Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act
The Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act aims to overhaul how federal environmental reviews are conducted for natural gas pipelines. It designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the sole lead agency to conduct project-related NEPA reviews for authorizations under NGA section 3 and certificates under NGA section 7, and it builds a structured, early, and ongoing interagency process with other federal, state, and local authorities. The bill emphasizes tight deadlines, increased coordination, and public transparency to accelerate approvals while maintaining environmental and water quality safeguards. It also requires security coordination with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and expands data collection on timelines and agency actions to improve accountability. In practical terms, the bill would shift more of the NEPA scoping and information gathering to FERC, set explicit timelines for identifying and engaging participating agencies, boost transparency through public tracking of progress, and create mechanisms to speed concurrent federal and state reviews. It also introduces conditions around water quality reviews and requires agencies to coordinate on security and data collection. Some safeguards reduce the ability of non-designated agencies to submit supplemental NEPA comments, creating potential limits on third-party participation unless agencies are designated.
Key Points
- 1Lead agency and early coordination: FERC becomes the exclusive lead agency for project-related NEPA reviews for NGA section 3 authorizations and NGA section 7 certificates, coordinating early with participating agencies to ensure usable information and expeditious reviews.
- 2Participating agencies process and consequences: The bill requires identifying potential participating agencies within 30 days, inviting them within 45 days, and designating them within 60 days unless the agency declines for specific reasons. Agencies not designated may not submit supplemental NEPA comments or be included in the project record, with limited ability to influence the review unless necessary for legal responsibilities.
- 3Water quality and conditions: The bill generally does not require a 401 water quality certification. It allows designated State or interstate agencies with water quality purview to propose conditions to ensure compliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and it lets the Commission adopt those conditions if they are necessary for compliance.
- 4Scheduling, timelines, and accountability: The Commission must establish a 90-day deadline for completing a federal authorization after the NEPA review, require concurrent reviews and plans from other agencies to meet these schedules, and issue regular progress reports. If deadlines are missed, agency heads must notify Congress and the Commission with an implementation plan.
- 5Transparency and security: The bill mandates public tracking of key actions and schedules on the Commission’s website. It also requires the Commission to consult with the TSA Administrator to assess pipeline security practices and guidance in considering an authorization.