,i #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #agh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #i1 #bjbc,mr4 ,levin introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to promote the development of renewable energy on public lands1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,public ,land ,renewable ,energy ,development ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title4 ,sec4 #b4 ,table of contents4 ,sec4 #c4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #d4 ,land use planning2 updates to programmatic environmental impact statements4 ,sec4 #e4 ,limited grandfathering4 ,sec4 #f4 ,disposition of revenues4 ,sec4 #g4 ,savings4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,covered land ,the term covered land means land that is-- 7,a7 ,federal lands administered by the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 not excluded from the development of geothermal1 solar1 or wind energy under-- 7i7 a land use plan2 or 7ii7 other ,federal law4 7#b7 ,exclusion area ,the term exclusion area means covered land that is identified by the ,bureau of ,land ,management as not suitable for development of renewable energy projects4 7#c7 ,federal land ,the term ,federal land means-- 7,a7 public lands2 and 7,b7 lands of the ,national ,forest ,system as described in section #aa7;a7 of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afji7;a774 7#d7 ,fund ,the term ,fund means the ,renewable ,energy ,resource ,conservation ,fund established by section #f7;c77#a74 7#e7 ,land use plan ,the term land use plan means-- 7,a7 in regard to ,federal land1 a land use plan established under the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq472 and 7,b7 in regard to ,national ,forest ,system lands1 a land management plan approved1 amended1 or revised under section #f of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afjd74 7#f7 ,priority area ,the term priority area means covered land identified by the land use planning process of the ,bureau of ,land ,management as being a preferred location for a renewable energy project1 including a designated leasing area 7as defined in section #bhja4e7;b7 of title #dc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation77 that is identified under the rule of the ,bureau of ,land ,management entitled ,competitive ,processes1 ,terms1 and ,conditions for ,leasing ,public ,lands for ,solar and ,wind ,energy ,development and ,technical ,changes and ,corrections 7#ha ,fed4 ,reg4 #ibabb 7,december #ai1 #bjaf77 7or a successor regulation74 7#g7 ,public lands ,the term public lands has the meaning given that term in section #ajc of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agjb74 7#h7 ,renewable energy project ,the term renewable energy project means a project carried out on covered land that uses wind1 solar1 or geothermal energy to generate energy4 7#i7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#aj7 ,variance area ,the term variance area means covered land that is-- 7,a7 not an exclusion area2 7,b7 not a priority area2 and 7,c7 identified by the ,secretary as potentially available for renewable energy development and could be approved without a plan amendment1 consistent with the principles of multiple use 7as defined in the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq4774 #d4 ,land use planning2 updates to programmatic environmental impact statements 7a7 ,priority areas 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,energy1 shall establish priority areas on covered land for geothermal1 solar1 and wind energy projects1 consistent with the principles of multiple use 7as defined in the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq477 and the renewable energy permitting goal enacted by the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act of #bjba 7,public ,law #aaf-bfj74 ,among applications for a given renewable energy source1 proposed projects located in priority areas for that renewable energy source shall-- 7,a7 be given the highest priority for incentivizing deployment thereon2 and 7,b7 be offered the opportunity to participate in any regional mitigation plan developed for the relevant priority areas4 7#b7 ,establishing priority areas 7,a7 ,geothermal energy ,for geothermal energy1 the ,secretary shall establish priority areas as soon as practicable1 but not later than #e years1 after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7,b7 ,solar energy ,for solar energy-- 7i7 solar designated leasing areas 7including the solar energy zones established by ,bureau of ,land ,management ,solar ,energy ,program1 established in ,october #bjab71 and any subsequent land use plan amendments1 shall be considered to be priority areas for solar energy projects2 and 7ii7 the ,secretary shall complete a process to consider establishing additional solar priority areas as soon as practicable1 but not later than #c years1 after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7,c7 ,wind energy ,for wind energy1 the ,secretary shall complete a process to consider establishing additional wind priority