119 S4765 IS: Let America Build Act of 2026
U.S. Senate
2026-06-11
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 Let America Build Act of 2026
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.TITLE I—Oil and gas leasing and permittingSubtitle A—Onshore and offshore oil and gas leasingSec. 1101. Onshore oil and gas leasing.Sec. 1102. Offshore oil and gas leasing.Subtitle B—Permitting of Federal oil and gas mineralsSec. 1201. Cooperative federalism in oil and gas permitting on available Federal land.Sec. 1202. Permitting compliance on non-Federal land.Sec. 1203. State and Tribal authority for hydraulic fracturing regulation.Subtitle C—Liquefied natural gas exportsSec. 1301. Action on applications to export liquefied natural gas.Sec. 1302. Small scale LNG access.TITLE II—Mineral leasing and permittingSec. 2001. Land use plan criteria under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.Sec. 2002. Congressional approval of withdrawals under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.Sec. 2003. Prohibition of the establishment of new categories of Federal land designations by the heads of Federal land management agencies.Sec. 2004. Coal leases on Federal land.Sec. 2005. Modification to definitions of critical material and critical mineral and critical mineral designation criteria.Sec. 2006. Permitting process improvements.TITLE III—Federal Energy Regulatory CommissionSec. 3001. Federal authorizations under the Natural Gas Act.Sec. 3002. Federal authorizations under section 216 of the Federal Power Act.Sec. 3003. Promoting interagency coordination for review of natural gas projects.Sec. 3004. Tolling order reform for the Natural Gas Act.Sec. 3005. Tolling order reform for the Federal Power Act.Sec. 3006. De novo review of civil penalties under the Natural Gas Act.Sec. 3007. Judicial review.<enum>I</enum><header>Oil and gas leasing and permitting</header><subtitle id="id5009d27e206240dfbfe917c2b10b0379" style="OLC"><enum>A</enum><header>Onshore and offshore oil and gas leasing</header><section id="id180c325d9708440a928b7a2b4d14285b"><enum>1101.</enum><header>Onshore oil and gas leasing</header><subsection id="ideb2f52b54b2b4a83b0ed65cf0bf718ff"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Mineral Leasing Act reforms</header><paragraph id="id5d1d5ec6046540ca80005f397ddf7cd1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Protested lease sales</header><text>Section 17(b)(1)(A) of the Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/226">30 U.S.C. 226(b)(1)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the seventh sentence the following: <quote>The Secretary of the Interior shall resolve any protest to a lease sale within 60 days following such payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Secretary of the Interior denies a protest to a lease sale, any lease subject to the protest shall not be subject to further environmental review by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7474b2daac044c0c9cd1bcdb53003a3d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effect of litigation</header><text>Section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/226">30 U.S.C. 226</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc0e4dd80949743a99a0b62bc0a1f2064"><subsection id="id97bf549f9ded490885063b49cccfa82a"><enum>(r)</enum><header>Effect of litigation</header><paragraph id="id82f2b912c3e4456789dbf5f1f65719cc"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A civil action relating to an environmental review under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1701">43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>), division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (formerly known as the <quote>National Historic Preservation Act</quote>), or the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) with respect to a lease sale conducted under this section shall not—</text><subparagraph id="id765f99a561954c92a8fa2dabbe238a28"><enum>(A)</enum><text>affect the validity of a lease issued under the lease sale that is the subject of the civil action; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7697e3d81b694b9ca3ac59989ec05394"><enum>(B)</enum><text>except as provided in paragraph (3)(B), cause a delay in the timelines established under subsection (p)(2) for the consideration of an application for permit to drill with respect to a lease issued under the lease sale that is the subject of the civil action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida931d8b014c54ce8865caf6c763a316d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Remand; processing of applications for permit to drill</header><text>If, in a civil action described in paragraph (1), the environmental review for a lease sale is found by the applicable court to violate the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph id="id76d28b5b7c5d4549bb2c8b4abd1aa757"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notwithstanding chapter 5 or 7 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote>Administrative Procedure Act</quote>), the applicable court shall not set aside the lease sale and vacate the leases issued pursuant to the sale but instead remand the matter to the Secretary of the Interior to resolve the violation; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id93b2580dd7a947c2a9ae4a97542d81f9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of the Interior shall continue to process all applicable applications for permit to drill pursuant to subsection (p)(2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfb38963b88c54681b350c1818d07292b"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notice</header><subparagraph id="id283e6d6673414039980bedba679bf92a"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date on which a civil action described in paragraph (1) is filed, the Secretary of the Interior shall notify the holder of any lease issued under the lease sale that is the subject of the civil action of the filing of the civil action.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id65c1c40aa0a6467695ba1aae8b550598"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Timeline</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of receipt of a notice under subparagraph (A), the leaseholder may file with the Secretary of the Interior a request to pause the timeline under subsection (e)(1) with respect to the term of the lease during any period in which the civil action is pending.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id2cf5ba076e744844b8a2f7b2251d1a99"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Lease cancellation</header><text>Section 17 of the Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/226">30 U.S.C. 226</external-xref>) (as amended by paragraph (2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide3c3de8d545641c0bae774691276b100"><subsection id="id03182d8c15c748e9868a8bbc1c8f4619"><enum>(s)</enum><header>Lease cancellation</header><text>A lease issued under this section shall be considered to be valid and not subject to cancellation by the Secretary of the Interior for any reason, except for—</text><paragraph id="ida2dd1f7dfbae4726a73ef27b3b9b6981"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the express written agreement to the cancellation by the lessee; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf140230309814dd89eb26849f326a7f6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a determination by the Secretary of the Interior that cancellation is appropriate in accordance with section 3108.30 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection), subject to the limitation that a lease may not be determined to be improperly issued under that section based on a finding by a Federal court that the environmental review for the lease sale pursuant to which the lease was issued was in violation of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1701">43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>), division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (formerly known as the <quote>National Historic Preservation Act</quote>), or the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id1e2f5d7c9c654ec48ca842a580add893"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Limitations for filing oil and gas contests</header><text>Section 42 of the Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/226-2">30 U.S.C. 226–2</external-xref>) is amended by striking the section designation and all that follows through the period at the end of the second sentence, and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id83651bc1dae743399616d11eb6d40672"><section id="id4bcd838922684e0082432fbe2181bd68"><enum>42.</enum><header>Limitations for filing oil and gas contests</header><subsection id="idda3c4abc60e1494d9a48343453dfb7f9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding chapter 5 or 7 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote>Administrative Procedure Act</quote>), no action contesting a decision of the Secretary involving any oil and gas lease sale, individual lease, or individual permit shall be maintained unless the action is commenced or taken by not later than 60 days after the date on which the final decision of the Secretary relating to the action was made.</text></subsection><subsection id="id9318704266a445d48bd55dccf563db67"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Jurisdiction</header><text>An action contesting a decision of the Secretary may only be commenced—</text><paragraph id="id952988973ddc420cae777369ca848d7b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for an individual lease or permit, in the district court of the United States for the district in which the property, or some part thereof, is located; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd26d0189cd324f568f526e492ef71e18"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for a lease sale, in a district court of the United States in the State in which the sale occurred.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idad5b8900f57a489aa7b1a4d6692e3f7c"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Removal</header><text>A defendant or defendant intervenor in an action challenging a lease sale, lease, or permit in multiple States may remove the action to the district court of the United States for the district in which the property is located pursuant to section 1441(c) of title 28, United States Code.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id546e37492d2c459d8a9c6928c651d672"><enum>1102.</enum><header>Offshore oil and gas leasing</header><subsection id="idcc8c2c1ae7af4c41bb7168e57bdae847"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Lease or permit cancellation</header><paragraph id="id580aca1f348a48588ef019ac2ed9e04e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 5(a)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1334">43 U.S.C. 1334(a)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id19cc49e7e4444bc28d6975705da93e40"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>any lease or permit—</quote> and all that follows through the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: “any lease or permit—</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5ca31aad598f4fb9b521fc8d7c191632"><subparagraph id="id0b76b5fde8ca4bdfbadd75e47cb3a1ff"><enum>(A)</enum><text>that the lease or permit shall be considered to be valid and not subject to cancellation by the Secretary for any reason, except for—</text><clause id="id287ebb151f884f758465cabc2f5f6b6e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the express written agreement to the cancellation by the lessee or permittee; or</text></clause><clause id="id03da406fdf6f4affa840781245b02a83"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a determination by the Secretary that cancellation is appropriate (including cancellation under subsection (c), section 8(o), section 11(c)(1), and subsections (h)(2)(C) and (j) of section 25), in accordance with the regulations prescribed under this section, subject to the limitation that a lease or permit may not be cancelled by the Secretary based on a finding by a Federal court that the environmental review for the lease sale pursuant to which the lease was issued was in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id31c7b3c0e4684d9e814849c6bfb15775"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf22c8ea5ed34473b28973c8b54d3623"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><subparagraph id="idd999af22db1e4bb08fe8c31e4ddfe895"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Section 11(c)(1) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1340">43 U.S.C. 1340(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="id617350267e65423fabc2887cc1958f3f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the fourth sentence, by striking <quote>result in any condition described in section 5(a)(2)(A)(i) of this Act</quote> and inserting <quote>probably cause serious harm or damage to life (including fish and other aquatic life), to property, to any mineral (in areas leased or not leased), to the national security or defense, or to the marine, coastal, or human environment</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="idb2150ca70c9b420ebf2fa66feae964c6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the fifth sentence—</text><subclause id="id723fe0f2867f4ad9a29d11937a9235ad"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, subject to section 5(a)(2)(B) of this Act,</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id79e65dee77554cc58a0b55e8e338d537"> <enum>(II)</enum> <text>by striking <quote>section 5(a)(2)(C) (i) or (ii) of this Act</quote> and inserting <quote>section 5(a)(2)(B)</quote>.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id320798d0260c49aaae8e9ee6f4cfa19b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Section 25(h)(2)(C) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1351">43 U.S.C. 1351(h)(2)(C)</external-xref>) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking <quote>section 5(a)(2)(C) of this Act</quote> and inserting <quote>section 5(a)(2)(B)</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="iddab923ea331042bda9495f369308b61f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effect of litigation</header><text>Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1337">43 U.S.C. 1337</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id55ce0e151e614073aeb92c01bf22ac3f"><subsection id="id789e5da2bfb249e6974b72bd3718dc3b"><enum>(q)</enum><header>Effect of litigation</header><paragraph id="ide6c4bb3e01d847af87836cf537be2998"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A civil action relating to an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) with respect to a lease sale conducted under this section shall not—</text><subparagraph id="ide5954227487e4704ac201984e227eb0b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>affect the validity of a lease issued under the lease sale that is the subject of the civil action; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id48bb19e7544743a88a3bfdf867c2eeb2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>except as provided in paragraph (3)(B), cause a delay in the timelines for the consideration of an application for permit to drill with respect to a lease issued under the lease sale that is the subject of the civil action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id081960dd26554bebb230c3538b200705"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Remand; processing of applications for permit to drill</header><text>If, in a civil action described in paragraph (1), the environmental review for a lease sale is found by the applicable court to violate the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph id="id4f7799a7012c4953b7f7f7bf2e6fbb77"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notwithstanding chapter 5 or 7 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote>Administrative Procedure Act</quote>), the applicable court shall not set aside the lease sale and vacate the leases issued pursuant to the sale but instead remand the matter to the Secretary to resolve the violation; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf16040db88f048349ba2d2839ead1e00"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary shall continue to process all applicable applications for permit to drill in accordance with this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id809f7041b7094036a158f46554008a9f"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notice</header><subparagraph id="idc7aa9d9d1d624deb984d721420f46eea"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date on which a civil action described in paragraph (1) is filed, the Secretary shall notify the holder of any lease issued under the lease sale that is the subject of the civil action of the filing of the civil action.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idffed6e95393d47fc8429c0dfec693dae"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Timeline</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of receipt of a notice under subparagraph (A), the leaseholder may file with the Secretary a request to pause the timeline with respect to the term of the lease during any period in which the civil action is pending.