,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cacc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bi1 #bjag,mr4 ,johnson of ,louisiana 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,duncan of ,south ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,higgins of ,louisiana1 ,mr4 ,abraham1 ,mr4 ,graves of ,louisiana1 and ,mr4 ,jody ,b4 ,hice of ,georgia7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb to reduce unnecessary permitting delays by clarifying associated procedures to increase economic development and support coastal restoration programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,streamlining ,environmental ,approvals ,act of #bjag or the ,,sea ,act of #bjag 4 #b4 ,addressing permits for taking of marine mammals ,section #aja7;a77#e77;,d7 of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #acga7;a77#e77;,d77 is amended as follows3 7#a7 ,in clause 7i7-- 7,a7 by striking citizens of the ,united ,states and inserting persons2 7,b7 by striking within a specific geographic region2 7,c7 by striking of small numbers2 7,d7 by striking such citizens and inserting such persons2 and 7,e7 by striking within that region4 7#b7 ,in clause 7ii7-- 7,a7 in subclause 7,i71 by striking 1 and other means of effecting the least practicable impact on such species or stock and its habitat2 7,b7 in subclause 7,,iii71 by striking requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking by harassment1 including and inserting efficient and practical requirements pertaining to the monitoring of such taking by harassment while the activity is being conducted and the reporting of such taking1 including1 as the ,secretary determines necessary1 2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 ,any condition imposed pursuant to subclause 7,i71 7,,ii71 or 7,,iii7 may not result in more than a minor change to the specified activity and may not alter the basic design1 location1 scope1 duration1 or timing of the specified activity4 4 7#c7 ,in clause 7iii71 by striking receiving an application under this subparagraph and inserting an application is accepted or required to be considered complete under subclause 7,i77aa71 7,,ii77aa71 or 7,,iv7 of clause 7viii71 as applicable14 7#d7 ,in clause 7vi71 by striking a determination of least practicable adverse impact on such species or stock under clause 7i77,i7 and inserting conditions imposed under subclause 7,i71 7,,ii71 or 7,,iii7 of clause 7ii74 7#e7 ,by adding at the end the following3 7viii7 7,i7 ,the ,secretary shall-- 7aa7 accept as complete a written request for authorization under this subparagraph for incidental taking described in clause 7i71 by not later than #de days after the date of submission of the request2 or 7bb7 provide to the requester1 by not later than #ae days after the date of submission of the request1 a written notice describing any additional information required to complete the request4 7,,ii7 ,if the ,secretary provides notice under subclause 7,i77bb71 the ,secretary shall1 by not later than #cj days after the date of submission of the additional information described in the notice-- 7aa7 accept the written request for authorization under this subparagraph for incidental taking described in clause 7i72 or 7bb7 deny the request and provide the requester a written explanation of the reasons for the denial4 7,,iii7 ,the ,secretary may not make a second request for information1 request that the requester withdraw and resubmit the request1 or otherwise delay a decision on the request4 7,,iv7 ,if the ,secretary fails to respond to a request for authorization under this subparagraph in the manner provided in subclause 7,i7 or 7,,ii71 the request shall be considered to be complete4 7ix7 7,i7 ,at least #ij days before the expiration of any authorization issued under this subparagraph1 the holder of such authorization may apply for a one-year extension of such authorization4 ,the ,secretary shall grant such extension within #ad days after the date of such request on the same terms and without further review if there has been no substantial change in the activity carried out under such authorization nor in the status of the marine mammal species or stock1 as applicable1 as reported in the final annual stock assessment reports for such species or stock4 7,,ii7 ,in subclause 7,i7 the term substantial change means a change that prevents the ,secretary from making the required findings to issue an authorization under clause 7i7 with respect to such species or stock4 7,,iii7 ,the ,secretary shall notify the applicant of such substantial changes with specificity and in writing within #ad days after the applicant's submittal of the extension request4 7x7 ,if the ,secretary fails to make the required findings and1 as appropriate1 issue the authorization within #abj days after the application is accepted or required to be considered complete under subclause 7,i77aa71 7,,ii77aa71 or 7,,iii7 of clause 7viii71 as applicable1 the authorization is deemed to have been issued on the terms stated in the application and without further process or restrictions under this ,act4 4 #c4 ,removing duplications ,section #aja7;a77#e77;,d7 of the ,marine ,mammal ,protection ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #acga7;a77#e77;,d771 as amended by section #b of this ,act1 is further amended by adding at the end the following3 7xi7 ,any taking of a marine mammal in compliance with an authorization under this subparagraph is exempt from the prohibition on taking in section #i of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aech74 ,any ,federal agency authorizing1 funding1 or carrying out an action that results in such taking1 and any agency action authorizing such taking1 is exempt from the requirement to consult regarding potential impacts to marine mammal species or designated critical habitat under section #g7;a77#b7 of such ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecf7;a77#b774 4