areas as soon as practicable1 but not later than #c years1 after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7b7 ,variance areas ,variance areas shall be considered for renewable energy project development1 consistent with the principles of multiple use 7as defined in the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq477 and the renewable energy permitting goal enacted by the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act of #bjba 7,public ,law #aaf-bfj71 and applications for a given renewable energy source located in those variance areas shall be timely processed in order to assist in meeting that goal4 7c7 ,review and modification 7#a7 ,in general ,not less than once every #aj years1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 review the adequacy of land allocations for geothermal1 solar1 and wind energy priority1 exclusion1 and variance areas for the purpose of encouraging and facilitating new renewable energy development opportunities2 and 7,b7 based on the review carried out under subparagraph 7,a71 add1 modify1 or eliminate priority1 variance1 and exclusion areas4 7#b7 ,exception ,paragraph 7#a7 shall not apply to the renewable energy land use planning published in the ,desert ,renewable ,energy ,conservation ,plan developed by the ,california ,energy ,commission1 the ,california ,department of ,fish and ,wildlife1 the ,bureau of ,land ,management1 and the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service until ,january #a1 #bjcj4 7d7 ,compliance with the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act ,for purposes of this section1 compliance with the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 shall be accomplished-- 7#a7 for geothermal energy1 by updating the document entitled ,final ,programmatic ,environmental ,impact ,statement for ,geothermal ,leasing in the ,western ,united ,states1 dated ,october #bjjh1 and incorporating any additional regional analyses that have been completed by ,federal agencies since that programmatic environmental impact statement was finalized2 7#b7 for solar energy1 by updating the document entitled ,final ,programmatic ,environmental ,impact ,statement 7,,peis7 for ,solar ,energy ,development in ,six ,southwestern ,states1 dated ,july #bjab1 and incorporating any additional regional analyses that have been completed by ,federal agencies since that programmatic environmental impact statement was finalized2 and 7#c7 for wind energy1 by updating the document entitled ,final ,programmatic ,environmental ,impact ,statement on ,wind ,energy ,development on ,,blm-,administered ,lands in the ,western ,united ,states1 dated ,july #bjje1 and incorporating any additional regional analyses that have been completed by ,federal agencies since the programmatic environmental impact statement was finalized4 7e7 ,no effect on processing site specific applications ,site specific environmental review and processing of permits for proposed projects shall proceed during preparation of an updated programmatic environmental impact statement1 resource management plan1 or resource management plan amendment4 7f7 ,coordination ,in developing updates required by this section1 the ,secretary shall coordinate1 on an ongoing basis1 with appropriate ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments1 transmission infrastructure owners and operators1 developers1 and other appropriate entities to ensure that priority areas identified by the ,secretary are-- 7#a7 economically viable 7including having access to existing and planned transmission lines72 7#b7 likely to avoid or minimize impacts to habitat for animals and plants1 recreation1 cultural resources1 and other uses of covered land2 and 7#c7 consistent with section #bjb of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agab71 including subsection 7c77#i7 of that section 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agab7;c77#i774 #e4 ,limited grandfathering 7a7 ,definition of project ,in this section1 the term project means a system described in section #bhja4i7;a77#d7 of title #dc1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act74 7b7 ,requirement ,to pay rents and fees ,unless otherwise agreed to by the owner of a project1 the owner of a project that applied for a right-of-way under section #eja of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agfa7 on or before ,december #ai1 #bjaf1 shall be obligated to pay with respect to the right-of-way all rents and fees in effect before the effective date of the rule of the ,bureau of ,land ,management entitled ,competitive ,processes1 ,terms1 and ,conditions for ,leasing ,public ,lands for ,solar and ,wind ,energy ,development and ,technical ,changes and ,corrections 7#ha ,fed4 ,reg4 #ibabb 7,december #ai1 #bjaf774 #f4 ,disposition of revenues 7a7 ,disposition of revenues 7#a7 ,availability ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 beginning on ,january #a1 #bjbd1 of amounts collected from a wind or solar project as bonus bids1 rentals1 fees1 or other payments under a right-of-way1 permit1 lease1 or