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id2c555a9b708c477c80858908713f8539" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>Permitting of Federal oil and gas minerals</header><section id="HE907EA8A83EE4EBFAA33E08C9D7243E5"><enum>1201.</enum><header>Cooperative federalism in oil and gas permitting on available Federal land</header><subsection id="H32547A0FFB044A0D998DF896B86AC763"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/181">30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H6898D341069F4E4893568C5EE3FE33B4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating section 44 as section 46; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8755E66DEC574FCDB050C5B9635A569B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after section 43 the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D3682077BF044D880111370DD758A1C"><section id="H2D7421386D53417EB4BB4AF3D2719D3E"><enum>44.</enum><header>Cooperative federalism in oil and gas permitting on available Federal land</header><subsection id="HA1F3C0F774334764B631B79061AF971D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><paragraph id="H1254960AFFAD46348D778A5C90313155"><enum>(1)</enum><header>APD</header><text>The term <term>APD</term> means a permit—</text><subparagraph id="H1EBE44A000BA41608580CA5185CF949C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that grants authority to drill for oil and gas; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7117B37E55D04DA39B48162E471F1F5B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for which an application has been received that includes—</text><clause id="H01BB4E47649D4D399F4125F95B077701"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a drilling plan; and</text></clause><clause id="H7C42E6382CF246008A224ABC285F219C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>evidence of bond coverage.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H672C1C5CC84C43B2818AF69EF3D4AB26"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Available Federal land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>available Federal land</term> means any Federal land that—</text><subparagraph id="H297FB4E862DD45A38A0B4FF26559E563"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is located within the boundaries of a State;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1307FFB631AB4E1EA84CC50B3AFC952C"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is not held by the United States in trust for the benefit of a federally recognized Indian Tribe or a member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF62FEF9ED7A14316AF60D87A6F27BF4C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is not a unit of the National Park System;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3346FD0F4BC4076BE9E875E47C8EA80"><enum>(D)</enum><text>is not a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, other than a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System for which oil and gas drilling is allowed under law;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6350BB4A2A5749419B2F27305ADB5C68"><enum>(E)</enum><text>is not a congressionally approved wilderness area under the Wilderness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1131">16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7CCAC362294E496FBF6C5F583F43265F"><enum>(F)</enum><text>has been identified as land available for lease, or has been leased, for the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas—</text><clause id="H507545AB7E0F4AA9B56D5E15A5BFF635"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by the Bureau of Land Management under—</text><subclause id="H396BC3626F6B40848AE037CE9DCAB2F7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a resource management plan under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1701">43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></subclause><subclause id="H87EFC4A8EAAE4F4AA1560CB1B4CCC153"><enum>(II)</enum><text>an integrated activity plan with respect to the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska; or</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H151CB1B4BA884D699623D676137CF3D7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by the Forest Service under a National Forest management plan under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1600">16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDC76275099814EFD944AB7B70EB54644"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Drilling plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>drilling plan</term> means a plan described in section 3162.3–1(e) of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5312FD89059E47CDA52C4FC5D2B7D963"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H6D325058EEA7476B961D1C79D6138BE4"><enum>(5)</enum><header>State applicant</header><text>The term <term>State applicant</term> means a State that submits an application under subsection (c).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBDF7B46117AC41228E6F145281073E92"><enum>(6)</enum><header>State program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>State program</term> means a program in a State under which the State may—</text><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H313FBC055A4B42A4946000156EA77908"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">issue APDs, approve drilling plans, approve sundry notices, approve suspensions of operations or production, or grant rights-of-way on available Federal land; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCA7AB2FCD7DD4C7F9604B12F93FD17D7"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">impose sanctions for violations of State laws, regulations, or any condition of an issued APD or approved drilling plan, as applicable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCCF43441B68D4C6EAF7DC2AE2CE87FFF"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Sundry notice</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>sundry notice</term> means a written request submitted pursuant to section 3173.10 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id5b88abc3e0f9405facd0c818925755fa"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Suspension of operations or production</header><text>The term <term>suspension of operations or production</term> means a suspension of operations or production described in section 17 or section 39.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H8FEDEE67EAC8455E88E40A6E800197DE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorizations</header><paragraph commented="no" id="HE939EEA7ECF14979AECCD893D667FD40"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>On receipt of an application under subsection (c), the Secretary may delegate to a State exclusive authority—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H875002D314E049658C5F4ACC58E403CD"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to issue an APD on available Federal land;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H098C9FE407094297AFD2F63ABEBBF9E0"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to approve drilling plans on available Federal land;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id910F0E46875A4C2B8B5A812B4C76FD83"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to approve sundry notices relating to work performed on available Federal land;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id56cb31c5987b4225b3d8f77ca381b3f1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to approve suspensions of operations or production; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id6D3D3CA4350D417EAA0AE6761046CF63"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to grant rights-of-way in accordance with paragraph (3).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H085DDA7269524A74881B182072ECFCA7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inspection and enforcement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On request of a State for which authority is delegated under paragraph (1), the authority delegated may include the authority to inspect and enforce an APD, drilling plan, or right-of-way, as applicable.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idEBD70A9CECEF4DF091A36C5FA6953958"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Rights-of-way</header><text>The authority to grant a right-of-way delegated to a State under paragraph (1)(E) shall be the authority of the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, under section 501 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1761">43 U.S.C. 1761</external-xref>) and section 28 of this Act, to grant, issue, or renew rights-of-way over, upon, under, or through available Federal land.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id437AC37CE1C940F193FF8F7A8B2FD1A4"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Effect of Federal environmental reviews</header><text>A State for which authority is delegated under paragraph (1) shall continue processing applications for an APD, applications for approval of a drilling plan, applications for approval of a sundry notice, and applications to grant a right-of-way, regardless of whether the Federal Government is carrying out any review related to the APD, drilling plan, sundry notice, or right-of-way under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) or the <act-name parsable-cite="ESA">Endangered Species Act of 1973</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7754c1575b244c489d71aaed6c00018d"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Effect of state enforcement action</header><text>If a State for which authority is delegated under paragraph (1) imposes a sanction for violating a condition of an issued APD or approved drilling plan, the Secretary may not issue a penalty for the same violation under section 109 of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1719">30 U.S.C. 1719</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCF7F140DCA7A452499DF52BD1A9CCC96"><enum>(c)</enum><header>State application process</header><paragraph id="HBB5450EEF5FB4F35B5DE222D21C701FC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Submission of application</header><text>A State seeking a delegation of authority under subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of subsection (b)(1) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of the State program that the State proposes to administer under State law.</text></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0827272304A444ABAFE3BD90F5E3AE72"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deadline for approval or disapproval</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date on which an application under paragraph (1) is received, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the application.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB87B4D3587334037A8310FDF73F27106"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirements for approval</header><subparagraph id="idC52963103B1F45AA9C6675C2DDBAC9E3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may approve an application received under paragraph (1) only if the Secretary determines that—</text><clause id="H26A049C1924D4E9C9D0C115E237D75DA"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the State applicant would be at least as effective as the Secretary in issuing APDs, approving drilling plans, approving sundry notices, approving suspensions of operations or production, or granting rights-of-way, as applicable;</text></clause><clause id="H8BC631C46E014C7F9FC7D8394A881631"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the State program of the State applicant—</text><subclause id="H4515301333044AC18CDA07BC896589AC"><enum>(I)</enum><text>complies with this Act; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id4915641b32e64a88b25b58ed68683ffb"><enum>(II)</enum><text>provides for the termination or modification of an issued APD, approved drilling plan, approved sundry notice, approved suspension of operations or production, or granted right-of-way, as applicable, for cause, including for—</text><item id="id9f43b6db4a2346108fd7b47c89049407"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the violation of any condition of the issued APD, approved drilling plan, approved sundry notice, approved suspension of operations or production, or granted right-of-way;</text></item><item id="id8f7a6b5848dc41caaaf03f6b95c33e9a"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>obtaining the issued APD, approved drilling plan, approved sundry notice, approved suspension of operations or production, or granted right-of-way by misrepresentation; or</text></item><item id="idb75d2c25d4254e6c9d14e53c063353a2"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>failure to fully disclose in the application all relevant facts;</text></item></subclause></clause><clause id="HA3FA3693906A4032A32CFFB588F45BF5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the State applicant has sufficient administrative and technical personnel and sufficient funding to carry out the State program; and</text></clause><clause id="HE4C0A27AEB6143E8A020CDE11D1C0A11"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>approval of the application would not result in decreased royalty payments owed to the United States under section 35(a).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H776094153E234DB0AC4FD00850876D1D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Memoranda of understanding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to a State applicant seeking authority under subsection (b)(2) to inspect and enforce APDs, drilling plans, or rights-of-way, as applicable, before approving the application of the State applicant, the Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the State applicant under paragraph (6) that describes the Federal and State responsibilities with respect to the inspection and enforcement.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H955BC188242A48458E869D0D9372EEF0"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Public notice</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before approving an application received under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="idC70252EA78DF47BBA1F4AD75FE972418"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide public notice of the application;</text></clause><clause id="idC3AC249EA2344EAA95DE76D22025AD71"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">solicit public comment for the application; and</text></clause><clause id="id6A86A083DCA749F88D678D6B6070C26B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">hold a public hearing for the application in the State.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H46D26D9B19B941F8AC9D485DA8ECBB74"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Disapproval</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary disapproves an application submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the State applicant written notification of—</text><subparagraph id="H7D5117574EFD4944A75F4246F628A59B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the reasons for the disapproval, including any information, data, or analysis on which the disapproval is based; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58147AF35E154B3C88C4047013D89A3F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any revisions or modifications necessary to obtain approval.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5381E147EF7648DEBD4AE346F9EBB3CC"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Resubmittal of application</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State may resubmit an application under paragraph (1) at any time.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC5F58E3BE32144878FA909BFCF334CDC"><enum>(6)</enum><header>State memoranda of understanding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before a State submits an application under paragraph (1), the Secretary, on request of the State, may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the State regarding the proposed State program—</text><subparagraph id="HE430A208B70A49C58B8E15857B022330"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to describe the Federal and State responsibilities for oil and gas regulations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC69626ACA16847028176F7ED2DA585E5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC32DE9D72340426EA9AFAB8CC89C5999"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to share best management practices.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H6718CC4B2D184729B03D811140A78298"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Administrative fees for APDs</header><paragraph commented="no" id="H69D08E6202184590B059049B4C9E0114"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State for which authority has been delegated under subsection (b)(1)(A) may collect a fee for each application for an APD that is submitted to the State.