[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 17 (Monday, February 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          H.R. 161--NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PERMITTING REFORM ACT

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 2, 2015

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this unnecessary 
legislation, which would place arbitrary deadlines on Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) decisions, potentially forcing them to 
deny applications because they simply do not have enough information to 
make a credible determination.
  FERC has received high marks from the Government Accountability 
Office for its predictable and consistent application process. This 
bill would needlessly disrupt what is already working, forcing FERC to 
abide by rigid deadlines no matter how large or complex a project 
happens to be. If other agencies with permitting authority on a project 
fail to report to FERC within the bill's timeline, FERC would become a 
kind of ``super-permitting'' agency, with the ability to issue permits 
on the agencies' behalf without the expertise necessary to make those 
decisions.
  By rushing a functioning and important process, this bill jeopardizes 
the environment and public health. With a number of high-profile 
pipeline spills requiring costly clean-up across the country, we should 
not needlessly short-circuit the process that is intended to make sure 
pipelines are built safely. This bill would prevent federal agencies 
from doing their job to protect taxpayers and communities, and I urge a 
no vote.

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