents.Sec. 106. Permittee bill of rights.Sec. 107. Policy review under Clean Air Act.TITLE II—Judicial provisionsSec. 201. Deadline for filing energy-related causes of action.Sec. 202. Limiting sue and settle practices.TITLE III—Natural gas pipeline permitting efficiencySec. 301. Regulatory approval of natural gas pipeline projects.Sec. 302. Rights-of-way for public utilities.TITLE IV—Transportation conformity reformSec. 401. Limitations on certain Federal assistance under Clean Air Act.Sec. 402. Study on transportation air quality conformity under Clean Air Act.TITLE V—Increasing State authority and collaboration in reviewing transportation projectsSec. 501. Federal-State project agreements.Sec. 502. Project approval and oversight for high risk projects.Sec. 503. Advance acquisition of real property.Sec. 504. Agreements relating to use of, and access to, rights-of-way on Interstate System.<enum>I</enum><header>Environmental and project review modernization</header><section id="idADE121FE06154A54B044CC067E743E15"><enum>101.</enum><header>Expansion of State responsibility for categorical exclusions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 326 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="idA83434D140DD45EE840AEEF02F8723ED"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="id70BA8D9EF9174AB89B17FC2FEA56F9AD"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>certain designated activities are included within classes of action identified in regulation by the Secretary that are</quote> and inserting <quote>any activity is included within a class of action identified in a regulation of the Secretary that is</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idff5a6e3120fa474abd8de121e1ab919e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>and only for types of activities specifically designated by the Secretary</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb1a81c7001ae4ec6b6209df0fd356202"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)(1), by inserting <quote>(including the responsibility for making conformity determinations under the Clean Air Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7401">42 U.S.C. 7401</external-xref> et seq.))</quote> after <quote>categorical exclusions</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id35D9B663935C475BB5890C942B6FDB00"><enum>102.</enum><header>National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 reform</header><subsection id="H59AC6A286DAE467F857968BE3724F316"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H36DD108B5B2E40E1A1A6AA0387B53549"><title id="id915F80FC14104C9DB079DF04AE020D2B" style="OLC"><enum>III</enum><header>Interagency coordination relating to permitting</header><section id="H62EA030EB9E442E8A12EA76255AAA943"><enum>301.</enum><header>Interagency coordination relating to permitting</header><subsection id="H5D0E8EB56A70482094A54B7DEBE7A33D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Preparation of environmental documents</header><text>An agency or other entity seeking approval of, or otherwise responsible for carrying out, a project (referred to in this section as the <term>project sponsor</term>), may prepare an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for the purpose of an environmental review in support of the project for approval by the lead agency of the project if, before the project sponsor takes any action or seeks any approval based on the environmental document, the lead agency—</text><paragraph id="idC24D055CEF5A4ED594DFDBD19DB97BEF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provides oversight in the preparation of the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2E2C0DF95C834B6EB9577F670A13A64D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>independently evaluates the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF55A1F858BA24DE4AD6AEA84C11DFA01"><enum>(3)</enum><text>approves, within a reasonable time, and adopts the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0682F8C2B43D48C7B95F6CCEBF237517"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Adoption and use of environmental documents</header><paragraph id="H6CA2FB65AE484481A898EAD042622BFA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Environmental impact statements and assessments</header><subparagraph id="id0A006CBD33F44B39ADECFECFDBB934FD"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the lead agency shall not prepare more than 1 environmental impact statement and 1 environmental assessment under this Act for a project.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4349C0692E964381A8E91563EAC88B20"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>The limitation in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to—</text><clause id="idDDCEE6EE123D47EEAA6E7ACFE0E10599"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a supplemental environmental document; or</text></clause><clause id="idF61ECAAAD2C04F34B1291CE7940198F0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment prepared pursuant to a court order.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id63CA9711164D405D879582A1B041A898"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Record of decision</header><clause id="idE6B468B8A1AF48F3B4FEDE96E51559F7"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in clause (ii), after the date on which the lead agency issues a record of decision for a project, the head of a Federal agency responsible for approving the project shall not rely on any environmental impact statement or environmental assessment prepared before that date.</text></clause><clause id="id37C69CD09A4148DF9DBC416196975847"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Environmental document of lead agency</header><text>Notwithstanding clause (i), the head of a Federal agency may rely on an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment prepared by the lead agency after the date on which the lead agency issues a record of decision for the project.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id55CD17C8520F4B4AAE4DAE9E2DEBAA4A"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Impact analysis</header><text>On request by a project sponsor, a lead agency may adopt, use, or rely on a secondary or cumulative impact analysis that is included in any environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for a project located in the geographical area that is the subject of the secondary or cumulative impact analysis, if the secondary or cumulative impact analysis provides information that is applicable to the project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBCFFE008D6F849378E49F9A77A89AC3E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>State environmental documents</header><subparagraph id="H6E5C466C9C024769A24FD491F98FAD1C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Adoption</header><clause id="id4C6B1A1E2F6743889BB541F11E3C99AA"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>On request by a project sponsor and subject to clause (ii), a lead agency may adopt as the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for a project an environmental document prepared under State law, if the State law provides environmental protection and an opportunity for public involvement that is substantially similar to the environmental protection and opportunity for public involvement under this Act.</text></clause><clause id="id081B7E8E8389413E9D3D120075366BA6"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Supplemental documents</header><subclause id="id3E30E202607F4B02918E6C275946E6C2"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A lead agency shall prepare and publish a supplement to an environmental document referred to in clause (i) before adopting the State environmental document if the lead agency determines that—</text><item id="idA5667F64CCE647ECBF9FEBAE1A630582"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>a significant change has been made to the project that is relevant for purposes of the environmental review by the lead agency; or</text></item><item id="idEAEEEA4E8D004ED999B96CECB34234D3"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>there have been significant changes in circumstances or availability of information relevant to that environmental review.</text></item></subclause><subclause id="id0B48CF34A81448519E46CFD4CADD17FD"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Period of comment</header><text>For any supplemental document prepared and published under subclause (I), the lead agency may solicit comments from agencies and the public for a period of not more than 45 days beginning on the date of the publication.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H37A0ACA3555E47A4950D905CAED5CD42"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Obligation of lead agency</header><text>The adoption of an environmental document by a lead agency under subparagraph (A)(i) satisfies the obligation of the lead agency to prepare an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment under this Act.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9FF1674FFB644614B5332440AC66F4D2"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Record of decision</header><text>With respect to a project, the lead agency shall issue a record of decision or finding of no significant impact, as appropriate, based on—</text><clause id="id0018E526E25441AB9F8FCBA87E3ECDE8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the environmental document adopted under subparagraph (A)(i); and</text></clause><clause id="id0B2611DC85CA49D9A157A58E2C335519"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any supplemental document prepared under subparagraph (A)(ii).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0C07507FB27B432FBC9BD45CB69CB8DB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Contemporaneous projects</header><text>The lead agency may adopt for a project an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment that resulted from an environmental review carried out for a similar project in geographical proximity to the project, if the lead agency—</text><subparagraph id="id48705EDC550443F083EA1770AC9CC1E0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>determines that—</text><clause id="id51845A41134D40158B1A107CDE78772B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>there is a reasonable likelihood that the project will have a similar environmental impact as the similar project; and</text></clause><clause id="idEA04DBBF6DCD4FC0BD5FF16B561B965B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>during the 5-year period ending on the date on which the lead agency makes the determination, the similar project was subject to environmental review or similar State procedures; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC68BEB214F7A48E8971407AD13571A68"><enum>(B)</enum><text>adopts the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment in accordance with paragraph (2)(A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA5658F36C37F4A329A88E91AAACC24C7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperating agencies</header><paragraph id="H66E4004967C043E28FF7B4E257A06E7E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The lead agency of a project shall—</text><subparagraph id="id2C30AFFA577145699B7CF85977C59419"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be responsible for designating or inviting, as applicable, cooperating agencies (within the meaning of section 1501.6 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this section)) in accordance with this subsection; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5FB09E6BD8B445D5925C44F55C2F71DB"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide to the head of each cooperating agency a notice of the designation or invitation in writing.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3FBDF7528E5042A09800D4FD5989BB32"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal cooperating agencies</header><subparagraph id="id3B992274C0E349DFBAF472EE7BD2AF0E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (C), any Federal agency that is required to adopt the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment of the lead agency for a project shall—</text><clause id="id957F81594589483AAD6E420A1831AD1F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>be designated as a cooperating agency; and</text></clause><clause id="id3C12B0372D4649E9B13C467BEE74D576"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>collaborate on the preparation of the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id2AFB07E5601141B29695495353085CA1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>The lead agency shall provide to the head of a Federal agency described in subparagraph (A) a written notice of designation under paragraph (1) that specifies a date by which the head of the Federal agency shall respond.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6D4F218BC710464585C14A37FA07E986"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the head of a Federal agency may decline designation as a cooperation agency if, not later than the date specified by the lead agency under subparagraph (B), the head of the Federal agency informs the lead agency in writing that the Federal agency—</text><clause id="H072977DDFC044CDCB1AC6B06B5A9435A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>has no jurisdiction or authority with respect to the project;</text></clause><clause id="HA1411C1B5EDB40F6BCC3D583DCC2B2F5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has no expertise or information relevant to the project; and</text></clause><clause id="H06E1058387794DCDB8E6D0BDBEFA6E0A"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>does not intend to submit comments on the project.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCB6BE81E5C2E4EBA8F9EE63EF5E98C5C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Other cooperating agencies</header><subparagraph id="id873DCB36FDED43F1A4E1C5666EFAF1AE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The lead agency shall identify, as early as practicable in the environmental review for a project, any official or agency other than an agency described in paragraph (2) that may have an interest in the project, including—</text><clause id="id375BC77C87A04BB5936A5705069553F7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Governor of an affected State; and</text></clause><clause id="id02063E0108994235BB3FA18163550FB0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a local or tribal government.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8EC72C79F562495CBE62C8074712A7F3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Invitation</header><clause id="id1B16A1BB14C0427284905F6C2B18B25A"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The lead agency shall provide a written invitation to any agency or official identified under subparagraph (A) to become a cooperating agency in the environmental review for the project.