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF1233FFA7B4845278420CF58FA80A64A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>No collection of fee by Secretary</header><text>The Secretary may not collect a fee from the applicant or from the State for an application for an APD that is submitted to a State for which authority has been delegated under subsection (b)(1)(A).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H86666E4E8FC14312BFA2E1E3225E7736"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use</header><text>A State shall use 100 percent of the fees collected under this subsection for the administration of the approved State program of the State.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA497AA19EDD4C2CB4A3D5B8EC1A3624"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Voluntary termination of authority</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id686D6B6C95B14316BAC824B362E47D63"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After providing written notice to the Secretary, a State may voluntarily terminate any authority delegated to the State under subsection (b)(1) on expiration of the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the Secretary receives the written notice.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDDE92C8C647349DBAD204FFC2579079F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Resumption by Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On termination of the authority delegated to a State under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall resume any activities for which authority was delegated to the State under subsection (b)(1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H843A64F2C3484EABB3C7DD180518DED7"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Appeal of denial of application</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a State for which the Secretary has delegated authority under subsection (b)(1) denies an application submitted under subsection (c)(1), the applicant may appeal the decision to the Office of Hearings and Appeals of the Department of the Interior.</text></subsection><subsection id="H22BAABF1E5C94DE985E88B95AF63041E"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Federal administration of State program</header><paragraph id="H65B99BA0AF704292B7567F535A091AEE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>If the Secretary has reason to believe that a State is not administering or enforcing an approved State program, the Secretary shall notify the relevant State regulatory authority of any possible deficiencies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H050A887F2C72476291A9E2E113042A3C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>State response</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which a State receives notification of a possible deficiency under paragraph (1), the State shall—</text><subparagraph id="H408B33A50F1B40F1A4A8F3B4FB85BE00"><enum>(A)</enum><text>take appropriate action to correct the possible deficiency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A99BEC143E644E2AA3C9CCA6955D910"><enum>(B)</enum><text>notify the Secretary of the action in writing.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H83F579271548466EA1F9DB1B96852BF4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Determination</header><subparagraph id="H205DDBD2E5324AD49EC0F80660B27353"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>On expiration of the 30-day period described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall issue public notice of any determination of the Secretary that—</text><clause id="idB6B29F32AD7F4B1A981947E50BDC88FE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a violation of all or any part of an approved State program has resulted from a failure of the State to administer or enforce the approved State program of the State; or</text></clause><clause id="id24C55A8096814213A03AF72F06AD17C9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the State has not demonstrated the capability and intent of the State to administer or enforce the State program of the State.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4BFDB00140264F4C817EC160C6268320"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Appeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State may appeal the determination of the Secretary under subparagraph (A) in the applicable district court of the United States.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCE1E773119584F83A62E11223B6E25BE"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Resumption by Secretary pending appeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may not resume activities under paragraph (4) if an appeal under subparagraph (B) is pending.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCFFD09890A2440AEA019A90E4804662C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Resumption by Secretary</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (3)(C), if the Secretary has made a determination under paragraph (3)(A), the Secretary shall resume any activities for which authority was delegated to the State during the period—</text><subparagraph id="HA86790CC7AA74BDA90AC9516B3393508"><enum>(A)</enum><text>beginning on the date on which the Secretary issues the public notice under paragraph (3)(A); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H065742E4212C402184CF193E91672758"><enum>(B)</enum><text>ending on the date on which the Secretary determines that the State may administer or enforce, as applicable, the approved State program of the State.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF856FB35454C49C28F8E48F1F2443664"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Standing</header><text>A State with an approved regulatory program shall have standing to sue the Secretary for any action taken under this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA7D07DE68D56467FABAD0476602DF0FC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Existing authorities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 390(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/15942">42 U.S.C. 15942(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H0653EAB5269B498C93EF48DA5CBE1564"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Action by the Secretary</quote> and inserting <quote>The Secretary</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H156D025358CF4A22BB4C5D57C417F98C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>with respect to any of the activities described in subsection (b) shall be subject to a rebuttable presumption that the use of</quote> and inserting <quote>shall apply</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H49930CC27AF04C27A42E7FC473BA39F3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking <quote>would apply if the activity</quote> and inserting <quote>for each action described in subsection (b) if the action</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb7f1aa29-d235-46bf-b6d0-3e9b619d7af0" changed="not-changed"><enum>1202.</enum><header>Permitting compliance on non-Federal land</header><subsection id="id459cbfaa-d347-4c88-85ff-04bc0e7e5428" changed="not-changed"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding the Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/181">30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.</external-xref>), the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1701">30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>), or subpart 3162 of part 3160 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), but subject to any applicable State or Tribal requirements and subsection (c), the Secretary of the Interior shall not require a permit to drill for an oil and gas lease under the Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/181">30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.</external-xref>) for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit if—</text><paragraph id="id8984e40c-0271-4cf6-9638-6a870315a75d" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Federal Government—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb75d2ac8-8180-4394-8bcc-219d5f86d683" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">owns less than 50 percent of the minerals within the oil and gas drilling or spacing unit; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0cda4df2-d8d5-4877-aab9-ab5cb95ebd39" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not own or lease the surface estate within the area directly impacted by the action;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id17b9b595-4302-41a6-aef0-3bba16cef1b1" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the well is located on non-Federal land overlying a non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the wellbore enters and produces from the Federal mineral estate subject to the lease; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc536318b-cdd5-49b1-88f8-f4968f2d2364" changed="not-changed"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the well is located on non-Federal land overlying a non-Federal mineral estate, but some portion of the wellbore traverses but does not produce from the Federal mineral estate subject to the lease.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0049a487-eeea-4f3e-88c5-e0fbf25964bc" changed="not-changed"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>For each State permit to drill or drilling plan that would impact or extract oil and gas owned by the Federal Government—</text><paragraph id="idf8d478db-8b8a-43b8-8fb8-df4fd6e40a0e" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text>each lessee of Federal minerals in the unit, or designee of a lessee, shall—</text><subparagraph id="id5391ba09-eaa7-4804-aeef-fead36e68b71" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notify the Secretary of the Interior of the submission of a State application for a permit to drill or drilling plan on submission of the application; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide4d5a844-d82c-4393-b943-4e5299f58bf8" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide a copy of the application described in subparagraph (A) to the Secretary of the Interior not later than 5 days after the date on which the permit or plan is submitted;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida368f16c-8b98-4b49-8f75-9c5536b24de4" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text>each lessee, designee of a lessee, or applicable State shall notify the Secretary of the Interior of the approved State permit to drill or drilling plan not later than 45 days after the date on which the permit or plan is approved; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id733dd6f0-fdb6-46bd-83c4-fb69621b183f" changed="not-changed"><enum>(3)</enum><text>each lessee or designee of a lessee shall provide, prior to commencing drilling operations, agreements authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to enter non-Federal land, as necessary, for inspection and enforcement of the terms of the Federal lease.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb2fbd6f5-0018-4483-8ab8-d9e02edf8c64" changed="not-changed"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Nonapplicability to Indian lands</header><text>Subsection (a) shall not apply to Indian lands (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1702">30 U.S.C. 1702</external-xref>)).</text></subsection><subsection id="id61ce9b76-1bed-471f-acec-5a476bfcf963" changed="not-changed"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing in this section affects—</text><paragraph id="id3bf97445-a5ad-4b77-853b-d7b4e8b6383b" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text>other authorities of the Secretary of the Interior under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1701">30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67705019-cd9b-499d-aad0-46dc3ce693f1" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the amount of royalties due to the Federal Government from the production of the Federal minerals within the oil and gas drilling or spacing unit.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb01150d7-a1ad-4fdf-9ac6-13018128a194" changed="not-changed"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authority on non-Federal land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 17(g) of the Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/226">30 U.S.C. 226(g)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcf2a687f-e881-497e-a6f8-684b89e3073c" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through <quote>Secretary of the Interior, or</quote> in the first sentence and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id482e461b-69c9-4082-b480-233bea615dc6" changed="not-changed"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1b318cce-f10f-4b8a-ad0a-c7d46786cdc7" changed="not-changed"><enum>(g)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id02815e2b-d9d8-4a37-a558-964bf5140bed" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Secretary of the Interior, or</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="ide8c3b3a4-0c8f-421c-804e-0e79dadededd" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf1615e06-c624-4504-b229-d5afcc0b78ea" changed="not-changed"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6e2c7256-9e01-4428-9a3a-3b545d0c9cdf" indent="up1" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id55cc9619-9930-4d6b-865a-b443d542df44" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an oil and gas lease under this Act on land described in subparagraph (B) located within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit, nothing in this Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id04a0fe21-8c24-482e-953c-8573bb7bb2d4" changed="not-changed"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to require a bond to protect non-Federal land;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id5feb0c55-1eaa-460b-bb80-927d3b5e99a7" changed="not-changed"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to enter non-Federal land without the consent of the applicable landowner;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id69a3ca13-6362-4f10-9ca1-f9a4244451e5" changed="not-changed"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to impose mitigation requirements; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="idbec72548-8aba-4bbc-8a04-a4b5c81c4da2" changed="not-changed"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to require approval for surface reclamation.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id7a99abd7-327d-461f-8cf1-7e9868a5b261" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Land referred to in subparagraph (A) is—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcc5b680c-856f-4d1f-ac38-8d6db6d4303d" changed="not-changed"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">land with respect to which the Federal Government—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2a7dcec8-2f4d-4583-b114-a0630a0f55f6" changed="not-changed"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">owns less than 50 percent of the minerals within the oil and gas drilling or spacing unit; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7d5e9710-edbe-4ec5-9e83-01ee59b80656" changed="not-changed"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">does not own or lease the surface estate within the area directly impacted by the action;</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id54d5595a-bf2b-4621-85b2-b9684341e8c4" changed="not-changed"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">non-Federal land overlying a non-Federal mineral estate on which the applicable well is located, but some portion of the wellbore enters and produces from the Federal mineral estate subject to the lease; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43e151c8-270c-42e5-a1f1-d350837c1de6" changed="not-changed"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">non-Federal land overlying a non-Federal mineral estate on which the well is located, but some portion of the wellbore traverses but does not produce from the Federal mineral estate subject to the lease.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="id8ffed0c493f04f31af2c66d036cf2a18"><enum>1203.</enum><header>State and Tribal authority for hydraulic fracturing regulation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/181">30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section 44 (as added by section 1201(a)(2)) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA99336B88DA64A7A8825FB89B10058A6"><section id="HE14C16B460704104BF98A756E0B68020"><enum>45.</enum><header>State and Tribal authority for hydraulic fracturing regulation</header><subsection id="H402CEA2E3C02430AA28C2B23D2090DD9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC0DAEFD797E4DB18BFA4935557336FB"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Hydraulic fracturing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>hydraulic fracturing</term> means the process of creating small cracks or fractures in underground geological formations for well stimulation purposes of bringing hydrocarbons into the wellbore and to the surface for capture.