H.R. 9025 — Introduced in House

I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9025 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 28, 2022Mr. Valadao (for himself and Mr. Westerman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to use certain previously completed environmental assessments and environmental impact statements to satisfy the review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act. 2. Determination of National Environmental Policy Act adequacy (a) In general The Secretary concerned shall use previously completed environmental assessments and environmental impact statements to satisfy the requirements of section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332) with respect to any proposed transmission project, any proposed project to construct, connect, operate, or maintain a pipeline facility to transport an energy resource, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, or natural gas, or any proposed project to construct or maintain a renewable energy facility if such Secretary determines that— (1) the new proposed action is substantially the same as a previously analyzed proposed action or alternative analyzed in a previous environmental assessment or environmental impact statement; and (2) the effects of the proposed action are substantially the same as the effects analyzed in such existing environmental assessments or environmental impact statements. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Renewable energy facility The term renewable energy facility means any equipment or facility that produces electricity from a renewable energy resource, including wind, solar, tidal, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal, methane, hydrogen, or water. (2) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned means— (A) with respect to public lands, the Secretary of the Interior; and (B) with respect to National Forest System Lands, the Secretary of Agriculture.