</text></clause><clause id="idA81302A61EEA4EB49DBB001F31C00718"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Deadline required</header><subclause id="id7F3AD6AB33FF425F9C0D4F583D250107"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The invitation described in clause (i) shall include a deadline, not to exceed 30 days after the date on which the invitation is received, by which the invited agency or official shall accept or decline the invitation.</text></subclause><subclause id="id33D798057C764E4D98E52DC4726018A9"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>The lead agency may extend the deadline under subclause (I) only for good cause shown.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id43AB16E15D024DAF93D163E87AF01E11"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Failure to respond</header><text>An agency or official that fails to respond to an invitation under subparagraph (B)(i) before the deadline under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be considered to have declined the invitation for designation.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id81348D4574BC4A14AEA430244999DBE2"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Designation</header><text>The lead agency shall designate as a cooperating agency any agency or official that accepts an invitation under subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB3AEC1F70F734D1E93379A4C8105A41D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Effect of declining cooperating agency invitation</header><text>An agency or official that declines a designation or invitation by the lead agency to be a cooperating agency for a project shall be precluded from—</text><subparagraph id="idFEB0B12A08E74553A0B52F431F351B89"><enum>(A)</enum><text>submitting comments on any environmental impact statement or environmental assessment prepared for the project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4328D8BC78FA461CAECA81D63E9B0CB3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>taking any action to oppose, based on the environmental review, any permit, license, or approval relating to the project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6E04C0874D2F414EB6038781B3F1184F"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Effect of designation</header><text>Designation as a cooperating agency under this subsection does not imply that the cooperating agency—</text><subparagraph id="H2A7698EABD804972BDED5FBD997C7E7B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>supports a proposed project; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA8CEED17252F48FD8901D24429575E52"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has jurisdiction over, or special expertise with respect to evaluation of, the project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H800361CB12804E669929AC5DEF93B4F6"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Concurrent reviews</header><text>The head of each Federal agency designated as a cooperating agency shall—</text><subparagraph id="H7DF734FA60DB497EB4D183D21CB88591"><enum>(A)</enum><text>carry out the obligations of the Federal agency under other applicable law concurrently and in conjunction with the environmental review required for the applicable project under this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA7A28E639E334A9FB182DB57CD6E90E9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in accordance with the rules promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality pursuant to section 102(b)(1) of the <short-title>Rebuild America Now Act</short-title>, develop and carry out such rules, policies, and procedures as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Federal agency to ensure completion of the environmental review and environmental decisionmaking process in a timely, coordinated, and environmentally responsible manner.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H51F1D0D3393740849EEA76CCFCDF3CF9"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Cooperating agency comments</header><subparagraph id="idBFBBEE8519654077BBBD65BBEB415504"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In providing comments on a project, a cooperating agency—</text><clause id="id6EEB9F9DC99941318A8ACA5E77873109"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall not provide comments on a subject matter that does not relate to the expertise and statutory authority of the cooperating agency, as expressly delegated by Congress; and</text></clause><clause id="id569C8303DFED48CA8EBE4DAAE7F600F9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall identify in the comments of the cooperating agency the legal authority of the cooperating agency relating to the subject matter of the comments.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9DE2FE425B4D414695AFD20F20C10500"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Lead agency</header><text>A lead agency shall not carry out any action in response to, or include in any document prepared under this Act, any comment submitted by a cooperating agency that relates to a subject matter outside the expertise and authority of the cooperating agency.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3D491CAD07346D1BA0E0D2AA8ED2D06"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Initiation of environmental review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 45 days after the date on which a lead agency receives an application for a project from a project sponsor, the lead agency shall initiate an environmental review of the project.</text></subsection><subsection id="HD29878F801F944A89051858F33970DE9"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Alternatives analysis</header><paragraph id="H6348300F5C294597B701AC60CC65B272"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Participation of cooperating agencies</header><text>As early as practicable during the environmental review, but not later than the period during which the preparation of an environmental impact statement is required, the lead agency shall provide an opportunity to the cooperating agencies to participate in determining the range of alternatives to be considered for a project.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAEEA1DA7C92E491A98B1482498C79E7B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Range of alternatives</header><subparagraph id="idF87FA351727E42008587843BC60DDE98"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), after completion of the participation of the cooperating agencies described in paragraph (1), the lead agency shall determine the range of alternatives for consideration in the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for the project.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3C49C830454C497493B5EBB2B2A9BD26"><enum>(B)</enum><header>No evaluation of certain alternatives</header><text>The head of a Federal agency shall not evaluate an alternative that—</text><clause id="id8582B775387B49DEB1AA64587F34F15D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>was identified during the participation period described in paragraph (1); and</text></clause><clause id="id08E8292997484072BF44BB8123A0549C"><enum>(ii)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id372596E0E24F42328A3EC5E4692E98AD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>was not accepted by the lead agency under subparagraph (A) for detailed evaluation in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idA6A8913BCF38438590E1C13F5345F271" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><item commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id9CA7D449BD94405BB3B488EC316CC50E"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>was evaluated by the lead agency; and</text></item><item id="idDD1E2DB6A6504778ABC01E87F8B7C601" indent="up1"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>was not selected for any environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for the project.</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3ABDE36372F046D688C0D3D1FF36D78B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Only feasible alternatives evaluated</header><text>In the case of a project that is constructed, managed, funded, or carried out by a project sponsor that is not a Federal agency, the head of a Federal agency shall only evaluate an alternative that, consistent with the purpose of, and the need for, the project—</text><clause id="id996512A79D0E48D0AF67528CE534DD9E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the project sponsor may feasibly carry out; and</text></clause><clause id="id15F8F198F5D74DC4A3B99BFBE5C48040"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is technically and economically feasible, as determined by the head of the Federal agency.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6AD81684DDFA4345A45A56A8597437FA"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Methodologies</header><subparagraph id="HE9CC2EF12BBE474283FDCD3B255CEA0E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>With respect to an alternative for a project, the lead agency shall, in collaboration with cooperating agencies at an appropriate time during the environmental review for the project, determine the methodologies to be used in, and the level of detail required for, the review.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4E61C81054C04241A3F48BEF2568D253"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Description required</header><text>The lead agency shall include in the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for a project a description of—</text><clause id="id5B8333AED70843FC89605C6545427B3B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the methodologies used in preparing the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment; and</text></clause><clause id="id4A8AA35229C945E3AF4CB0FC9C35861B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the means by which the methodologies were selected.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H812F012CC8864760BB1D709DA5F7A923"><enum>(C)</enum><header>No evaluation of inappropriate alternatives</header><text>In preparing an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, a lead agency may omit from the environmental document a detailed evaluation of an alternative determined by the lead agency not to meet the purpose of, and need for, the project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H094175269E5042108008620B5F617486"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Employment analysis</header><text>The evaluation of each alternative in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment shall identify the potential effects of the alternative on employment, including—</text><subparagraph id="id85B3BF2EC1614B2386371792FD716FAD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>potential short-term and long-term employment increases and reductions; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id574716A424254A308566426A0D237723"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shifts in employment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0D4AAE753D054F2E9714D9E7B877441A"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Coordination plan and scheduling</header><paragraph id="H48206DAB8BF64C2BB4A1849237308FAF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To facilitate the expeditious resolution of an environmental review, the lead agency shall establish and implement a coordination plan for public and agency participation in, and comment on, the environmental review for a project or category of projects.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H109BA30336C74180AEA862DC7AEFE08A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Schedule</header><subparagraph id="HE9D3E40250B34F218C78DF1FE87253D8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In developing the coordination plan described in paragraph (1), the lead agency shall consult with each cooperating agency and the project sponsor to develop a schedule for the completion of the environmental review that—</text><clause id="idA44974FCFABD451B93D6652CF43055E3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>considers factors such as—</text><subclause id="HB77884ABB06D4B6382F7472B88A2F8C9"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the responsibilities of the cooperating agencies under applicable law;</text></subclause><subclause id="H8A4FEC24779F45CDA69C4A082CC0E00E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the resources available to the cooperating agencies;</text></subclause><subclause id="HF006D822327E41A88CAD4AB811163975"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the overall size and complexity of the project;</text></subclause><subclause id="H6D2059CD9145464382A71A53700D0D78"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the overall schedule for and cost of the project;</text></subclause><subclause id="HC4DE26E5E2654281A59BF5A010207B28"><enum>(V)</enum><text>the sensitivity of the natural and historical resources that may be affected by the project; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H6C3F8577C185494D9F825A356A463363"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>the extent to which similar projects in geographical proximity to the project were recently subject to environmental review or similar State procedures; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id78761D09C641451CB7CB9C1D468B9703"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>includes the deadlines, consistent with subsection (g), for decisions under Federal law relating to the project, including decisions on the issuance or denial of a permit or license.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H111E342FD3B64D4286AD74531C9F4505"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Compliance with schedule</header><clause id="HE522CBC283CE4A6CB8477203D6B8AAE4"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each cooperating agency shall comply with—</text><subclause id="id1CDC0A6550414B3FBD7ABECFB2DBCD64"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the deadlines established in the schedule under subparagraph (A); and</text></subclause><subclause id="id3A261F14731C4645A2472C32101F1373"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the case of a modification to the schedule under paragraph (4), any modified deadline.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H2C2C51BD394C4DAA8BDB162D6A970D48"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Effect of noncompliance</header><text>The lead agency shall disregard, and shall not respond to or include in any environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, any comment or information submitted or any finding made by a cooperating agency that is not in accordance with the deadline established in the schedule under subparagraph (A) or a modified deadline under paragraph (4).