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id491C2820094F4D22A22A2A126A742252"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB935FE3745424EA2A4F61DB3286E991A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enforcement of Federal regulations</header><text>The Secretary shall not enforce any Federal regulation, guidance, or permit requirement regarding hydraulic fracturing relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on or under any land in any State that has regulations, guidance, or permit requirements for that activity.</text></subsection><subsection id="HF02844CA85054C389E531A0B6FCEAE7F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>State authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall defer to State regulations, guidance, and permit requirements for all activities regarding hydraulic fracturing relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on Federal land.</text></subsection><subsection id="H4998013C9D6148C79B30C5579B2307AC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transparency of State regulations</header><paragraph id="HB8961556FDC947B097EF532CA8B1B531"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each State shall submit to the Bureau of Land Management a copy of the regulations of the State that apply to hydraulic fracturing operations on Federal land, including the regulations that require disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCDE8FBDFCE2647BCB5ABF214A3F33863"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Availability</header><text>The Secretary shall make available to the public on the website of the Secretary the regulations submitted under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H67D1FCEA7A2443579403F88B4F706C15"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Tribal authority on trust land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall not enforce any Federal regulation, guidance, or permit requirement with respect to hydraulic fracturing on any land held in trust or restricted status for the benefit of a federally recognized Indian Tribe or a member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe, except with the express consent of the beneficiary on whose behalf the land is held in trust or restricted status.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section></subtitle><subtitle id="ida73257e130f4424384c3380f327cdeea" style="OLC"><enum>C</enum><header>Liquefied natural gas exports</header><section id="id0AC0FC3275DD404880B5BA62B4C70D9A"><enum>1301.</enum><header>Action on applications to export liquefied natural gas</header><subsection commented="no" id="id98F3411EB16F4E1D80F8E386BAC64695"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" id="idA3FED71416184C4C91B322429CD69E6C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered application</header><text>The term <term>covered application</term> means an application submitted with respect to a covered facility for an authorization to export natural gas under section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idC92BA4DCAA394259BE0C6B50E5F33395"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered facility</header><text>The term <term>covered facility</term> means a liquefied natural gas export facility for which a proposal to site, construct, expand, or operate is required to be approved by—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="id30F290E231794C6B9926FB7908DC269D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4816049DF2724EBBB66012B8E1DC42ED"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id9a4c844b57814757a7f589835445e9bb"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id81550915E0914AFA9D6CEEDD1BBB26B1" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Maritime Administration.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB0496CC943AF4987B28C42808802A7A8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Energy.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4F9805BD83EA4321A8AD0AAB01156640"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Decision deadline</header><text>The Secretary shall issue a final decision on a covered application not later than 45 days after the later of—</text><paragraph id="idad2f9d870265474da3441e72019c4e01"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the date on which each review required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) with respect to the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of the covered facility that is the subject of the covered application is concluded in accordance with subsection (c); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idBB5D4F14F86D499CB9BB282FE0F4D343"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0BAD3F61DCC043ECB14E2CC86C1F775C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conclusion of review</header><text>For purposes of subsection (b), a review required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) shall be concluded on the date on which the lead agency, as applicable—</text><paragraph id="id28db93e417db4f8b8a275ca1532c469d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>publishes a notice of availability of the final environmental impact statement, for a covered facility requiring an environmental impact statement;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3FBD4A3A7A4646B7B70CCA2CE564D4A4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>publishes a notice of availability of the environmental assessment and associated finding of no significant impact, for a covered facility for which an environmental assessment has been prepared; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id745634A66825466FBDC0119973AD7830"><enum>(3)</enum><text>determines that the covered application is eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the implementing regulations of that Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id314D44396D8649E8BDA7BA7D0A6A2DD1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Untimely final decision</header><paragraph id="id56781284629444F2AB65D7D767DECF65"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the Secretary fails to issue a final decision under subsection (b) by the applicable date required under that subsection, the covered application shall be considered approved, and the environmental review issued by the lead agency under subsection (c) shall be considered sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idCB6200AE50074A58A149BAD5E614FAEE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Final agency action</header><text>A determination under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be a final agency action.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3528F44166A24204B5F592857D46B33A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Judicial review</header><paragraph id="id1EEADF7A663E44EC90212F69DF450158"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except for review in the Supreme Court of the United States, the court of appeals of the United States for the circuit in which a covered facility is, or will be, located pursuant to a covered application shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over any civil action for the review of an order issued by the Secretary with respect to the covered application.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id582B2251385E4FC8A6DADA9D689BE1D9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Expedited review</header><text>The applicable United States Court of Appeals shall—</text><subparagraph id="id414F49454C9643F686E9E2A7DD1F0BC1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>set any civil action brought under this subsection for expedited review; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5D8FF50EC2C84C9A87B43F573AD20F5A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>set the action on the docket as soon as practicable after the filing date of the initial pleading.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB32DA869012940FE999955CC7EB70E89"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transfer of existing actions</header><text>In the case of a covered application for which a petition for review has been filed as of the date of enactment of this Act, the petition shall be—</text><subparagraph id="id1B5F514AB9D443F2B511BD2606A4333D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>on a motion by the applicant, transferred to the court of appeals of the United States in which the covered facility that is the subject of the covered application is, or will be, located; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCEBEB0F9E01640DA83CE1705C23032AE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>adjudicated in accordance with this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id75d7481ab9b5449d961c74ae11510f27"><enum>1302.</enum><header>Small scale LNG access</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF3E355ABE88742158AEE1B55F616C6D8"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id96e8018930894e31b0f787f72e2cc2a3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Expedited application and approval process</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id37b8588b5de74d47a4183c75e3fff5c5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>For purposes of subsection (a), the following actions shall be considered to be consistent with the public interest, and applications for each of the following actions shall be granted without modification or delay:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id967e399c0d544ba49737834d82589392"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The importation of natural gas referred to in subsection (b).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida399c5d8f3444d1b8d8eca319eb34e65"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The exportation of natural gas in a volume of not more than 51,750,000,000 cubic feet per year, subject to the last sentence of subsection (a).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id905999e01fc141809117c13332d39cba"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The exportation of natural gas to a nation with which there is in effect a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id201a8a78a4ff489e963d73f67a7079b3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>Subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1) shall not apply to any nation subject to sanctions imposed by the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>Mineral leasing and permitting</header><section id="idac5276c2524a42ab8493f0cf62a65a00"><enum>2001.</enum><header>Land use plan criteria under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1712">43 U.S.C. 1712(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id2c50e1919df64106b907a34f752e7d63"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (8), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6f223ffc7693404abf6dcc687369d02a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id60b1eb806cae4edf90baae252ccd020b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida3804e26de1440e49c2ab9b766f5d6ef"><paragraph id="id81b70ba6a8184cf99954ae73618c62f9"><enum>(9)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idd9ea00990116415597cd4656acd4ff1f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>review a mineral resource assessment applicable to the public lands covered by the land use plan that was completed during the 10-year period ending on the effective date of the land use plan; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="id600439e42fbb4e4084ded67db98bf03e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Defense, determine the significance of the minerals located within the public lands to energy security, national security, and economic security, in accordance with subparagraph (A); and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section section-type="subsequent-section" id="id5769AD0A8A0E4DDD9F6327EA8502FE78"><enum>2002.</enum><header>Congressional approval of withdrawals under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 204(c)(1) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1714">43 U.S.C. 1714(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended in the second sentence by striking <quote>no later than its effective date</quote> and all that follows through <quote>approve the withdrawal</quote> and inserting <quote>not later than 90 days before the effective date of the withdrawal and the withdrawal shall terminate and become ineffective if Congress has not enacted a joint resolution approving the withdrawal prior to the effective date of the withdrawal</quote>.</text></section><section id="ida25696fbbad64cf68571b369759e9228"><enum>2003.</enum><header>Prohibition of the establishment of new categories of Federal land designations by the heads of Federal land management agencies</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The head of a Federal land management agency may not establish a new category of Federal land designations that is not otherwise expressly authorized by Federal statute.</text></section><section id="id2b38552bf1074635bdd5d3e4eb403d1a"><enum>2004.</enum><header>Coal leases on Federal land</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idccf56693dbca4214b2f85a5deef0e8c7"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Environmental requirements for new coal leases</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The environmental assessment prepared by the Bureau of Land Management entitled <quote>Lifting the Pause on the Issuance of New Federal Coal Leases for Thermal (Steam) Coal</quote> (DOI–BLM–WO–WO2100–2019–0001–EA) is deemed to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) for purposes of the issuance of new coal leases on Federal land.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1f34b5a75a604c7e9bb9fa63e4983bcc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Offering of leases; acceptance of bids</header><text>Section 2(a)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/201">30 U.S.C. 201(a)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idb62be3bf2ad6453b8e46899fb41bf4d3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first sentence—</text><subparagraph id="id7a0617f24b2442e4a0bdb0e68c68ab82"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>he finds</quote> and inserting <quote>the Secretary of the Interior finds</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc2c175e3c5c247668159cc91ddfe2254"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>he shall, in his discretion, upon the request of any qualified applicant or on his own motion, from time to time, offer</quote> and inserting <quote>the Secretary of the Interior, not later than 90 days after the date of receipt of the request of any qualified applicant, or on the motion of the Secretary of the Interior not fewer than 4 times each calendar year, shall offer</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id47ec7cdb8363407ba17d4bef4645c160"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the fifth sentence, by striking <quote>No bid shall be accepted which is less than the fair market value, as determined by the Secretary,</quote> and inserting <quote>No bid shall be accepted that is less than the fair market value, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior by the date that is 45 days after the date of receipt of the bid,</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id73c713479d674cbcb337b04088480d46"><enum>2005.</enum><header>Modification to definitions of critical material and critical mineral and critical mineral designation criteria</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id756379f8488840cf9cd26241c9e8cdd4"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions of critical material and critical mineral</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1a3348183088460ebad1f86871fcd7c5"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>Definition of critical material</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7002(a)(2)(A) of the Energy Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1606">30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(2)(A)</external-xref>) is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>non-fuel</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0811a82b41c24126bda044d7efbd57f3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Definition of critical mineral</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7002(a)(3)(B)(i) of the Energy Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1606">30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3)(B)(i)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>fuel minerals</quote> and inserting <quote>oil, oil shale, coal (excluding metallurgical coal), or natural gas</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaf36f0ecfd2749a9b52d03870bce8033"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Modification to critical mineral designation criteria</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7002(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Energy Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1606">30 U.S.C. 1606(c)(4)(A)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>significant projected domestic production decline,</quote> after <quote>abrupt demand growth,</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf06ba2ce07814b37ae50913904fffa49"><enum>2006.