,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cihj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #ca1 #bjad,mr4 ,mc,clintock 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,lummis7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of the ,interior to coordinate ,federal and ,state permitting processes related to the construction of new surface water storage projects on lands under the jurisdiction of the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,secretary of ,agriculture and to designate the ,bureau of ,reclamation as the lead agency for permit processing1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,water ,supply ,permitting ,coordination ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#b7 ,bureau ,the term ,bureau means the ,bureau of ,reclamation4 7#c7 ,qualifying projects ,the term qualifying projects means new surface water storage projects constructed on lands administered by the ,department of the ,interior or the ,department of ,agriculture1 exclusive of any easement1 right-of-way1 lease1 or any private holding4 7#d7 ,cooperating agencies ,the term cooperating agency means a ,federal agency with jurisdiction over a review1 analysis1 opinion1 statement1 permit1 license1 or other approval or decision required for a qualifying project under applicable ,federal laws and regulations1 or a ,state agency subject to section #c7;c74 #c4 ,establishment of lead agency and cooperating agencies 7a7 ,establishment of ,lead ,agency ,the ,bureau of ,reclamation is established as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all reviews1 analyses1 opinions1 statements1 permits1 licenses1 or other approvals or decisions required under ,federal law to construct qualifying projects4 7b7 ,identification and ,establishment of ,cooperating ,agencies ,the ,commissioner of the ,bureau shall-- 7#a7 identify1 as early as practicable upon receipt of an application for a qualifying project1 any ,federal agency that may have jurisdiction over a review1 analysis1 opinion1 statement1 permit1 license1 approval1 or decision required for a qualifying project under applicable ,federal laws and regulations2 and 7#b7 notify any such agency1 within a reasonable timeframe1 that the agency has been designated as a cooperating agency in regards to the qualifying project unless that agency responds to the ,bureau in writing1 within a timeframe set forth by the ,bureau1 notifying the ,bureau that the agency-- 7,a7 has no jurisdiction or authority with respect to the qualifying project2 7,b7 has no expertise or information relevant to the qualifying project or any review1 analysis1 opinion1 statement1 permit1 license1 or other approval or decision associated therewith2 or 7,c7 does not intend to submit comments on the qualifying project or conduct any review of such a project or make any decision with respect to such project in a manner other than in cooperation with the ,bureau4 7c7 ,state ,authority ,a ,state in which a qualifying project is being considered may choose1 consistent with ,state law-- 7#a7 to participate as a cooperating agency2 and 7#b7 to make subject to the processes of this ,act all ,state agencies that-- 7,a7 have jurisdiction over the qualifying project2 7,b7 are required to conduct or issue a review1 analysis1 or opinion for the qualifying project2 or 7,c7 are required to make a determination on issuing a permit1 license1 or approval for the water resource project4 #d4 ,bureau responsibilities 7a7 ,in general ,the principal responsibilities of the ,bureau under this ,act are to-- 7#a7 serve as the point of contact for applicants1 ,state agencies1 ,indian tribes1 and others regarding proposed projects2 7#b7 coordinate preparation of unified environmental documentation that will serve as the basis for all ,federal decisions necessary to authorize the use of ,federal lands for qualifying projects2 and 7#c7 coordinate all ,federal agency reviews necessary for project development and construction of qualifying projects4 7b7 ,coordination process ,the ,bureau shall have the following coordination responsibilities3 7#a7 ,pre-application coordination ,notify cooperating agencies of proposed qualifying projects not later than #cj days after receipt of a proposal and facilitate a preapplication meeting for prospective applicants1 relevant ,federal and ,state agencies1 and ,indian tribes to-- 7,a7 explain applicable processes1 data requirements1 and applicant submissions necessary to complete the required ,federal agency reviews within the time frame established2 and 7,b7 establish the schedule for the qualifying project4 7#b7 ,consultation with cooperating agencies ,consult with the cooperating agencies throughout the ,federal agency review process1 identify and obtain relevant data in a timely manner1 and set necessary deadlines for cooperating agencies4 7#c7 ,schedule ,work with the qualifying project applicant and cooperating agencies to establish a project schedule4 ,in establishing the schedule1 the ,bureau shall consider1 among other factors-- 7,a7 the responsibilities of cooperating agencies under applicable laws and regulations2 7,b7 the resources available to the cooperating agencies and the non-,federal qualifying project sponsor1 as applicable2 7,c7 the overall size and complexity of