</text></clause><clause id="H4EC54A2ABD4E4D4EA02921ACAC15406F"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Failure to object</header><text>If a cooperating agency fails to object in writing to a lead agency decision, finding, or request for concurrence in accordance with the deadline established under law or by the lead agency, the cooperating agency shall be considered to have concurred in the decision, finding, or request.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H66F72C9FA6C14AD0A5F9EEBA8DF8DC4C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consistency with other deadlines</header><text>A schedule under paragraph (2) shall be consistent with any other relevant deadline under Federal law.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H05018C0F4B8C4924B452EEE0E8B77CE7"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Modification of schedule</header><text>With respect to a schedule under paragraph (2), the lead agency may—</text><subparagraph id="H143AD4EE4F4645ACB85B2A379BDC8BD1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>extend the schedule for good cause; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1B2E27453C0B4CB1BE9D7B73323D9C52"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shorten the schedule only with the concurrence of each cooperating agency.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCC496E5407D343D9BE7896F9E1FE9018"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Dissemination</header><text>With respect to a schedule under paragraph (2), the lead agency shall—</text><subparagraph id="id1B433A3C34134CCB9FB8A5956C8CFD4A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 15 days after the date of completion or modification of schedule, provide a copy of the schedule and any modification to each cooperating agency and the project sponsor; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA19627B3E28A4E5BA848E0AF7ECAC374"><enum>(B)</enum><text>make a copy of the schedule available to the public.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6E009F1AD7124300B0A94436AF12EB73"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Role and responsibility of lead agency</header><text>With respect to the environmental review for a project, the lead agency may take such actions as are necessary, within the authority of the lead agency, to facilitate the expeditious resolution of the environmental review.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6C28A55977ED475D9F81CF380109D7B8"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Deadlines</header><paragraph id="idBF99302B5B9D43E9B9239D292AD40BD6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The deadlines described in this subsection shall apply to any project subject to review under this Act and any decision under Federal law relating to the project, including the issuance or denial of a permit or license or any required finding.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA0412B1FFBDC44FF84E6773A62DCC689"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Environmental reviews</header><subparagraph id="HBEA96DAE0F164F72B550A8B4F4733F43"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Environmental impact statement projects</header><text>The lead agency shall—</text><clause id="H8DC6F82ACBE1474B8F4049CA25DA1848"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for a project that requires an environmental impact statement under Federal law (including regulations), issue the environmental impact statement by not later than 2 years after the earlier of—</text><subclause id="id512EA981D03D4219B4017EAA34295B07"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the date on which the lead agency receives an application for the project from a project sponsor; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idBFD4530094EA4365B54A6BAD2347850F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the date on which a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement is published in the Federal Register; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H7A0D8884756146D78615B98540949C4B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for a project for which the lead agency prepared an environmental assessment, and determined pursuant to that environmental assessment that an environmental impact statement is required, issue the environmental impact statement by not later than 2 years after the date of publication of the notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement in the Federal Register.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2E0B1DCCC3CB4FD6AA224C5737488447"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Environmental assessment projects</header><text>For a project that requires an environmental assessment, the lead agency shall issue a finding of no significant impact or publish a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement in the Federal Register by not later than 1 year after the earliest of—</text><clause id="idC3163A14D6A846D6A1FA42D75500D344"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date on which the lead agency receives the project initiation request;</text></clause><clause id="idD2B7E27074594A88832CEC911EC5A073"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the date on which the lead agency makes a decision to prepare an environmental assessment; and</text></clause><clause id="id2EE677674F604567AA85B46A40475E45"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the date on which the lead agency sends out cooperating agency invitations.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB78D964762814E739D841C3BE886F059"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Extensions</header><clause id="HD29F6C230D1347CDA34A10EED7BC84AB"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Subject to clause (ii), the lead agency may extend a deadline under subparagraph (A) or (B) only—</text><subclause id="HAFA70ECB0394402BA42EC0D146AA44FF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>if the lead agency, project sponsor, and each cooperating agency agree on a different deadline; or</text></subclause><subclause id="HCB7195BB2E0140D582F77DBDA60E4C50"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for good cause.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HB88F48DF73314CD89398C70B9BDDF09B"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The lead agency shall not extend a deadline under subparagraph (A) or (B)—</text><subclause id="idFE1832A9C9F94165BBAF254F0D4B75B7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the case of a project that requires an environmental impact statement, by more than 1 year; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id84A318F867284FB6BE4D96CF2BF902BE"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the case of a project that requires an environmental assessment, by more than 180 days.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD0EAC061155648528352F56EA86F18E7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Environmental review comments</header><text>The lead agency shall establish for each environmental impact statement and environmental assessment a comment period of not more than 30 days after the date on which the environmental impact statement or environmental assessment is made publicly available, unless—</text><subparagraph id="idEC9F30D9EC0E47B59E70CE5B7172BEB1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the lead agency, project sponsor, and each cooperating agency agree on a different deadline; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA86F9B09DC53492E9324DB82153C204F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the lead agency extends the deadline for good cause.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1F47109F41924514873ACB4BC81AC2EE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Decisions prior to record of decision or finding of no significant impact</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a project for which a Federal agency is required to approve or otherwise to take an action relating to a permit, license, or other similar application before the lead agency may issue a record of decision or finding of no significant impact, the head of the Federal agency shall approve or take the applicable action by not later than the earlier of—</text><subparagraph id="id16DE0F8A38174F0AB305F1B06869E161"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which—</text><clause id="H2FC438559C854FCA875AB6B6FF9C2F61"><enum>(i)</enum><text>all other relevant Federal agency reviews relating to the project are complete; and</text></clause><clause id="H1668057B26B946A6A2F6BA0829CFDA0F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the lead agency publishes a notice of the availability of the final environmental impact statement or issuance of other final environmental documents; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF8FA99031BC248EDA36B4B7257CEAC35"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the date that is otherwise required by law.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA41F3E009E0447E5A523F5C0DEF3654E"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Other decisions</header><subparagraph id="id85796DFFF0BD48909F0178115DA08453"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), with respect to any approval or other action of a Federal agency relating to a project that is not subject to paragraph (4), each Federal agency shall make the approval or carry out the action by not later than the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date on which—</text><clause id="H7E1BC5FC620D4CEC85023E1D7743C4DE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>all other relevant agency reviews relating to the project are complete; and</text></clause><clause id="H2F7CEAD17B2F49CE9F6F8AAEAE358BBE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the lead agency issues a record of decision or finding of no significant impact.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idABA8525E998E40F78DBA2218317ABBD0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension</header><clause id="idFE3CABFAB8E3454C9A0E3AE8C2F28468"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to clause (ii), the head of a Federal agency may extend the deadline referred to in subparagraph (A) for good cause, if the head of the Federal agency, the lead agency, and the project sponsor agree to extend the deadline.</text></clause><clause id="idC81E55D9B4DB44B3A9564F7E899DEB67"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The head of a Federal agency shall not extend a deadline under clause (i) for a period longer than 1 year after the date on which the lead agency issues the record of decision or finding of no significant impact.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5EF0CF702A34473B99D1156BF16CCB7C"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Effect of noncompliance</header><subparagraph id="id863A5CFCA930410FB5149D6841E5A789"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A permit, license, or other similar application for approval relating to a project that requires the approval or other action by a Federal agency shall be considered to be approved by the Federal agency if the head of the Federal agency fails to approve or otherwise take an action relating to the permit, license, or other similar application by the deadline described in paragraph (4) or (5).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4DA975413FE94225A95047DE19752535"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Deadline for compliance</header><text>The head of the Federal agency shall act in accordance with the approval under subparagraph (A) by not later than 30 days after the applicable deadline described in paragraph (4) or (5).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C527BCCA37D4056B3012EA71E037AE0"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Final agency action</header><clause id="id1D395A06E538436286272270D2B6596F"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An approval under subparagraph (A) shall be considered to be a final agency action, which may not be reversed by any agency.</text></clause><clause id="id09467FDDED0C4C259043D9D89F244C45"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Review</header><text>In any action under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, that seeks review of a final agency action under clause (i), a court may not set aside the action based on the action having been made final under that clause.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBA1D4AE7A80641E796CD5FD5CEEE43B6"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Issue identification and resolution</header><paragraph id="H99D6653850C84C1B80D3C29AFDA3DDA4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>The lead agency and the cooperating agencies shall work in accordance with this subsection to identify and resolve any issue that may delay the completion of an environmental review or result in the denial of an approval required for the project under applicable law.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB30AEDA796E0485BA17E67F66D7A0241"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Lead agency responsibilities</header><text>As early as practicable during the environmental review process, the lead agency shall make available information (including information based on existing data sources, including geographic information systems) relating to the environmental, historic, and socioeconomic resources located in the project area and the general location of any alternative under consideration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1AD94DED33BF40B2BB9A573B3BD4306B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Cooperating agency responsibilities</header><text>Based on information received from the lead agency, a cooperating agency shall identify, as early as practicable, any issue of concern relating to the potential environmental, historical, or socioeconomic impact of a project, including any issue that may substantially delay or prevent an agency from granting a permit or other approval required for the project.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0195A36F7E394039A4050EA8AC3F2A50"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Issue resolution</header><subparagraph id="H024E23E50A2E4DEAA489DD61B52689BF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Meeting of cooperating agencies</header><text>To resolve any issue that may delay the completion of an environmental review or result in the denial of an approval required for a project under applicable law, the lead agency shall promptly convene a meeting with the relevant cooperating agency and the project sponsor on request by a project sponsor at any time.