,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #afba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #g1 #bjai,mr4 ,mc,clintock 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,gosar1 ,mr4 ,tipton1 ,mr4 ,la,malfa1 ,mr4 ,schweikert1 ,mr4 ,hunter1 ,mr4 ,biggs1 ,mrs4 ,lesko1 ,ms4 ,cheney1 and ,mr4 ,cook7 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 ,bureau ,the term ,bureau means the ,bureau of ,reclamation4 7#b7 ,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 7#c7 ,qualifying projects ,the term qualifying projects means new surface water storage projects in the ,states covered under the ,act of ,june #ag1 #aijb 7#cb ,stat4 #chh1 chapter #ajic71 and ,acts supplemental to and amendatory of that ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #cga et seq47 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 holding1 unless the project applicant elects not to participate in the process authorized by this ,act4 ,such term shall also include ,state-led projects 7as defined in section #djjg7;a77#b7 of the ,,wiin ,act7 for new surface water storage projects in the ,states covered under the ,act of ,june #ag1 #aijb 7#cb ,stat4 #chh1 chapter #ajic71 and ,acts supplemental to and amendatory of that ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #cga et seq47 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 holding1 unless the project applicant elects not to participate in the process authorized by this ,act4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #c4 ,establishment of lead agency and cooperating agencies 7a7 ,establishment of lead agency ,the ,bureau 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 qualifying project4 #d4 ,bureau responsibilities 7a7 ,in general ,the principal responsibilities of the ,bureau under this ,act are-- 7#a7 to serve as the point of contact for applicants1 ,state agencies1 ,indian tribes1 and others regarding proposed qualifying projects2 7#b7 to 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 to 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 ,preapplication 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-- 7,a7 to explain applicable processes1 data requirements1 and applicant submissions necessary to complete the required ,federal agency reviews within the timeframe established2 and 7,b7 to 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 #a 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 #a 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 7#a7 ,timeframes ,on notification of an application for a qualifying project1 the head of each cooperating agency shall submit to the ,bureau a timeframe under which the cooperating agency reasonably will be able to complete the authorizing responsibilities of the cooperating agency4 7#b7 ,schedule 7,a7 ,use of timeframes ,the ,bureau shall use the timeframes submitted under this subsection to establish the project schedule under section #d4 7,b7 ,adherence ,each cooperating agency shall adhere to the project schedule established by the ,bureau under subparagraph 7,a74 7b7 ,environmental record ,the head of each cooperating agency shall submit to the ,bureau all environmental review material produced or compiled in the course of carrying out activities required under ,federal law1 consistent with the project schedule established by the ,bureau under subsection 7a77#b74 7c7 ,data submission ,to the extent practicable and consistent with ,federal law1 the head of each cooperating agency shall submit all relevant project data to the ,bureau in a generally accessible electronic format1 subject to the project schedule established by the ,bureau under subsection 7a77#b74 #f4 ,funding to process permits 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 after public notice in accordance with subchapter ,,ii of chapter #e1 and chapter #g1 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,administrative ,procedure ,act71 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 project4 7b7 ,effect on permitting 7#a7 ,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 the region in which the qualifying project or activity is located 7or a designee72 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#b7 ,impartial decisionmaking ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary and the head of each cooperating agency receiving funds under this section for a qualifying project shall ensure that the use of the funds accepted under this section for the qualifying project shall not-- 7,a7 substantively or procedurally impact impartial decisionmaking with respect to the issuance of permits2 or 7,b7 diminish1 modify1 or otherwise affect the statutory or regulatory authorities of the cooperating agency4 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#a77;,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