</enum><header>Permitting process improvements</header><subsection id="HC74C397EF0BB45E4816B9DF560EA519B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><paragraph id="H158E55265B17446F9D27B79B7009B41A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Byproduct</header><text>The term <term>byproduct</term> has the meaning given the term in section 7002(a) of the Energy Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1606">30 U.S.C. 1606(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF929EC33D48F4A498AFABC7A1F1F1750"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Indian Tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian Tribe</term> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H36EC79C723AC4F25AD639B3DCABD01DB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Mineral</header><text>The term <term>mineral</term> means any mineral subject to sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (commonly known as the <quote>Mining Law of 1872</quote>) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.</external-xref>), and minerals located on lands acquired by the United States (as defined in section 2 of the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/351">30 U.S.C. 351</external-xref>)).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H7BE283FE06B74DA691B5D4A4771D53F3"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H619C6A10DF954915BC362869419B47D8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>State</header><text>The term <quote>State</quote> means—</text><subparagraph id="H882C559A5B0746629BF11B6F423EE5C0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a State;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H73F3F19A3CCE46B49DE39735E1BA1DDF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the District of Columbia;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1E9359103CB940CE8FC57983021CCE35"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4739D9F09F184B3CB9E2A03B010BCD84"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Guam;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H11D68B8F90CA46E7B3BDEC924C2F0026"><enum>(E)</enum><text>American Samoa;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE5F868725A04443F958DD5F0CA7E6640"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2213578DEDD742D0BA5F20DDEF2A3D6F"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the United States Virgin Islands.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9EEC4D0A238A480B8F39B2490A901853"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Minerals supply chain and reliability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 40206 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1607">30 U.S.C. 1607</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HD95757F83AE34148A447F703C5D28152"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">Critical minerals</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">Minerals</header-in-text></quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H04C03AB9C9E1471286327AF34BC9C68C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4A8E6C9172014107A43A726B1BA084F6"><subsection id="H556EB51E6A084557A16A11DEE74FB96F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><paragraph id="H8190185F0BBD430F9D15145602E0D462"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Lead agency</header><text>The term <term>lead agency</term> means the Federal agency with primary responsibility for issuing a mineral exploration or mine permit or lease for a mineral project.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e5487ad047b4f388a83d19a584dd863"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mineral</header><text>The term <term>mineral</term> has the meaning given the term in section 2006(a) of the <short-title>Let America Build Act of 2026</short-title>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF77946D13901495387E5776A657F821B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Mineral exploration or mine permit</header><text>The term <term>mineral exploration or mine permit</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="H8E03B1A8176C4C17AF8C1C90C56F03F6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an authorization of the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service, as applicable, for exploration for minerals that require analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC938381A73E842AB837FE2A7F26AC635"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a plan of operations for a mineral project approved by the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEE0B2B822C4C43B5AC7287E3D4008D87"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other Federal permit or authorization for a mineral project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD1642A20C47A429998BE8C59E5EA55B8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Mineral project</header><text>The term <quote>mineral project</quote> means a project that—</text><subparagraph id="H6CE6322832ED450CA4B520CE066B4E9B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is located on—</text><clause id="H1033DEF47F294BBB8030C843896AA76E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a mining claim, millsite claim, or tunnel site claim for any mineral;</text></clause><clause id="HA28A4019E86048FD82C786DF43FD747B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>lands open to mineral entry; or</text></clause><clause id="H11CD9855F93946C28F79992DB92CB126"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a Federal mineral lease; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC30C9FA33B8B4BEEAAE9C4371EEAD51F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is for the purposes of exploring for or producing minerals.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HF15B8202EE8A4CB29791E9A19682DDA2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by striking <quote>critical</quote> each place it appears;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6262063C4CD848CB8AAB8B45781F31F3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph id="H7CEFD10AE9FC43648BA733DFFDE38072"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1cf3b5514f524daf82341a9403ea7138"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>critical mineral production on Federal land</quote> and inserting <quote>mineral projects</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id119d0b4a83f64820bbe9392f49fc9e9e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>practicable, shall complete the</quote> and inserting <quote>practicable, and in accordance with subsection (h), shall complete those</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5A9F445D3FAA44B4809140DFEEA4026E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>critical mineral-related activities on Federal land</quote> and inserting <quote>mineral projects</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6047F05CCA5C4198B686D9445BA9B799"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (8), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H39BCACEC81B94D958FE8146BA7AE3B5C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4CDA750C45524C34A36D34F46ED08D1D"><enum>(E)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H05381FE8DCD24ACABCD6EB0AF996BE80"><paragraph id="HFCB56D35A7F94FEAA5F712760D7ED706"><enum>(10)</enum><text>deferring to and relying on baseline data, analyses, and reviews performed by State agencies with jurisdiction over the environmental or reclamation permits for the proposed mineral project.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC6D0BE2EA6104149A32CAFF363221FC7"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph id="HC718EA47516B42E3993D7419308A165D"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>critical</quote> each place it appears; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC646910FBC744DFC9C4BA483D1F192DC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>mineral-related activities on Federal land</quote> and inserting <quote>mineral projects</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H78FA07F763094FD189AA405A1B0107C0"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in subsection (e), by striking <quote>critical</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9E468FBD97184ED1BC01E74840ABF1FA"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (f), by striking <quote>critical</quote> each place it appears;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H318BB5C76014411681522BC55DC95034"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (g), by striking <quote>critical</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H46AF7E1178F1424E89FA81145A8F1790"><enum>(9)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF2B2C2AB27AE481DAFD6C8D5F1DC308C"><subsection id="H5C6BC3DE89084186B2F45264D47C54E3"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Other requirements</header><paragraph id="H11DCC6342BAD4E2CBE00DF70D27C50BD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Memorandum of agreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To maximize efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal permitting and review processes described in subsection (c), the lead agency in the Federal permitting and review processes of a mineral project shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with a project applicant on request by the applicant to carry out the activities described in that subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id49a23f6cc9c444259b81459ca9099a9b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>A lead agency described in paragraph (1) shall carry out that paragraph in consultation with—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1d33e0f080b045869d0e961bd239e7c8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other Federal agency involved in the applicable Federal permitting and review processes; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbeee6926e8384ae096e0aa615888d916"><enum>(B)</enum><text>on request of the project applicant, an affected State government, local government, Indian Tribe, or other entity that the lead agency determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H474710B126A7475CB253D6CE20D9C726"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Timelines and schedules</header><subparagraph id="HF9BFC9AC415241D0B90B2A1CE8E7731E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Deadlines</header><text>Any timeline or schedule established under subsection (c)(1) relating to a review under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)</external-xref>) shall require that the review process not exceed—</text><clause id="H7E8A31DFA87C4AB193C799FD718986CA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>1 year for an environmental assessment; and</text></clause><clause id="H51C654B61F1E448A86387ACFF5BACE94"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>2 years for an environmental impact statement.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1F9A9FEAB90643BE8EE132995FD9A441"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>A project applicant may enter into 1 or more agreements with a lead agency to extend 1 or more of the deadlines described in subparagraph (A) by not more than 6 months.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEFAD53E1F73D4C66B48EE28C4135976E"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Adjustment of timelines</header><text>At the request of a project applicant, the lead agency and any other entity that is a signatory to a memorandum of agreement under paragraph (1) may, by unanimous agreement, adjust—</text><clause id="H65428EBCF4474EA98365C8A0DF2CBAE1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any deadlines described in subparagraph (A); and</text></clause><clause id="HE5CE62C06B8D49A8A9CB3DC5360DA2FA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any deadlines extended under subparagraph (B).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb8b52641b1d34c0e9906f3c38da2dc9a"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Deadline for issuance of authorizations</header><text>For a proposed agency action with a timeline or schedule established under subsection (c)(1) and a review process established in accordance with subparagraph (A), the record of decision prepared for the proposed agency action and all authorizations required under any other Federal law with respect to the proposed agency action shall be issued not later than 90 days after the date on which the applicable environmental impact statement or environmental assessment is published in the Federal Register.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC7123D61FA62411A8BC9AB494E1D4AA5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Document prepared by project applicant</header><text>The lead agency with respect to a mineral project may adopt an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment prepared by or for a project applicant with respect to the mineral project if that document fulfills the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf10430e6f8b84555a54c22a27d0d85a0"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Effect on pending applications</header><text>On a written request by a project applicant, the requirements of this subsection shall apply to any application for a mineral exploration or mine permit or mineral lease that was submitted before the date of enactment of the <short-title>Let America Build Act of 2026</short-title>.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAAC37DC5FF204061BAD70ABE4268A11A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Federal register process improvement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7002(f) of the Energy Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1606">30 U.S.C. 1606(f)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H32762FFA3EEE4473B374726EAB1CD2F1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>critical</quote> in each place it appears; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC87D745B36CC40D2B2FC6B2F71C2DCC8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (4).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H82F82C2A98374558805A206C75C5C2CF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Designation of mining as a covered sector for Federal permitting improvement purposes</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 41001(6)(A) of the FAST Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4370m">42 U.S.C. 4370m(6)(A)</external-xref>) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i) by inserting <quote>minerals production,</quote> before <quote>or any other sector</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="H24ACCCB77ED64600B777179B0FBF044B"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Mineral exploration activities with limited surface disturbance</header><paragraph id="id79fc35b7eb5147b9b9946a6609395118"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of Secretary concerned</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>Secretary concerned</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida09484c76ea54cfb8beb29c883794290"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary, with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6d8da68564ad47bfba48029de79d4974"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to land of the National Forest System.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1847464aa7bf4a3185e8bac478e32aca"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>An operator may submit to the Secretary concerned a notice requesting to carry out mineral exploration activities other than casual use, which shall include a description of the mineral exploration activities and subsequent reclamation activities intended to be carried out.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idada72e45647e4c2d849c5cbc2a2ec39e"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Approval</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 15 calendar days after receiving a notice under paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned shall allow the activities described in the notice to proceed if—</text><subparagraph id="HFD58D8EFEF5D40A5B8F3D24B147E1439"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the surface disturbance on Federal land will not exceed 25 acres;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1DC8D5BE269146E78DA787BB8CBFB511"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary concerned determines that the notice is complete; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7DF408685A9A498AADB8C990B2A47A30"><enum>(C)</enum><text>financial assurance is provided.