the qualifying project2 7,d7 the overall schedule for and cost of the qualifying project2 and 7,e7 the sensitivity of the natural and historic resources that may be affected by the qualifying project4 7#d7 ,environmental compliance ,prepare a unified environmental review document for each qualifying project application1 incorporating a single environmental record on which all cooperating agencies with authority to issue approvals for a given qualifying project shall base project approval decisions4 ,help ensure that cooperating agencies make necessary decisions1 within their respective authorities1 regarding ,federal approvals in accordance with the following timelines3 7,a7 ,not later than one year after acceptance of a completed project application when an environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact is determined to be the appropriate level of review under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474 7,b7 ,not later than one year and #cj days after the close of the public comment period for a draft environmental impact statement under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq471 when an environmental impact statement is required under the same4 7#e7 ,consolidated administrative record ,maintain a consolidated administrative record of the information assembled and used by the cooperating agencies as the basis for agency decisions4 7#f7 ,project data records ,to the extent practicable and consistent with ,federal law1 ensure that all project data is submitted and maintained in generally accessible electronic format1 compile1 and where authorized under existing law1 make available such project data to cooperating agencies1 the qualifying project applicant1 and to the public4 7#g7 ,project manager ,appoint a project manager for each qualifying project4 ,the project manager shall have authority to oversee the project and to facilitate the issuance of the relevant final authorizing documents1 and shall be responsible for ensuring fulfillment of all ,bureau responsibilities set forth in this section and all cooperating agency responsibilities under section #e4 #e4 ,cooperating agency responsibilities 7a7 ,adherence to ,bureau ,schedule ,upon notification of an application for a qualifying project1 all cooperating agencies shall submit to the ,bureau a timeframe under which the cooperating agency reasonably considers it will be able to complete its authorizing responsibilities4 ,the ,bureau shall use the timeframe submitted under this subsection to establish the project schedule under section #d1 and the cooperating agencies shall adhere to the project schedule established by the ,bureau4 7b7 ,environmental ,record ,cooperating agencies shall submit to the ,bureau all environmental review material produced or compiled in the course of carrying out activities required under ,federal law consistent with the project schedule established by the ,bureau4 7c7 ,data ,submission ,to the extent practicable and consistent with ,federal law1 the cooperating agencies shall submit all relevant project data to the ,bureau in a generally accessible electronic format subject to the project schedule set forth by the ,bureau4 #f4 ,funding to process permits 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 after public notice in accordance with the ,administrative ,procedures ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 #eec71 may accept and expend funds contributed by a non-,federal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity related to a qualifying project or activity for a public purpose under the jurisdiction of the ,department of the ,interior4 7b7 ,effect on permitting 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the use of funds accepted under subsection 7a7 will not impact impartial decisionmaking with respect to permits1 either substantively or procedurally4 7#b7 ,evaluation of permits ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the evaluation of permits carried out using funds accepted under this section shall-- 7,a7 be reviewed by the ,regional ,director of the ,bureau of ,reclamation1 or the ,regional ,director's designee1 of the region in which the qualifying project or activity is located2 and 7,b7 use the same procedures for decisions that would otherwise be required for the evaluation of permits for similar projects or activities not carried out using funds authorized under this section4 7#c7 ,impartial decisionmaking ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary and the cooperating agencies receiving funds under this section for qualifying projects shall ensure that the use of the funds accepted under this section for such projects shall not-- 7,a7 impact impartial decisionmaking with respect to the issuance of permits1 either substantively or procedurally2 or 7,b7 diminish1 modify1 or otherwise affect the statutory or regulatory authorities of such agencies4 7c7 ,limitation on use of funds ,none of the funds accepted under this section shall be used to carry out a review of the evaluation of permits required under subsection 7b77#b77;,a74 7d7 ,public availability ,the ,secretary shall ensure that all final permit decisions carried out using funds authorized under this section are made available to the public1 including on the ,internet4