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD4C0147D64AB4AFAA411FF7239030B06"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Notice that resolution cannot be achieved</header><text>If a resolution to an issue identified under paragraph (1) cannot be achieved by the date that is 30 days after the date on which a meeting is convened under subparagraph (A), and the lead agency determines that all information necessary to resolve the issue has been obtained, the lead agency shall—</text><clause id="id3B70B3DC8CC348529AD9E2750FEAF136"><enum>(i)</enum><text>notify—</text><subclause id="idF0ED22FD6DFE4F19BD045DF74A689273"><enum>(I)</enum><text>each cooperating agency;</text></subclause><subclause id="id84BDE2BF228D48529AF4A9CD8133B3E7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the project sponsor; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idCCD5113D4CC44931A408515EE49C5652"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the Council on Environmental Quality established by section 202 for further proceedings in accordance with section 204; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id6720BFB52E184CDE9B61D07DBA0C2180"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>publish in the Federal Register a notice relating to the failure to achieve a resolution.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9197dd05633c4cea9446691a33b3f781"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Merging documents</header><paragraph id="idE611A5F19BD4411C80DEC2137A298552"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in paragraph (2), the lead agency of a project shall expeditiously develop a single document that consists of—</text><subparagraph id="idB6E5E058FF4842548440055B1508C936"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a final environmental impact statement relating to the project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE17679854ABF4851AEDB006FA7573853"><enum>(B)</enum><text>each record of decision relating to the project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id84D97BDE281E4DDC90F352D084237B4A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the final decision of the Secretary of the Army with respect to the environmental review carried out by the Secretary, acting through the Chief of Engineers, relating to an application for a permit for the project under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/1344">33 U.S.C. 1344</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF3B9CA2FD80C4CA48EB6DE8AA1784C44"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>Paragraph (1) shall not apply in any case in which—</text><subparagraph id="id35ebbed88b254fba94968f4acc921a11"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the final environmental impact statement relating to the project makes a substantial change relating to an environmental or safety concern to a proposed action under the project; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb03cddf83fc24778b51abbf367f3b581"><enum>(B)</enum><text>there exists a significant new circumstance or information relating to an environmental concern that affects such a proposed action or the impacts of the proposed action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7031575F6CE14E79992AA134BFA1C668"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Limitations on claims</header><paragraph id="H7169E8D365AF473488CD928DD982A249"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Final agency actions</header><subparagraph id="idBEDF0F56557A43E19FC9789422AC576B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The deadline for filing a claim for judicial review of a final agency action is the date that is 180 days after the date of publication of a notice in the Federal Register announcing the record of decision for the action.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id50057B69C2CD45BB8929099869FC0FE3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>New information</header><text>A claim challenging a final agency action on the basis of information contained in a supplemental environmental impact statement shall be limited to a challenge on the basis of that information.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD37DC5788B4C47728A89F6B82A54AD91"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection creates a right to judicial review or places any limit on filing a claim that a person has violated the terms of a permit, license, or approval issued by a Federal agency for an action subject to this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H74F3E4A29AD24C3EBB42925F246D40B5"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Categories of projects</header><text>The authority granted under this title may be exercised for—</text><paragraph id="id61A4A03ED7AA4B6DAC4CE7F558A48354"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any single project; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id09315E22684C437F8B16B353256B4879"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any category of 2 or more projects related by project type, potential environmental impact, geographical location, or other similar project feature or characteristic.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7650613017124B45915F009FABD0C9ED"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Effective date</header><paragraph id="idAB7F62EDDC0545D38C1AA638293533C9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This title applies only to an environmental review or environmental decisionmaking process initiated after the date of enactment of this title.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idFDDE15AB17A147C3B03D32936A955122"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability of deadlines</header><subparagraph id="id98D67D1FFE35485B82890B5A384860AA"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in the case of a project for which an environmental review or environmental decisionmaking process is initiated before the date of enactment of this title, subsection (g) shall apply.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id729B3EBCCDF5477A818493E77B7EFFCC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in determining a deadline under subsection (g), any applicable period of time shall be calculated as beginning on the date of enactment of this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6A660705B1BA4FC39DF7433F6EC3255A"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (n), this title applies to each project for which a Federal agency is required to carry out an environmental review or environmental decisionmaking process.</text></subsection><subsection id="HFB3B2C38A39B4D12A921E9FD8FA08023"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Savings clause</header><text>Nothing in this section supersedes, amends, or modifies—</text><paragraph id="id87030E3B9F4C4F768865FB81DBC14B13"><enum>(1)</enum><text>section 134, 135, 139, 325, 326, or 327 of title 23, United States Code;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idFA7AD7A290B14DE8B35DFE686F53CBA7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>section 5303 or 5304 of title 49, United States Code; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB4CA5C2059C948188F5A2F476262DC96"><enum>(3)</enum><text>subtitle C of title I of division A of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/112/141">Public Law 112–141</external-xref>; 126 Stat. 527) (or any amendment made by that subtitle).</text></paragraph></subsection></section>.(b)(1)Council on Environmental QualityNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council on Environmental Quality established by section 202 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4342) shall—(A)amend the regulations contained in chapter V of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), to implement this section and the amendments made by this section; and(B)by rule, designate each State with laws and procedures that satisfy the criteria under section 301(b)(2)(A) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as added by subsection (a)).(2)Not later than 120 days after the date on which the Council on Environmental Quality amends the regulations described in paragraph (1)(A), the head of each Federal agency that has promulgated regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall amend the regulations to implement this section and the amendments made by this section.(c)Limitations on claims under FAST ActSection 41007(a) of the FAST Act (42 U.S.C. 4370m–6(a)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (1)(A), by striking 2 years
and inserting 180 days
; and(2)in paragraph (2)(B), by striking 2 years
and inserting 180 days
.103.Designation of categorical exclusions for emergency projects and structurally deficient infrastructure(a)Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall—(1)consult with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Secretary of the Army to identify communities that are imminently threatened from flooding or erosion; and(2)designate as an action categorically excluded from the requirements relating to environmental assessments or environmental impact statements for purposes of section 771.117(c) of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), and section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), any project—(A)that is critical to the immediate safety of a threatened community identified under paragraph (1); or(B)for the maintenance, repair, reconstruction, restoration, retrofitting, or replacement of an existing road, highway, bridge, tunnel, or other transit facility (such as a ferry dock or bus transfer station), including ancillary transportation facilities (such as pedestrian and bicycle paths and bike lanes), if the project is to be completed in the same location, and with the same preexisting design, as the existing structure.(b)The Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out subsection (a) by not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act.104.Categorical exclusion for projects of limited Federal assistanceSection 1317(1) of the MAP–21 (23 U.S.C. 109 note; Public Law 112–141) is amended—(1)in subparagraph (A), by striking $5,000,000
and inserting $10,000,000
; and(2)in subparagraph (B), by striking 15 percent
and inserting 16 percent
.105.Simplifying environmental documents(a)It is the policy of the United States that the purpose of requiring an environmental document relating to a project is only to ensure that the process of considering the effects of the project takes place before the occurrence of any significant Federal action to carry out the project.(b)(1)To facilitate public transparency and understanding of environmental documentation, an environmental document—(A)shall—(i)be sufficient to provide a reasonable consideration of the potential environmental effects and alternatives of a proposed project; and(ii)reflect a thorough examination of the potential impacts of the project; but(B)shall not exceed 300 pages without substantial justification.(2)Notice and comment requirements(A)An agency may exceed the 300-page limit under paragraph (1)(B) if the agency provides to proponents of the applicable project a notice, and a period of not less than 30 days for comment, regarding the proposed exceedance.(B)The opportunity to comment under subparagraph (A) shall not be provided to any individual or entity other than a proponent of the applicable project.106.Section 101 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4331) is amended by adding at the end the following:(d)(1)It is the policy of the United States—(A)to use natural resources in a responsible manner to maximize value and utility, while protecting public health and welfare; and(B)that, therefore, in implementing a Federal permitting law, a Federal agency should, to the maximum extent practicable, seek to issue permit decisions favorably.(2)Definition of Federal permitting lawIn this subsection:(A)The term Federal permitting law means any provision of Federal law pursuant to which a Federal agency may issue a permit.(B)The term Federal permitting law includes—(i)the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.);(ii)the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);(iii)the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.);(iv)the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);(v)the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.);(vi)the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);(vii)the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.);(viii)the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); and(ix)the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).(3)Applicant and permittee rightsIn any communication between a permittee or an applicant for a permit and a Federal agency relating to a determination of the agency pursuant to a Federal permitting law, the following shall apply:(A)Any decision relating to the applicable permit or application shall be issued—(i)within the applicable deadline; or(ii)at such other reasonable time as may be agreed to by the permittee or applicant and the Federal agency.(B)Each permittee and permit applicant shall have the right—(i)to assistance and prompt response in seeking from the Federal agency information regarding the regulatory and permit process;(ii)to request and receive—(I)a clear projected schedule of fees for the review and completion of the permit process; and(II)a clear, concise statement of the reasoning for a determination by the agency to reject a permit application;(iii)to know the exact deficiencies in a rejected application; and(iv)to a transparent and unbiased decision based on the submitted application and applicable Federal permitting law and regulatory requirements..107.Policy review under Clean Air ActSection 309(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7609(a)) is amended by striking any (1) legislation proposed by any Federal department or agency, (2) newly authorized Federal projects for construction and any major Federal agency action (other than a project for construction) to which section 102(2)(C) of Public Law 91–190 applies, and (3) proposed regulations
and inserting any legislation proposed by a Federal department or agency or proposed regulations