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD8218E6E59E94B50AE6F600166336319"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Hardrock mining mill sites</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCC2EDCD141264B779C5E46B816840398"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Multiple mill sites</header><text>Section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/42">30 U.S.C. 42</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCD3F5E4874774FBEBA3B82588478143C"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCB72876E40BC473EA8C27BEA578D9226"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional mill sites</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id60625674B88C4803AF28EF0AC3AFE247"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB0739C9DFDF94D17A5FD5A8D21ABEC6B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Mill site</header><text>The term <term>mill site</term> means a location of public land that is reasonably necessary for waste rock or tailings disposal or other operations reasonably incident to mineral development on, or production from land included in a plan of operations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88AB4614EB4B49488176F45D03A3A9EE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Operations; Operator</header><text>The terms <term>operations</term> and <term>operator</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 3809.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id920E87F1101D41EFAD7A14B7105CCB95"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Plan of operations</header><text>The term <term>plan of operations</term> means a plan of operations that an operator must submit and the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, must approve before an operator may begin operations, in accordance with, as applicable—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idADDBE1186BA347368628E5F65407608E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subpart 3809 of part 3800 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations establishing application and approval requirements); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2494A25415C54522BA07D7E03459E1D5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>part 228 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations establishing application and approval requirements).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD2A68D2498EC4C708BD11322317534EF"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Public land</header><text>The term <term>public land</term> means land owned by the United States that is open to location under sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.</external-xref>), including—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id962F4F336CA64E758143FB0FC226328A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>land that is mineral-in-character (as defined in section 3830.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection));</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFC611B14607D4016A2E505C6B782E434"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>nonmineral land (as defined in section 3830.5 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection)); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCE97D08D915B41829F52995CD4C32F4C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>land where the mineral character has not been determined.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id17166A6E8FAC47498B97BE83EDEF4659"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of public land</header><text>Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), where public land is needed by the proprietor of a lode or placer claim for operations in connection with any lode or placer claim within the proposed plan of operations, the proprietor may—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCA1B68E26BAE491FB8CCE632F30DA26B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>locate and include within the plan of operations as many mill site claims under this subsection as are reasonably necessary for its operations; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4F23E89D89D741C3B0B8C33EBF2D396D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>use or occupy public land in accordance with an approved plan of operations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide892c2a099494697bcfb83e61d07e1ca"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Mill sites convey no mineral rights</header><text>A mill site under this subsection does not convey mineral rights to the locator.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6CCD874B900843CB9D956CECBCEC65C2"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Size of mill sites</header><text>A location of a single mill site under this subsection shall not exceed 5 acres.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0986D4D7C0F64B378E8D8B759C27E91E"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Mill site and lode or placer claims on same tracts of public land</header><text>A mill site may be located under this subsection on a tract of public land on which the claimant or operator maintains a previously located lode or placer claim.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFB4BBD1B87AC41478181A1DCF7D62328"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Effect on mining claims</header><text>The location of a mill site under this subsection shall not affect the validity of any lode or placer claim, or any rights associated with such a claim.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id20C97AED4199448FB7A8D310D7173598"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Patenting</header><text>A mill site under this subsection shall not be eligible for patenting.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC387F72F54694E18ACC34282B93791DC"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Savings provisions</header><text>Nothing in this subsection—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1F2F7C96DA6A47AF8DA95415B87D154D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>diminishes any right (including a right of entry, use, or occupancy) of a claimant;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6F14DA7F6EB441558264417027F68455"><enum>(B)</enum><text>creates or increases any right (including a right of exploration, entry, use, or occupancy) of a claimant on land that is not open to location under the general mining laws;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id935FA1DD7D4C4532BC4D411BE12D10CD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>modifies any provision of law or any prior administrative action withdrawing land from location or entry;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDA521040907A49D7809251040BAC7550"><enum>(D)</enum><text>limits the right of the Federal Government to regulate mining and mining-related activities (including requiring claim validity examinations to establish the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit) in areas withdrawn from mining, including under—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id650CA45477E44FA38B0AEC50620A5AB3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the general mining laws;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id01CF027ECB8C4D718A39B575A0D05664"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1701">43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA8C5C743DF74425F9058899A57BAFD91"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Wilderness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1131">16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF6E64C5AB91842F4AAD6AA5DF339F930"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/54/1007">chapter 1007</external-xref> of title 54, United States Code;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id591EC72367F44A9D836965BCDC9861E8"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id26F9231EDC144E7CB59F18DB72942300"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘National Historic Preservation Act’); or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbc43e08f425944c89d68d8b6514d719f"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>section 4 of the Act of July 23, 1955 (commonly known as the <quote>Surface Resources Act of 1955</quote>) (69 Stat. 368, chapter 375; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/612">30 U.S.C. 612</external-xref>);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6E8D9927EE048A0BC20739E9CC43496"><enum>(E)</enum><text>restores any right (including a right of entry, use, or occupancy, or right to conduct operations) of a claimant that—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBEE0C875C7A1454DBDD8599D080B97D6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>existed prior to the date on which the land was closed to, or withdrawn from, location under the general mining laws; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFD82860AA75A4A3296C5DA4F17ACFF3D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that has been extinguished by such closure or withdrawal; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5D8AD457D933463FA2DE4992ED6F4CC8"><enum>(F)</enum><text>modifies section 404 of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/118/42">Public Law 118–42</external-xref>; 138 Stat. 284).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF55A6CCD465B4A09A1D4F703F828945A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Abandoned hardrock mine fund</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88AC305D5D114DD4A9CA0437077B71C7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Treasury of the United States a separate account, to be known as the <quote>Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund</quote> (referred to in this paragraph as the <quote>Fund</quote>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4A7C1CB04BF4486CB8E58BAEDF2F9301"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Source of deposits</header><text>Any amounts collected by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the claim maintenance fee under section 10101(a)(1) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28f">30 U.S.C. 28f(a)(1)</external-xref>) on mill sites located under subsection (c) of section 2337 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/42">30 U.S.C. 42</external-xref>) shall be deposited into the Fund.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCCD5C3440EFE4937BD4671F36D7EFDD3"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Use</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior may make expenditures from amounts available in the Fund, without further appropriations, only to carry out section 40704 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1245">30 U.S.C. 1245</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB704CD969D75422AA44B4C8B332A61D8"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Allocation of funds</header><text>Amounts made available under subparagraph (C)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE277750A7F4B488CA1BC293B2D2A1150"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall be allocated in accordance with paragraph (1) of section 40704(e) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1245">30 U.S.C. 1245(e)</external-xref>); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id983421B9CABA44D8A3F5A7E757213763"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may be transferred in accordance with paragraph (2) of that section.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcbba91c462d24bdfa43980365a20825d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Clerical amendments</header><text>Section 10101 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28f">30 U.S.C. 28f</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4941D092FD444C3890663B152B97C761"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Mining Law of 1872 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/28-28e">30 U.S.C. 28–28e</external-xref>)</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.</external-xref>)</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ED4032D295B4B9CAC1C4E006FC06064"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id364BAB3C3D414354AD3599782BEE279B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB025FCFB70424CA79B212C53A7206206"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>Such claim maintenance fee</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1354823F9B5E47C190A5651A2E6E88C1"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2FD2B6F08FDC48379991E25921712E67"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>The claim maintenance fee under subparagraph (A)</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19F64897B55D41D6AB567724D931CEBE"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>The holder of</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id45355CEFB75A4F1DA1C68D55B47B6A55"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7EE198D5EB4D4C11B74C5C17F1D585DC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The holder of</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id919AAE649FBD46C4A66D8AE3085A9906"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8B5E9187571D4246949AAEE1D94B49E8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the second sentence—</text><item id="id954ebefb165e40bca78015a74895fd85" commented="no"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28 to 28e)</quote> and inserting <quote>sections 2319 through 2344 of the Revised Statutes (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/22">30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.</external-xref>)</quote>; and</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfbba8d073dc440b89e2bd90302988417"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>Such claim maintenance fee</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04CFDDB7C42642FCA5FB1DAD26212692"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDD04DEF9612A492AB377FEC4B8A68E64"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>The claim maintenance fee under subparagraph (A)</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></item></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43CAABEF4F5C4AA1A02D39E8ED454FC6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>The holder of</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBB5A6B74F8B948098DF96231CFB7D1F5"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8B7B916DF6AE4C68841991F70F451C90"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The holder of</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9A49B29331084A2C800B10B7C18AE3C5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4BECD45C782B431F8AEC3FAB09AC472C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>The location fee</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4BCE7394F8FC41F8A3DDFC4B135B1CEA"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1FB8E3FD0BE84B06AE1D622F9E1F614C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>The location fee</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF7C32E1AF37E40E4A0F2B208F5590EAA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>The claim main tenance fee</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04D028BD21D84F918573EC50F9BDBD58"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3511FC13CB5A4C9A9F4482EA38206B01"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The claim maintenance fee</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC317EA31E30749C59A396702A93E477D"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Limitation on judicial review</header><paragraph id="HA86C9DFE82794D98AFD8A52A4036AC99"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a permit, license, or approval issued by a lead agency (as defined in section 40206(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1607">30 U.S.C. 1607(a)</external-xref>)) for a mining project shall be barred unless it is filed not later than 60 days after the date of publication of a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the permit, license, or approval is final in accordance with the law under which the agency action is taken, unless a shorter time is specified in the Federal law pursuant to which judicial review is allowed.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC08736523D144BAB1BEC6DC31B909FA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Savings clause</header><text>Nothing in this subsection—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98a110a5ac5d4ddb9e5243172b644947"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">establishes a right to judicial review; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc430426a436a44a0ae1353fbd969dc0e"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">places any limit on filing a claim that a person has violated the terms of a permit, license, or approval.