other authorization the following shall be made available1 without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation1 as follows3 7,a7 ,twenty-five percent shall be paid by the ,secretary of the ,treasury to the ,state within the boundaries of which the revenue is derived4 7,b7 ,twenty-five percent shall be paid by the ,secretary of the ,treasury to the one or more counties within the boundaries of which the revenue is derived1 to be allocated among the counties based on the percentage of land from which the revenue is derived4 7,c7 ,twenty-five percent shall be deposited in the ,treasury and be made available to the ,secretary to carry out the program established under this ,act1 including the transfer of the funds by the ,bureau of ,land ,management to other ,federal agencies and ,state agencies to facilitate the processing of renewable energy permits on ,federal land1 with priority given to using the amounts1 to the maximum extent practicable without detrimental impacts to emerging markets1 to expediting the issuance of permits required for the development of renewable energy projects in the ,states from which the revenues are derived4 7,d7 ,twenty-five percent shall be deposited in the ,renewable ,energy ,resource ,conservation ,fund established by subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,exceptions ,paragraph 7#a7 shall not apply to the following3 7,a7 ,amounts collected under section #ejd7;g7 of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agfd7;g774 7,b7 ,amounts deposited into the ,national ,parks and ,public ,land ,legacy ,restoration ,fund under section #bjjdjb7;b7 of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,payments to ,states and counties 7#a7 ,in general ,amounts paid to ,states and counties under subsection 7a77#a7 shall be used consistent with section #ce of the ,mineral ,leasing ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aia74 7#b7 ,payments in lieu of taxes ,a payment to a county under paragraph 7#a7 shall be in addition to a payment in lieu of taxes received by the county under chapter #fi of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7c7 ,renewable ,energy ,resource ,conservation ,fund 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,treasury a fund to be known as the ,renewable ,energy ,resource ,conservation ,fund1 which shall be administered by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#b7 ,use of funds ,the ,secretary may make amounts in the ,fund available to ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal agencies to be distributed in regions in which renewable energy projects are located on ,federal land4 ,such amounts may be used to-- 7,a7 restore and protect-- 7i7 fish and wildlife habitat for affected species2 7ii7 fish and wildlife corridors for affected species2 and 7iii7 wetlands1 streams1 rivers1 and other natural water bodies in areas affected by wind1 geothermal1 or solar energy development2 and 7,b7 preserve and improve recreational access to ,federal land and water in an affected region through an easement1 right-of-way1 or other instrument from willing landowners for the purpose of enhancing public access to existing ,federal land and water that is inaccessible or restricted4 7#c7 ,partnerships ,the ,secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with ,state and ,tribal agencies1 nonprofit organizations1 and other appropriate entities to carry out the activities described in paragraph 7#b74 7#d7 ,investment of ,fund 7,a7 ,in general ,amounts deposited in the ,fund shall earn interest in an amount determined by the ,secretary of the ,treasury on the basis of the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the ,united ,states of comparable maturities4 7,b7 ,use ,interest earned under subparagraph 7,a7 may be expended in accordance with this subsection4 7#e7 ,report to ,congress ,at the end of each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate that includes a description of-- 7,a7 the amount collected as described in subsection 7a71 by source1 during that fiscal year2 7,b7 the amount and purpose of payments during that fiscal year to each ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal agency under paragraph 7#b72 and 7,c7 the amount remaining in the ,fund at the end of the fiscal year4 7#f7 ,intent of ,congress ,it is the intent of ,congress that the revenues deposited and used in the ,fund shall supplement 7and not supplant7 annual appropriations for activities described in paragraph 7#b74 #g4 ,savings ,notwithstanding any other provision of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall continue to manage public lands under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield in accordance with title ,i of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq47 or the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq471 as applicable1 including due consideration of mineral and nonrenewable energy-related projects and other nonrenewable energy uses1 for the purposes of land use planning1 permit processing1 and conducting environmental reviews4