.<enum>II</enum><header>Judicial provisions</header><section id="id25264E008D6E4A138481E2401E8D33D6"><enum>201.</enum><header>Deadline for filing energy-related causes of action</header><subsection id="id8a2bc18dd76b44c6b572c4eded67fd21"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idca4208641fa945bba7618d3e7bc7af55"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency action</header><text>The term <term>agency action</term> has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5025ddf0ae7e4c0db42502cf5a0cbd03"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Energy-related cause of action</header><text>The term <term>energy-related cause of action</term> means a cause of action that—</text><subparagraph id="ide81e41c06cb9431ea682e313ec2ae962"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbf378f5be99c433fb50765bd4f9ff363"><enum>(B)</enum><text>seeks judicial review of a final agency action to issue a permit, license, or other form of agency permission allowing—</text><clause id="idb93b8fc7e5ae45a2a7add038efa2386d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an individual or entity to conduct on Indian land or public land activities involving the exploration, development, production, or transportation of oil, gas, coal, shale gas, oil shale, geothermal resources, wind or solar resources, underground coal gasification, biomass, or the generation of electricity; or</text></clause><clause id="idb9bedae2a06b4b4b8feec14a9ec496ba"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an Indian tribe, or any organization of 2 or more entities at least 1 of which is an Indian tribe, to conduct activities involving the exploration, development, production, or transportation of oil, gas, coal, shale gas, oil shale, geothermal resources, wind or solar resources, underground coal gasification, biomass, or the generation of electricity, regardless of the location at which those activities are carried out.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbacbc6f0e2714194b330f0edad081536"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Indian land</header><subparagraph id="id9F16FABD7F844209B10C4CED5C90B276"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>Indian land</term> has the meaning given the term in section 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/3501">25 U.S.C. 3501</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5AD99093C49C46D4A12E8C4EAF65F10E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusion</header><text>The term <term>Indian land</term> includes land owned by a Native Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1601">43 U.S.C. 1601</external-xref> et seq.).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id482316c1fc594479bb3dcc950cd6961e"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Public land</header><text>The term <term>public land</term> has the meaning given the term <term>public lands</term> in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1702">43 U.S.C. 1702</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8ee8d458e3434f5681b3b328cf38dd9f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deadline for filing</header><paragraph id="idA76C37FE65B1425B9266317621E60A8D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An energy-related cause of action shall be filed by not later than 60 days after the date of publication of the applicable final agency action.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8ED13058329C4DB9834997EC88A56B21"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>An energy-related cause of action that is not filed within the time period described in paragraph (1) shall be barred.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida855839d532e4a43bce7ee0bccbf0b23"><enum>(c)</enum><header>District court venue and deadline</header><text>An energy-related cause of action shall be—</text><paragraph id="id4844b4aeb08942f3801a24b5212f7ccb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0f090aa3b6874212a6d6bdaa95cc4002"><enum>(2)</enum><text>resolved—</text><subparagraph id="idED1DFA550E4E4666B07EE3FB9DF256C8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>as expeditiously as practicable; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id166C017A0EC745238AF1CBBFC9910016"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in any event, not later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the energy-related cause of action is filed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id59aa46af7605422c8099b59c66ef549b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Appellate review</header><paragraph id="id11D73D19B636476297BE3C8D74EA5B06"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An interlocutory order or final judgment, decree, or order of the district court in an energy-related cause of action may be reviewed by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8596A30FB1C6480DB1E379304E429004"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia shall resolve an appeal of an energy-related cause of action—</text><subparagraph id="id6F417EBC0CCD40F8BC743056BEAC6D6B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>as expeditiously as practicable; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3044E5AC680C4A2CB33C66E4782FCD86"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in any event, not later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the applicable interlocutory order or final judgment, decree, or order of the district court was issued.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3966ded1592e49019f4674534e69195b"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Limitation on certain payments</header><text>Notwithstanding section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, no award may be made under section 504 of title 5, United States Code, or section 2412 of title 28, United States Code, and no amounts may be obligated or expended from the Claims and Judgment Fund of the Treasury to pay any fees or other expenses under those sections, to any person or party in an energy-related cause of action.</text></subsection><subsection id="idce477dd014d94b95962256db5c8e6136"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Legal fees</header><paragraph id="id7165F94F6A354697854285F62EDA421D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of ultimately prevail</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB50BFC04C82049299D3B1FE3AAF2B70A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>ultimately prevail</term> means a final, enforceable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in favor of a party on at least 1 energy-related cause of action that is an underlying rationale for the preliminary injunction, administrative stay, or other relief requested by the party.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD87B4288D8A344F7905E920C0B5C93A8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>The term <term>ultimately prevail</term> does not include any situation in which the relevant final agency action is modified or amended by the issuing agency, unless the modification or amendment is required pursuant to—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA878DE27BC0F400BABE3DB6992C85F58"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a final, enforceable judgment of the court; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6F3E8783D1B0428CAFEC658A20E7419C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a court-ordered consent decree.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA86A6D38BDF24886993A88B63EAE9DC3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Award</header><subparagraph id="idAE2505F41DE94A018F3B9CD9E3D1D6A1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any energy-related cause of action in which the plaintiff does not ultimately prevail, the court shall award to the defendant (including any intervenor-defendants), other than the United States, fees and other expenses incurred by that defendant in connection with the energy-related cause of action, unless the court finds that—</text><clause id="id27D5D168CD594C31BDBA7230A6C02201"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the position of the plaintiff was substantially justified, in accordance with subparagraph (B); or</text></clause><clause id="id288D9309EAD44151ADC9D2F0E51E5803"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>special circumstances make such an award unjust.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF9AB1B884D634E1B994350752AD6B6DB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Substantially justified determination</header><text>Whether the position of the plaintiff was substantially justified for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i) shall be determined on the basis of the administrative record, as a whole, relating to the energy-related cause of action for which fees and other expenses are sought.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idFEDEEE6C5C914B72B7267071A189F7CD"><enum>202.</enum><header>Limiting sue and settle practices</header><subsection id="H366CEE0B68684C2291AB9CDF3D059039"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><paragraph id="id62B3D1655A91479F9B1DF1AE40FC364F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency; agency action</header><text>The terms <term>agency</term> and <term>agency action</term> have the meanings given those terms under section 551 of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0608CE6041674E6197C76BED75B526BE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered civil action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered civil action</term> means a civil action—</text><subparagraph id="H0217893B98094F3B981F1A0F957860F6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">seeking to compel agency action;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3A06EF42BD104612964EF76D4711726E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">alleging that the agency is unlawfully withholding or unreasonably delaying an agency action relating to a regulatory action that would affect the rights of—</text><clause id="id6DAE481CC6C04493A1E31FAD2F67C02E"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">private persons other than the person bringing the action; or</text></clause><clause id="id2966B4049A5B4D2B89425C7375FAFD83"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a State, local, or tribal government; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H36A29847C7B341BE86B81B96CB88C265"><enum>(C)</enum><text>brought under—</text><clause id="id70E70E9EB5934026903FD654080AB3D7"><enum>(i)</enum><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code; or</text></clause><clause id="H0AC44BCF12A54BF3A743CDB4BAB6665E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other statute authorizing such an action.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE509F9AF59CF44489614562906A62AE0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Covered consent decree</header><text>The term <term>covered consent decree</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id40E194D1F4A54938BC5AC8949321D5E0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a consent decree entered into in a covered civil action; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2ACEBD6CFD6B461087DB644EA4E0CFA2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other consent decree that requires agency action relating to a regulatory action that affects the rights of—</text><clause id="idB16F13FB0E824B3482E9FC85D3235ED5"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">private persons other than the person bringing the action; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id589AA99BBBA3440893D3893E8E4490C4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a State, local, or tribal government.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA8C74B5209234FC0AF3E4F189D3FFD7A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Covered consent decree or
settlement agreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered consent decree or settlement agreement</term> means a covered consent decree and a covered settlement agreement.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id64FC3F6570524033877D7D7D98779202"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Covered settlement agreement</header><text>The term <term>covered settlement agreement</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCBAD5ED234AF450598FE727D47EB1674"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a settlement agreement entered into in a covered civil action; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1EA21E568F964255BE15E6A72FC362B3"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other settlement agreement that requires agency action relating to a regulatory action that affects the rights of—</text><clause id="idFBE62B9850A94F4EB93CF531EE540ECB"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">private persons other than the person bringing the action; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAED17012D2FA4162B2FB58636A7AD513"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a State, local, or tribal government.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idC8A22F3C3B904BC587AFA1C1CEC5E317"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consent decree
and settlement reform</header><paragraph id="HA616296BD4CA42E1B4F0F1F469159D9D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Pleadings and
preliminary matters</header><subparagraph id="id31656FA56EF84EBE95690FC5DCB56A10"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In any covered civil action, the agency against which the covered civil action is brought shall publish the notice of intent to sue and the complaint in a readily accessible manner, including by making the notice of intent to sue and the complaint available in the Federal Register or online not later than 15 days after receiving service of the notice of intent to sue or complaint, respectively.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDDEF3667FEF64E40A60078533AC2492F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Entry of a
covered consent decree or settlement agreement</header><text>A party may not make a motion for entry of a covered consent decree or to dismiss a civil action pursuant to a covered settlement agreement until after the end of proceedings in accordance with subparagraph (A) and paragraph (2)(B)(i).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4F24A52674164C848B089DA3C9C50DD2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Publication of
and comment on covered consent decrees or settlement agreements</header><subparagraph id="id93875339FC01491494E32A908A959E32"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 60 days before the date on which a covered consent decree or settlement agreement is filed with a court, the agency seeking to enter the covered consent decree or settlement agreement shall publish in the Federal Register and online the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD90F287F09454A33842923D2465E62F3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public
comment</header><clause id="idEE3531550AFF400B966D18DFD237FCD5"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An agency seeking to enter a covered consent decree or settlement agreement shall accept public comment during the period described in subparagraph (A) on any issue relating to the matters alleged in the complaint in the applicable civil action or addressed or affected by the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement.</text></clause><clause id="H8267105F854F46F7ABC3D9F1079F8F36"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Submissions to