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id777c436e9d40412fb7736cc9732e73c0"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Remand</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no approval of a mineral exploration or mine permit (as defined in section 40206(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/1607">30 U.S.C. 1607(a)</external-xref>)) shall be vacated or otherwise limited, delayed, or enjoined unless the applicable court concludes that—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb8d9b009fa534061880f8ce62f9e4dec"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allowing the proposed action will pose a risk of an imminent and substantial environmental harm; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4467f8d7dec94e839576931d30900e47"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">there is no other equitable remedy available as a matter of law.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</header><section id="idEB60A3DFECBB4B2B909CDDD57C3B2D03"><enum>3001.</enum><header>Federal authorizations under the Natural Gas Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 15 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id4FD35F3026184D9CA31FFADEB8FF0181"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by striking <quote>(a) In this section,</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE90FD17DF51B457C8D7ACD41D7164689"><subsection id="idFA55967F5A594399B9B07D45AF14F266"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of Federal authorization</header><text>In this section,</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id8460C2BAE0544120A9733DCDB9323B86"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (e)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida0c4ab3297ad452c8d92742120375696"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the second sentence, by striking <quote>In any proceeding</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id08176816680c48ffa7ca3e8218479d65"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id81bae4057151469998136a619fe050e5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Proceedings</header><text>In any proceeding</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2310e1578e234a5cbe5eb315b795fcd9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>(e) Hearings under this act</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7BD01D6365854DD79257CB78309F623C"><subsection id="idF27E2CD0CDEF4026AC8F3A6E09D95BC1"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Hearings and proceedings</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9056aab5951046cfa358f1c636b26758"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Hearings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Hearings under this Act</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id955A78F8BBA048BBBECBA5FDC0E6349B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (f)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide835d0d18d594122b2717d3ad758bd92"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the second sentence, by striking <quote>No informality</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id75672fc0231c4c5eaab6a256d2f3da32"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6acf38c11f31499bad72d1232ffed6aa"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Informalities</header><text>No informality</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf6c3ee7052c34ed7b9caa09d003d25f5"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>(f) All hearings,</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id12BCE7BFA0F642EE80B9EE65541149CC"><subsection id="id0A163270A661429993A64164B1EF286C"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Governing rules</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6f80b0701b9a4d14a62667e419aa7276"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All hearings,</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF8BE9EE0247547A68B4D262DF2B775E2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (f) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0946D5774FBD49FCA23B11731FD870BA"><subsection id="id5258EADBEC0A43BAB2BF1D98CE8A05FB"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Additional requirements</header><paragraph id="id94F44852D7A14C6AB4FDDC51B8A9D519"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of Effects</header><text>In conducting a review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) relating to any Federal authorization (or to any other decision relating to the issuance of an order or certificate, or the approval or denial of an application, under section 3 or 7), the Commission shall consider the term <quote>effects</quote>, as used in that Act with respect to impacts and effects, to mean physical changes to the human environment as a result of a proposed action or alternative action to be carried out by a Federal agency that—</text><subparagraph id="id21A8A9A0D3D14F328388B2FAE9A9D739"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are reasonably foreseeable, not speculative, and not remote in time or geographically remote;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id203FE9459CC349569A33A2D097A9271D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>have a reasonably close causal relationship that is not the product of a lengthy causal chain to the proposed action or alternative action, respectively, as determined by the Commission;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5EA282E71471474997AC3AA90F758613"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Commission has the ability to prevent and that would not occur absent the proposed action or alternative action; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc8ecaffc669e48d681bf8accbead7254"><enum>(D)</enum><text>do not constitute potential effects from emissions upstream or downstream of the facility that is the subject of the application under section 3 or 7.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idBC67E575B83942C6ACE7501373DD3B33"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), a <quote>but for</quote> causal relationship is insufficient to establish a reasonably close causal relationship.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA7C14979C6484E0BB4FC311F9E32DB1C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Alternatives</header><text>In conducting a review described in paragraph (1), any alternatives required to be analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) by the Commission shall—</text><subparagraph id="id370CC58D24C9434184CFB1389A7F4367"><enum>(A)</enum><text>meet the purpose and need for the proposed action;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id12C83580B7AD416DB099E2711B9A27BE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>where applicable, meet the goals of the applicant; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB830D9D55242439B8764517CCC55873E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>be within the authority of the Federal agency to control.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id00aa4b7e77ff434b8de1929de45aab44"><enum>(4)</enum><header>No use of social cost metrics</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting a review described in paragraph (1), the Commission shall not consider or apply any metric that purports to estimate the monetized damages or benefits associated with incremental increases or decreases in greenhouse gas emissions.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id7CABED4650CD47DBBDEC9504B714AF21"><enum>3002.</enum><header>Federal authorizations under section 216 of the Federal Power Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 216(h) of the Federal Power Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/824p">16 U.S.C. 824p(h)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5ebebe4a71454ed9ad6ddb0d4033d194"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5fbc1c3460164879af9a8c086bc4a044"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>(B) The term</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB58315BA20E94BB5AC7374F83DE014F4"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8a3fc4df322e46afa9bc7104d2415492"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>In this subsection, the term</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf2ca325c95f0418ca5cc477375298830"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>(1) In this subsection</quote> and all that follows through <quote>The term</quote> in subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDC9B7CF053A94D6DA6FB153D4D23E6D2"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide8063be2fc3c473cb69a163a7a53b698"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of Federal authorization</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id616e8831c0954ab5ab9ea4e18766c64f"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>In this subsection, the term</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd2150319df1a42bfa3c43408cd95f567"><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="idABDA487223CA4B868488960590EA5E31"><paragraph id="idE95D33A4973D4F68B8896379489BEAF5"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Additional requirements</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfdb31f3386fc46f6a595f7f39382b0cb"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Definition of effects</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting a review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) relating to any Federal authorization (or to any other decision relating to the issuance of a Federal authorization, or the approval or denial of an application, under this section), the Commission shall consider the term <quote>effects</quote>, as used in that Act with respect to impacts and effects, to mean physical changes to the human environment as a result of a proposed action or alternative action to be carried out by a Federal agency that—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0094d9fac03045da8c3ce3f3f14b77a7"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are reasonably foreseeable, not speculative, and not remote in time or geographically remote;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id41776812f9fd4028b1a1d8d3ac058f40"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have a reasonably close causal relationship that is not the product of a lengthy causal chain to the proposed action or alternative action, respectively, as determined by the Commission;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9b269c258c6b4d49ad0fab316dd2d7bc"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Commission has the ability to prevent and that would not occur absent the proposed action or alternative action; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd5a3f150736a4a43a59b97de79ee4181"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">do not constitute potential effects from emissions upstream or downstream of the facility that is the subject of the application under this section.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4c1dc715e84248f7ab0d1c0befcc60f3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), a <quote>but for</quote> causal relationship is insufficient to establish a reasonably close causal relationship.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb323ebe712f84e59b565ce5b1c7300b2"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Alternatives</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting a review described in subparagraph (A), any alternatives required to be analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) by the Commission shall—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6b9f6706542144228bb607efe432bdc3"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">meet the purpose and need for the proposed action;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbd74fa18628e4a83b075268da66b404f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">where applicable, meet the goals of the applicant; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id833d07aebc6c40cc8a21ef4ccd9a5728"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be within the authority of the Federal agency to control.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4d1017766ce24cb3b42dca8821dca510"><enum>(D)</enum><header>No use of social cost metrics</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting a review described in subparagraph (A), the Commission shall not consider or apply any metric that purports to estimate the monetized damages or benefits associated with incremental increases or decreases in greenhouse gas emissions.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="id3543c7f5d5ee4fddbb01e620898129c3"><enum>3003.</enum><header>Promoting interagency coordination for review of natural gas projects</header><subsection commented="no" id="id020458121DE840E7A25083F0B89C2BA3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id2E1534C5D7794F61BB08603258F63400"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Commission</header><text>The term <term>Commission</term> means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id00ED72B3915B40ACB1F1D9B8551777C5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Environmental review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>environmental review</term> means the process of preparing, for a proposed agency action in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0995e9e8812e479aa9ed418cdc980bf5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an environmental impact statement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idabf21d6a45f848ecb776ab3397529213"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an environmental assessment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1fcc78fbca534e168595f5a9fbad1165"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a categorical exclusion;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6ca9b840feed44b092ef2f2efe9ba3c4"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a finding of no significant impact; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id44a8c89304fc4c5d9c8b5fc508582144"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a record of decision.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id9DC8F80C31DF40D184B512F8C11E70EE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Federal authorization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Federal authorization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 15(a) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id64A6C4D4DC6A40EA8DAEA6674ACB93B1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Project-related environmental review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>project-related environmental review</term> means any environmental review required to be conducted with respect to the issuance of an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id44B6059E0EC04992B666FD34534B1708"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Commission responsibilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In acting as the lead agency under section 15(b)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n(b)(1)</external-xref>) for the purposes of complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) with respect to an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>), the Commission shall, in accordance with this section and other applicable Federal law—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="idF5ABD631F2BD4D2CAD953F9726662F5C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be the only lead agency;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id3B3A7F47D4824A26A1D0A02510708A18"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate as early as practicable with each agency designated as a participating agency under subsection (d)(3) to ensure that the Commission develops information in conducting its project-related environmental review that is usable by the participating agency in considering an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization for which the agency is responsible; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id12355CC116C64E8EAC8A22DB05615CBC"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">take such actions as are necessary and proper to facilitate the expeditious resolution of its project-related environmental review.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id2E570DF86E164D3E8EAF37AAFB7ECEE4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Deference to Commission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making a decision with respect to a Federal authorization required with respect to an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>), each agency shall give deference, to the maximum extent authorized by law, to the scope of the project-related environmental review that the Commission determines to be appropriate.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id1B9CD13E216B4928B2C2DA75AB210317"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Participating agencies</header><paragraph commented="no" id="idDC64B1D153264C34B40B6D47BAA4B571"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Identification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall identify, not later than 30 days after the Commission receives an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>), any Federal or State agency, local government, or Indian Tribe that may issue a Federal authorization or is required by Federal law to consult with the Commission in conjunction with the issuance of a Federal authorization required for such authorization or certificate.