court</header><text>When moving that the court enter a proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement or for dismissal pursuant to a proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement, an agency shall inform the court of the statutory basis for the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement and its terms.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF19C9AD3B3DC4B2FAC7BA413FBDDAB50"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Review by
court</header><subparagraph id="id7192669D1CF049C585B2A4EF8DDFA05F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A court shall review the statutory basis for the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement and its terms de novo.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H837792CAE86542F69921C11C31ABE6BF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Review of
deadlines</header><clause id="idB5C1004C52A24AFF867DF1CBC2D5DC25"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Proposed
covered consent decrees</header><text>For a proposed covered consent decree, a court shall not approve the covered consent decree unless the proposed covered consent decree allows sufficient time and incorporates adequate procedures for the agency to comply with <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, and other applicable statutes that govern rulemaking and, unless contrary to the public interest, the provisions of any Executive order that governs rulemaking.</text></clause><clause id="id8750238CA6B044488CF2056D51123560"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Proposed
covered settlement agreements</header><text>For a proposed covered settlement agreement, a court shall ensure that the covered settlement agreement allows sufficient time and incorporates adequate procedures for the agency to comply with <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, and other applicable statutes that govern rulemaking and, unless contrary to the public interest, the provisions of any Executive order that governs rulemaking.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Natural gas pipeline permitting efficiency</header><section id="id4d8030a0164c499781c3b0e6ef94cecf"><enum>301.</enum><header>Regulatory approval of natural gas pipeline projects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id063759B1649A4B19B64E9BE8F8D374E1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph id="id3BEBE16053614C778B2A6936AD8C99E1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>(d) Application for certificates</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCB72A28255234FE19CE518D4B24C326D"><subsection id="id99EA0EDF02204A12B872CCC0EAB9ED0E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application requirements</header><paragraph id="id48DA9CF8B70D49E69DC9C4D6B8057B78"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA96C6E7887B848508A8017734231657E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46B362645F7D4DF59B4182B5F41E57A6"><paragraph id="id4E0F4921F57F4D95AAA46DD973D08E61"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of aerial survey data to satisfy preliminary requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A natural-gas company that submits to the Commission an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section to construct an interstate natural gas pipeline—</text><subparagraph id="id0DADD752BDC94871848D9605B034700A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to any preliminary requirement for that certification, may use aerial survey data to satisfy the preliminary requirement; but</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCD83F730E86F44F89EA9655BA6C16657"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to each applicable nonpreliminary survey requirement for approval of the certification, shall achieve compliance with the requirement through such other means as the Commission may require.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3987A9DC920340B589A16190C9D0BD82"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2745B020FD304F5691B74A08C82DBBB9"><subsection id="id1E0B01465B3C4DB390F6963FED958EF2"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Regulatory approval of natural gas pipeline projects</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id01b408de14254c1fb77f8141eec9f08e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of prefiled project</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term <term>prefiled project</term> means a project for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a natural gas pipeline with respect to which a prefiling docket number has been assigned by the Commission pursuant to a prefiling process established by the Commission for the purpose of facilitating the formal application process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7a455b155b4c42de97dc9af478c66b28"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Determination on applications</header><text>The Commission shall approve or deny an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a prefiled project by not later than 1 year after the date of receipt of a completed application that is ready to be processed, as determined by the Commission by regulation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc1d766b2239d486d854726faf047bf51"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Other Federal agencies</header><subparagraph id="id622F39A5195E4F06BF3D7759EB906CE3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the head of the Federal department or agency responsible for issuing any license, permit, or other approval required under Federal law in connection with a prefiled project for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity is sought under this Act shall approve or deny the license, permit, or other approval by not later than 90 days after the date on which the Commission issues a final environmental document relating to the project.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide817b7f09d734966bfb80f9e14d6632f"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension</header><clause id="idFCF95021738A4F2BBBFCBF0B864BC7C3"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Commission may extend an applicable deadline under subparagraph (A) by not longer than an additional 30 days, if the head of the affected Federal department or agency demonstrates that—</text><subclause id="idEFC8344C1F96406599EDF666A418668B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the process of determining whether to approve or deny the applicable license, permit, or other approval cannot be completed by the applicable deadline; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idFDC2664028EE4413AD6DF7ED79A108B9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the department or agency therefore will be compelled to deny the license, permit, or approval.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id30419A37277A44CF883688078FBD7FEA"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>In providing an extension under this subparagraph, the Commission may offer to the affected Federal department or agency such technical assistance as is necessary to address any condition preventing the completion of the review of the application for the license, permit, or other approval.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id743c298866a3460ebf2379735fc3ad56"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Failure to act</header><text>If a Federal department or agency described in subparagraph (A) fails to approve or deny a license, permit, or other approval by the deadline under subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable—</text><clause id="id9313627E81AC47D8A1D6906839BF5796"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the license, permit, or approval shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the expiration of the deadline; and</text></clause><clause id="id3B3DAFF5425C4F9C824EC439AB19021F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Commission shall incorporate into the terms of the license, permit, or approval any conditions proffered by the Federal department or agency that the Commission does not determine to be inconsistent with any relevant environmental document.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id77E444CBAEF54BB385ADD7FB90488942"><enum>302.</enum><header>Rights-of-way for public utilities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 100902(a)(1)(A) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>and lines for the generation and distribution of electrical power</quote> and inserting <quote>lines for the generation and distribution of electrical power, and natural gas or petroleum product pipelines</quote>.</text></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Transportation conformity reform</header><section id="id3528CFC11F9A4F528EC5A65E66752F32"><enum>401.</enum><header>Limitations on certain Federal assistance under Clean Air Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 176 of the Clean Air Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7506">42 U.S.C. 7506</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id44A4652555064DCEACED36857F57DE26"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(1)—</text><subparagraph id="id67DED3C4ECED40388DD5F4BD3186818C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking the undesignated matter following clause (iii) of subparagraph (B); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id855B66A307924CB4BE72B50B472E2DB8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the fourth sentence, by striking <quote>Conformity to an implementation plan means—</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB7E406DEF5134CA3B93B875ABDA26B0B"><subsection id="id751ADEB5F52D44B3841072EFADFD94A6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of conform</header><paragraph id="idF6053D21C88C41ABB9AEACFB45D326D4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In this section, the term <term>conform</term>, with respect to the status of an activity, project, program, or plan as determined under an applicable implementation plan, means that the activity, project, program, or plan—</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1D7B81FC6DC24F72A77D13C5EDCE3D1A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (a) (as so redesignated)—</text><subparagraph id="id9C60B56C83EC4AAEBC62506B97250753"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)—</text><clause id="id776F908E93024704ABDDECE074B677A0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(A) conformity to</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1A5F03307D904E61B78856ECC3812065"><subparagraph id="idAD66C410DC2A441BB0AC23E0FF2BA811"><enum>(A)</enum><text>achieves compliance with</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="id215C58CDEE0B44159775C59D55B62C27"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(B) that such activities will</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idECE525E5CA104334ABB2DC140B2DFAC2"><subparagraph id="idFB0A2102512A4411B62679D328753232"><enum>(B)</enum><text>will</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCC298A3BF8A44A02A18C9EF4B8E08315"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by moving the subsection (as so amended) to appear at the beginning of the section; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0A8C9FEDB033462E8866A7077A6C98FF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6C5A3E443FA4699BC67967197A05E1D"><paragraph id="idB5F386C990294BA2ACD5EB8B40BE4C55"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Determination estimates</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (1), a determination regarding the conformity of an activity, project, program, or plan shall be based on the most recent estimates of the emissions of the activity, project, program, or plan, which shall be determined based on the most recent applicable population, employment, travel, and congestion estimates (as determined by the metropolitan planning organization or other agency authorized to make those estimates).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1FDB94FCF45A4728974AAE2937E08498"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3B9052948AF147BA854BFF2FC5EDAB50"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)—</text><subparagraph id="idFC1F3D07C4E24070BDBC7BA143B3C9D6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through <quote>No department</quote> in the first sentence and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9B0E3088366C494292BEA81876C06D31"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id20FBDF1AB756464C87C170A6C67A771E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement of conformity for Federal assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFB3623D52C5B4EF5B0C757DB71AA2A7C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitations</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4BEC204DBF9B49BFB3E7C5235F0A93F5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Federal agencies</header><text>No department</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id25C1134F19AC470192CDDFAF88E14B3B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A) (as so redesignated)—</text><clause id="idA778AE42A0034CA7BE78288B6FBBEAE3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>it has</quote> and inserting <quote>the implementation plan has</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="idF261336F65D641548341B6B8AE888865"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the third sentence, by striking <quote>The assurance of conformity to such an implementation plan</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE1A16E6F17FB4D99BF462FB59F04AA0C"><subparagraph id="id48DE6DF9DE0346AF8E3BE41B79C69726"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Responsibility for assurance</header><text>The assurance of conformity to an implementation plan approved or promulgated under section 110</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="id558F41D5DC614B5AB7A066ADE4B49612"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>No metropolitan</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90A1313B4F544B1281BC25AF704292E5"><subparagraph id="idFE7C9C9DBD0045728ACDC3AF255C74F3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Metropolitan planning organizations</header><text>No metropolitan</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id860585FC41984AE89EEC036ACEFC6596"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="id10864254944243EFB91778B58A31807C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>of paragraph (1)(B)</quote> and inserting <quote>described in subsection (a)(1)(B)</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id34286DAA88C8472B99AF55757D6FF88E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C)—</text><subclause id="idDC3E9DC313F84597B2B1991CB2F089D7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>(i) such a project</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8296158DAB0B4598BC94A203BAEBDB97"><subclause id="id38B8A8F8417E470A8CF8A542FA46928B"><enum>(II)</enum><item commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id25A50E4DFF0849619E3D61319A23EF32"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the project</text></item></subclause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="idC894FCE9F86D4F429CB05B4E40F7EBEA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>(ii) the design</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id32B6C73965144ADEB6B3F744E653FAFA"><item id="id6A57AB89FB71479AB84C0FE99C2B25DC" indent="up1"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the design</text></item><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="idFE13C5F2EEF542ADA26606B062ED7727"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in clause (iii), by striking <quote>(iii) the design</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id05F6C2206DA24C3F90FED0B3649F24FE"><item id="id9DDA2EA6550440578A332290B5B241EB" indent="up1"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>the design</text></item><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="idB0969AF01EE14344B5D3011ED2F2BBB2"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>only if it meets either the requirements of subparagraph (D) or the following requirements</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id2D4678CC614D405088A22BCE7CA240A9"><text>only if—</text><subclause id="idEF158C2CA0DC446B994BF77BD02574DC"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the transportation project achieves compliance with all applicable requirements of clause (iv); or</text></subclause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause id="idCA3DD30DBBE84FDDB0185996C010F14B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>subparagraph (C)</quote> and inserting <quote>clause (iii)</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="idF433733F784C4D8399E80A9ED215E23E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E)—</text><subclause id="id8E6D3850CE1E47F98AFD47677522A17E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>clause (i)</quote> and inserting <quote>subclause (I)</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id41FFFE0E769248AEB1E6AC48295ECF54"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by redesignating clauses (i) through (iii) as subclauses (I) through (III), respectively, and indenting the subclauses appropriately;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idDDE314252E02411CB11C84D31F1E5925"><enum>(v)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately; and</text></clause><clause id="idBEDD57E7DB194CAEBB82C268CD308FAC"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated)—</text><subclause id="id75422DB57A9F40588C0CCC5E86EF3C93"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the third sentence, by striking <quote>In particular—</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id399954585B214FB38F7B88C1170AF2F9"><subparagraph id="id5A6E3C7B00954072A68908FD17CA73F2"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Additional requirements</header><text>The additional requirements referred to in subparagraph (B)(i)(II) are that—</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="id24AAAA9E934C478F93F3404B3BF80AE7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the second sentence—</text><item id="idD73CBC1289A14AD08DF34574948F0B94"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>by striking <quote>been found to conform to any applicable implementation plan in effect under this Act.</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idD0834226BB97418CA11D1586C5D1F5B2"><text>been determined—</text><subclause id="id9D8677C537F04B14B9F343B4109A4479"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to conform to an applicable implementation plan in effect under this Act (as determined in accordance with paragraph (4)(B)); and</text></subclause><subclause id="id2A72F7610DCB48A9B82F94F3DA3B0A44"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to achieve compliance with all applicable additional requirements described in subparagraph (C).</text></subclause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></item><item id="idC8B5C096609F4F30A2587EB670E34BF7"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>by striking <quote>No Federal</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id182974CFACB744A799AE5CE86811E804"><subparagraph id="id0351A69FB4E84E228E0BE0B3C8F97EA7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Conformity required</header><clause id="idCC85AD71330348D48B3DF6A8FB9B2125"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to clause (ii), no Federal</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></item></subclause><subclause id="id35236B7C055D451482F5661177A2F158"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>(2) Any</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46CB4AA92CB4455EAC6D06D4DF37AC7B"><paragraph id="id844803CD8F9D46589482A6DCA217624F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transportation conformity</header><subparagraph id="idC69C9E6CAB0F41988B8001E64767E8C6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="id3D48CFAF0A8D401EB3617EBA52BB6A00"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B) (as designated by subclause (II)(bb)), by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2762E9C3A02548BE86CDFE809D0A67DD"><clause id="idE106ABF0DE784E918858DBA7BC532FEA"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The requirement described in clause (i) shall not apply—</text><subclause id="idFD2BB7FF7BF94CC99E8997BE76C34A05"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to a transportation plan, program, or project carried out in an area designated under this Act as a marginal nonattainment or attainment-maintenance area; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idDBEBB41624A140FE81EBE8CB1969391D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in an area that is not an area described in subclause (I), until the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Administrator approves the motor vehicle emissions budget contained in the State implementation plan applicable to the relevant transportation plan, program, or project.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE4A68C732C23424DA9746F588D63319F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><clause id="id6A1EB1AC1AE94E24A736F35A2AE99F0F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text><subclause commented="no" id="idC61909FAD3D14D928644BCE7E736943A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in clause (i), by adding <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon at the end; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="idFBB815F0B470456EB1B5A9F06975A4A0"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking clause (iii); and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id605543182A8940A1B2A5355862DBF233"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)—</text><subclause commented="no" id="idC9455BB07EEF45BF9576A99A3BC8BA44"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>enactment; and</quote> and all that follows through the end of the undesignated matter following clause (ii) and inserting <quote>enactment.</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idAF71EC83174D42229141E08D7E7AEBDC"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>projects—</quote> and all that follows through <quote>come from</quote> in clause (i) and inserting <quote>projects are carried out under</quote>;</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3C67E096868D4AA89EED30F78581CC13"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><clause id="id61F90B48DA0D419C859CA339546E1FE5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)—</text><subclause id="idA4A5DE7FCC1A4553BA6039F328B5626C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Administrator</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id28C309E0B1D84B6CAE726C8281E20B4B"><clause id="id27AA457FE52645B6A9C31CBB4563B461"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to clause (ii), the Administrator</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="id7C584442C3B54A839F545559D4486B71"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2F51C05AE9EE47F497FF8E13EEEFEA45"><clause id="id0E59CC24D2E743E4B31F576C1E3F39DE"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The criteria and procedures promulgated pursuant to clause (i) shall—</text><subclause id="id05E89C2C07E2475CB241355E8DDB7410"><enum>(I)</enum><text>be based on the most recently issued national ambient air quality standard for each applicable criteria pollutant; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id3A64AE72073E4C93AA0CF8E115429169"><enum>(II)</enum><text>establish that conformity in the case of transportation plans, programs, and projects shall not be required—</text><item commented="no" id="idBE268CFD76F148B5999AB9F1FB448386"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>in any area designated under this Act as a marginal nonattainment or attainment-maintenance area; and</text></item><item commented="no" id="idA9A2C8FCA0F444599F99416CBAD62218"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>with respect to any area that is not an area described in item (aa), until the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Administrator approves the motor vehicle emissions budget contained in the State implementation plan applicable to the relevant transportation plan, program, or project.</text></item></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause id="id9B3CB0933542461D80C8CFAA227EC874"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D)—</text><subclause id="id3EE5BFF6945A4D8080699BA755557F1D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in clause (ii)—</text><item id="id612B52C134494DD1B856B91A9088CDEB"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>in subclause (II), by striking <quote>paragraph (2)(E)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (2)(C)(v)</quote>; and</text></item><item id="idF6E2CF63AC224B41B56C6A03B9B1FEB5"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>by indenting subclauses (I) and (II) appropriately;</text></item></subclause><subclause id="idD9C03E5A7F134317B070805D273270AF"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by indenting clauses (i) through (iii) appropriately; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id9011629CCAF646D196098EA0910F4803"><enum>(III)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(D) The</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id480A0AD703D74BFFBE36040292DF8007"><subparagraph id="id031B380302E546F784FED220EB152D4C"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Minimum requirements</header><text>The</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause id="id76CBD3DDB06C4B5FA5C92776E39D6D36"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F), by striking <quote>(F) Compliance</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1BD0AD6B1CA1473BBCB16A42408D9277"><subparagraph id="idF220A9F5E7BB426DBDFB470252AA897D"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Traffic signal synchronization projects</header><text>Compliance</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id05F0A35282B342A78F69D62D58E5837C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>by striking paragraphs (5) and (6);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id03C0719F78794BF589501170947CD86B"><enum>(G)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id81433B8DF41E46D4BC89AEA92565BBE1"><enum>(H)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>Each</quote> and inserting <quote>Subject to paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(II), each</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5C87AF89FD214E42895752AE75950AFE"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>If</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id733A8B83A22B48588776A20270200DD1"><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD53C4645D343437EB7C376F5D73D8AB7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Definition of lapse</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>lapse</term>, with respect to a conformity determination for a transportation plan or transportation improvement program, means that—</text><clause commented="no" id="id7026090A2ECE4F1E95ABB8BC5ED3DA74"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the conformity determination has expired; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id312232AFA8244F0DB4448368C33B4189"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>as a result of that expiration, no currently conforming transportation plan or transportation improvement program exists.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id69D40F30FC044615BE5CCC886FDBCADF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Lapses</header><text>If</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idF2BB296DDDEC4C77ACB6C245BB62BF95"><enum>(J)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (10); and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3710B9410E5D42319B4111C20E8ED62B"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection (c) (as redesignated by paragraph (3))—</text><subparagraph id="id93F76342DE0E4DC99704537DCCCE856C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>This paragraph extends to, but is not limited to,</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id92EC60F2F01E4B60AAAF9E4A08C6AFC5"><paragraph id="id0229D060899041199954C362C5F1CC19"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The authority described in paragraph (1) includes any</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id026014C309834F378FE23401E05DCAE1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through <quote>Federal Government</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDAEDBE2E951F4D608E7F4CCBBD4D082C"><subsection id="id503DBEF7E277408480758707B83B00DE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority</header><paragraph id="idCD0CF7C999B0495F9196BADC8D4B2F64"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Each Federal department, agency, and instrumentality</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id628D65AE1FC44203BE34AFCDBE072B2E"><enum>402.