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idFD6E8366C6984B50AF8E88D8382C9F69"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Invitation</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="idFE73D3AC492C48F7BD6384E8A7931C7B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 45 days after the Commission receives an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>), the Commission shall invite any agency identified under paragraph (1) to participate in the review process for the applicable Federal authorization.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD600C7362BD94A25A1AAE8AC016250D1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>An invitation issued under subparagraph (A) shall establish a deadline by which a response to the invitation shall be submitted to the Commission, which may be extended by the Commission for good cause.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id27A2F5D5E9504C5C9AEEBA30A1D29F57"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Designation as participating agencies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the Commission receives an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>), the Commission shall designate an agency identified under paragraph (1) as a participating agency with respect to that application unless the agency informs the Commission, in writing, by the deadline established pursuant to paragraph (2)(B), that the agency—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="id92FBEE1630014DD3BFCE40F2C43882E2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has no jurisdiction or authority with respect to the applicable Federal authorization;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id533C58467A3E4DFD8AC4A051EBE69ED3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has no special expertise or information relevant to any project-related environmental review; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id0D1D9A25FC594C2B9DE949C3B915CB8B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>does not intend to submit comments for the record for the project-related environmental review conducted by the Commission.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id36BBE91DBFD64E70B4B055A69AC78E6D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Effect of non-designation</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="id9AAF841E5F404F49AE445AFD60EF5DA1"> <enum>(A)</enum> <header>Effect on agency</header> <text>Any agency that is not designated as a participating agency under paragraph (3) with respect to an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>) may not request or conduct an environmental review that is supplemental to the project-related environmental review conducted by the Commission, unless the agency—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="id7226CD4CE57D4A3B92C11A750B0E525B">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>demonstrates that such review is legally necessary for the agency to carry out responsibilities in considering an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization; and</text>
</clause>
<clause commented="no" id="id00A7965222894B89B32E772E1FBB8800">
<enum>(ii)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">requires information that could not have been obtained during the project-related environmental review conducted by the Commission.</text>
</clause>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id518891BBBCB947D1AB54990FCFC71DBB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Comments; record</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall not, with respect to an agency that is not designated as a participating agency under paragraph (3) with respect to an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>)—</text><clause commented="no" id="idAD57C928A07247E5931A2B9C04C6E018"> <enum>(i)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consider any comments or other information submitted by such agency for the project-related environmental review conducted by the Commission; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id9A081DF902154CD5A3CCD6E7D8060F21"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include any such comments or other information in the record for such project-related environmental review.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idD5519AE935754C60ABCC6809B49B23D8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Schedule</header><paragraph commented="no" id="id7BD47C74CF244FD6AFDA43BB34267BD8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Deadline for Federal authorizations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A deadline for a Federal authorization required with respect to an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>) set by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)</external-xref>) shall be not later than 90 days after the Commission completes its project-related environmental review, unless an applicable schedule is otherwise established by Federal law.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idE1B874B64071420B82F83CB9CEB66DCE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Concurrent reviews</header><text>Each Federal and State agency—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="id6955DAF7F06A4A42BB11A0419788C068"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that may consider an application for a Federal authorization required with respect to an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>) shall formulate and implement a plan for administrative, policy, and procedural mechanisms to enable the agency to ensure completion of Federal authorizations in compliance with schedules established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idCDF9AD3923DB4B2FA663DBD4B8B34618"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in considering an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization required with respect to an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>), shall—</text><clause commented="no" id="id9E7EB2E9DC79402BAE32B3B970553433"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">formulate and implement a plan to enable the agency to comply with the schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id8459733DE03B46D590636778021EBBD3"> <enum>(ii)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">carry out the obligations of that agency under applicable law concurrently, and in conjunction with, the project-related environmental review conducted by the Commission, and in compliance with that schedule, unless the agency notifies the Commission in writing that doing so would impair the ability of the agency to conduct needed analysis or otherwise carry out such obligations;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id4AD92461C86E4F63A8FDFF05C2B8AF53"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>transmit to the Commission a statement—</text><subclause commented="no" id="id0896C8C3F6474AF0B75B91FA16585221"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">acknowledging receipt of the schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)</external-xref>); and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id973CEE6E4FF946B394BD4361BE9A7430"><enum>(II)</enum><text>setting forth the plan formulated under clause (i);</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="id69D42EDAEECC4B7DBA483F96CED1B562"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 30 days after the agency receives such application for a Federal authorization, transmit to the applicant a notice—</text><subclause commented="no" id="id04646456235A409EB6D78E740E76D165"><enum>(I)</enum><text>indicating whether such application is ready for processing; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="idDD4BD82A85604D09AD5528B0CD5F1634"><enum>(II)</enum><text>if such application is not ready for processing, that includes a comprehensive description of the information needed for the agency to determine that the application is ready for processing;</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="idBB66C0C4A32149BE9E2E522FD01B1E96"><enum>(v)</enum><text>determine that such application for a Federal authorization is ready for processing for purposes of clause (iv) if such application is sufficiently complete for the purposes of commencing consideration, regardless of whether supplemental information is necessary to enable the agency to complete the consideration required by law with respect to such application; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id866A0800F8044E82AC8C190DF884DCD9"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not less often than once every 90 days, transmit to the Commission a report describing the progress made in considering such application for a Federal authorization.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idD5F5A42E6CDA48DD8BC8DD25FD537360"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Failure to meet deadline</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a Federal or State agency, including the Commission, fails to meet a deadline for a Federal authorization set forth in the schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)</external-xref>), not later than 5 days after such deadline, the head of the relevant Federal agency (including, in the case of a failure by a State agency, the Federal agency overseeing the delegated authority) shall notify Congress and the Commission of such failure and set forth a recommended implementation plan to ensure completion of the action to which such deadline applied.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id7AE655A3F6574C86BE91057B977E016F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Consideration of applications for Federal authorization</header><paragraph commented="no" id="idE463E191ADDD4B379124ED5A31FEA40D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Issue identification and resolution</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="id860ECC3F177745C1AC6169063100C28D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Identification</header><text>Federal and State agencies that may consider an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization shall identify, as early as possible, any issues of concern that may delay or prevent an agency from working with the Commission to resolve such issues and granting the Federal authorization.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id6E3BE1FD928348FFB6696A663BD1F5B9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Issue resolution</header><text>The Commission may forward any issue of concern identified under subparagraph (A) to the heads of the relevant agencies (including, in the case of an issue of concern that is a failure by a State agency, the Federal agency overseeing the delegated authority, if applicable) for resolution.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id2213CDE151C1417080DD72D0E66F48D1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Remote surveys</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb9f1b10ee54a41a5b98a6a00e4935328"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a Federal or State agency considering an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization requires the person applying for the Federal authorization to submit data, the agency shall consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that the person submits.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide5fa9ab212a3454f9206a18811c81423"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Conditional approval</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The agency may grant a conditional approval for a Federal authorization based on data gathered by aerial or remote means, conditioned on the verification of such data by subsequent onsite inspection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idC3FD981080E74BFA9B7723060415BBAB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Application processing</header><text>The Commission, and Federal and State agencies, may allow a person applying for a Federal authorization to fund a third-party contractor to assist in reviewing the application for the Federal authorization.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idCA585FE1E51341D595723AAEC82D962C"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Accountability, transparency, efficiency</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd14bebc5ad9946c8818ba4a7e125be16"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>) that requires multiple Federal authorizations, the Commission, with input from any Federal or State agency considering an aspect of the application, shall track and make available to the public on the website of the Commission information related to the actions required to complete the Federal authorizations.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3593e24e008045539bb14204b18276c4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The information described in paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idAC9C5E483806409097B6AE59B7386524"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717n">15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id6798BE7B59A9465AB299A9DBA119D576"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A list of all the actions required by each applicable agency to complete permitting, reviews, and other actions necessary to obtain a final decision on the application.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idBB607C9C727B48F28865F49D5C719A03"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The expected completion date for each action described in subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4CC617810D264D6F9DCE6EA967A292B8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A point of contact at the agency responsible for each action described in subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id3D1D35C0F92143FFBBEAD28BB848078C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>In the event that an action is still pending as of the expected date of completion, a brief explanation of the reasons for the delay.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HDA6D78BAD27B432D8BEDC595B2960535"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Pipeline security</header><text>In considering an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717b">15 U.S.C. 717b</external-xref>) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717f">15 U.S.C. 717f</external-xref>), the Commission shall consult with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration regarding the compliance of the applicant with security guidance and best practice recommendations of the Transportation Security Administration regarding pipeline infrastructure security, pipeline cybersecurity, pipeline personnel security, and other pipeline security measures.</text></subsection></section><section id="id10EEB32C5BF04F9C971E2BC54A4320F9"><enum>3004.</enum><header>Tolling order reform for the Natural Gas Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 19(a) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717r">15 U.S.C. 717r(a)</external-xref>) is amended, in the fourth sentence, by striking <quote>thirty</quote> and inserting <quote>60</quote>.</text></section><section id="id3571EEBF3E5A4EFBA54A20BFE978ECF4"><enum>3005.</enum><header>Tolling order reform for the Federal Power Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 313(a) of the Federal Power Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/825l">16 U.S.C. 825l(a)</external-xref>) is amended, in the fourth sentence, by striking <quote>thirty</quote> and inserting <quote>60</quote>.</text></section><section section-type="subsequent-section" id="idB9930AA8443741BF841265C44EA38E09"><enum>3006.</enum><header>De novo review of civil penalties under the Natural Gas Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 22(b) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717t-1">15 U.S.C. 717t–1(b)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: <quote>, in accordance with the same provisions as are applicable under section 31(d) of the Federal Power Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/823b">16 U.S.C. 823b(d)</external-xref>) in the case of civil penalties assessed under that section of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/823b">16 U.S.C. 823b</external-xref>)</quote>.</text></section><section id="idca7c11edbda549aab382ea50d5af9d56"><enum>3007.</enum><header>Judicial review</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 19(d)(3) of the Natural Gas Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/717r">15 U.S.C. 717r(d)(3)</external-xref>) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting <quote>, is not supported by clear and convincing evidence,</quote> after <quote>such permit</quote>.</text></section>