</enum><header>Study on transportation air quality conformity under Clean Air Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration shall jointly enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall—</text><paragraph id="id658B7479BCF24E6F94ACB73C142A10FB"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct a study relating to transportation air quality conformity to evaluate the effectiveness of the conformity requirements under section 176 of the Clean Air Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7506">42 U.S.C. 7506</external-xref>) (as amended by section 401); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5D07CA0F1AE24BBB9C32B17F89956C48"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide to the Administrators recommendations for transportation conformity policy, including suggested legislative and regulatory changes relating to transportation planning and air quality.</text></paragraph></section><enum>V</enum><header>Increasing State authority and collaboration in reviewing transportation projects</header><section id="id75746A5B2AE04E7ABB6F81C0807BD2FA"><enum>501.</enum><header>Federal-State project agreements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 106(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2B0B13B07B1F47948BCB5FF7CDEEF7FE"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idba39603b1c564d1aa0715917c4b79d42"><enum>(3)</enum><header>No Federal approval for certain activities</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8DEF782F3E854E37A98D0AA7E6F505A3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations), no approval of the Secretary shall be required under this section for any project described in subparagraph (B), subject to the condition that the project shall be carried out in accordance with all other applicable requirements under this title and title 49.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id51FD4614E2C341FFAC198340EBBA9905"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Description of projects</header><text>A project referred to in subparagraph (A) is any project—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1BCA30253847427FA6404CF45A5359DD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>carried out under—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFCD5E7FFE14B4B7ABBAA3D600708B7F0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a stewardship and oversight agreement; or</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD31F58CABCAD473995A04201A817E1E9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any other agreement under this section; and</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD1BB3C9383DF4161B8E734BD931F44B7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>relating to—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id08DE1463273A42D5AE106B32228AE4A5"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the standard specifications of the applicable State transportation department;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id91A6C63E86D44527A6539C8E7447A024"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the pavement design policy of the State transportation department;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8CDC93BC05C140E092F0A8FA8843DB0C"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any value engineering policies or procedures of the State transportation department;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id84262F09993045C7A544A0C6BB3FD6AD"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>liquidated damage rates;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idADE96A27F4DA4054AD1F94126C754CA8"><enum>(V)</enum><text>a quality assurance program of the State transportation department; or</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBDE73A18360C405AAC605AAF63FE2D28"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>such other matter as the Secretary, in consultation with State transportation departments, determines to be appropriate.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="id001332CC72D94060A2E7E039B71D74E5"><enum>502.</enum><header>Project approval and oversight for high risk projects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 106(c)(4) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id75279AD6708B4078802678C48273575C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text><subparagraph id="id1D79B94AEA494375B3CD4E004F55A446"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>shall not assign any responsibilities to a State for projects</quote> and inserting <quote>may assign to a State responsibility for a project in the State that</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6671A08D86DF4ABFB3EF429317239098"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>, subject to the requirement that the project shall be carried out in accordance with all applicable requirements of an agreement between the Secretary and the State under this section</quote> before the period at the end; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id392875E2E0A3451981089A30E5C62F6D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>The Secretary may define the high risk categories under this subparagraph on</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idA3BF93307CF7402F83B4357AB0253F0A"><text>For purposes of subparagraph (A), the Secretary—</text><subparagraph id="idAB2C39F0E783452B8E3F5606B5CF9845"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall establish high risk categories in collaboration with State transportation departments; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id594C33E1622847ACADE630A40060101A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may define the categories on</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id2A07D8EEB05B4A35A1235FCEC92A0E18"><enum>503.</enum><header>Advance acquisition of real property</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 108 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id9E720BC7A535435A913DE476B8F7E1CD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(1), by striking <quote>may make</quote> and inserting <quote>shall make</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id87CBD43C591D4AFDA8D177485F2E0047"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by striking <quote>(b) Federal</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id986E655E56184551BBEF5A51F5ADE4F1"><subsection id="id8A92E6070BCC464BB0EEE4E6D88517F0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Maximum participation</header><text>Federal</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idFBB91EF4F4814C8A9AA867D28D2393E8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(3)—</text><subparagraph id="id2A35C635E5484E7FA782DE5560DDAAA9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>State demonstrates to the Secretary and the Secretary finds</quote> and inserting <quote>State ensures</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5F26AA6088664A5FB18AE104A216CE05"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F)—</text><clause id="idD4721E95EECB414698C72F8E7462F946"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.)</quote> after <quote>Policy Act</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id1F982FE136BB400BAABD0DFF626C24DA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>this Act</quote> and inserting <quote>the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/102/240">Public Law 102–240</external-xref>; 105 Stat. 1914)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="idD0267D2F301B42D59281B2F049428174"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531</external-xref> et seq.)</quote> after <quote>Species Act</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2A4E47FEFBC741B98216F6D7F6753A2C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subparagraph (G), by striking <quote>the Secretary</quote> and inserting <quote>the State</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2E21F866612148BD9E5384593148CB18"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph id="id2BC4A2DE899C48708365DD94D2634C0F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="idA23F7DC6EE6C4645A7DF632861FA6D08"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>a State</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>the State</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id0BC37F8D8D26490397065B85DD357610"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Secretary may</quote> and inserting <quote>On receipt of a request from a State, the Secretary shall</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idBE9CDEB672814914B5E5B3F8266D9026"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>, with concurrence by the Secretary,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id20FBBDB712DF4ACE80C7C5B60FBA875E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (7)—</text><clause id="idB4C9289C66664CED9BF0F5CB26414340"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>If</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id93A0DF50C4F04D81AA4A6E83AE33E39C"><subparagraph id="id5CA0967842C24802AE820478E8C71920"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), if</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="idA5F4E96776EE448B96E90635CC96EF53"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDD8917A5997D4492A37498D16863024E"><subparagraph id="idCEF4D76DE91345B288C8C086653B1320"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>On receipt of a request from a State, the Secretary shall delay the effective date of the offset against the apportionment of the State described in subparagraph (A) for such period as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, in accordance with applicable law (including regulations).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id2A4FAA156E314EEC9B4D01FC6E76F03B"><enum>504.</enum><header>Agreements relating to use of, and access to, rights-of-way on Interstate System</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 111 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id9AFBCC743C4243F4AE933A51C9593380"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="idD0C8F8AE0DE144FDB80472D7AF80C5C9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the fourth sentence—</text><clause id="idE8CF8A2F12684948B6187004D2C5F379"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Nothing</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id47B22C14679E43A7A86DF001A89D9A64"><paragraph id="id3716F49B2FFE4B4A85A64AAED73504B2"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Effect of section</header><text>Nothing</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="id9E46D3C386D74D1BAE2E4C6B006E9E72"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Interstate System (1) if such establishment (A) was</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id330C8497D2A8474CBCE028ABD31FBA65"><text>Interstate System, if—</text><subparagraph id="id406a26c4739e44d4bbf6c4f3b2f2dda9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the establishment—</text><clause id="id1EEBE9E168D84FFFB75CB4EBBCF51A8E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>was</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="id9DFC507E08D943A89DE2DFBC09051ED8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>1960, (B) is owned by a State, and (C) is</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id75AD98457585479C83114C82C8B028E2"><text>1960;</text><clause id="id85B5798D9D224989A78891FBF5604BEC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is owned by a State; and</text></clause><clause id="id3F74CA2F43F94A078355FC6295BEEC5F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>is</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="id10D2F83BC36B474AB7230260F458E09E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by striking <quote>otherwise, and (2) if all</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4BA6949B51E448AB8622BF28CB0AF229"><text>otherwise; and</text><subparagraph id="id49BD9C38A08F406CBDC7C3179AB03CD9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3358E63D101648DEB5E157C630F4DC95"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the third sentence, by striking <quote>Such agreements may, however,</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCE63C5C017B449D68F934DC6C28102E2"><paragraph id="id27011BBB926545A18C1A936C04F1C55C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use of airspace</header><text>An agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) may</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id257f0ee2656a4055ae93253ba48b920d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>Such agreements shall also contain a clause providing</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC8BFF23D0B1543E1A39409A1EE054F1D"><paragraph id="id14B11C592AFE48AA8EAFEDE396B78541"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Automotive service stations</header><text>An agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) shall include a requirement</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDAF9E659A69741F29E5E45E79E1F6022"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through <quote>All agreements between the Secretary and the</quote> in the first sentence and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B09DA7D7012416F8640298DAC228001"><subsection id="id5F346FD82FCF4D3C8BF0A0D6194778DA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirements for agreements</header><paragraph id="id123D4580A2B94C72ACEFC89E6BBDB1B1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Points of access and exit</header><subparagraph id="idDC41A7202BD940CC91293668FBA5DC7B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each agreement between the Secretary and a</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5E2AA097362F4C01A8305C9D56E95B44"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated), by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3BA40CD9B9DF4866A9768D6871DA4DF0"><subparagraph id="id4EF6490A58C64E2EB6FB550E0A7698F7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Transfer of authority to States</header><text>On receipt of a request from a State transportation department, the Secretary shall transfer to the State transportation department the sole authority to approve the addition of a point of access to, or exit from, an applicable project on the Interstate System on approval by the State transportation department of a justification report under subsection (e).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6EDA4E2C15374560BF5607F60E80F86D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (e), by striking <quote>Secretary may permit a State transportation department to approve the report</quote> and inserting <quote>Secretary, on receipt of a request from an affected State transportation department, shall transfer to the State transportation department in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(B) the sole authority to approve the addition of the applicable point of access to, or exit from, a relevant project on the Interstate System on approval by the State transportation department of the report</quote>.</text></paragraph></section>