H.R. 1900 — what changed

changed Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:subsection:

changed “(i) The Commission shall approve or deny a certificate of public convenience and necessity that is sought under this Act not later than 12 months after providing public notice of the application.“(i)

changed “(j)“(1) The Commission shall approve or deny an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a prefiled project not later than 12 months after receiving a complete application that is ready to be processed, as defined by the Commission by regulation.

changed “(1) “(2) The agency responsible for issuing any license, permit, or approval required under Federal law in connection with the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline a prefiled project for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity is sought under this Act shall approve or deny the issuance of the license, permit, or approval not later than 90 days after the Commission issues its final environmental document relating to the project.

changed “(2) An agency may request that the “(3) The Commission may extend the time period under paragraph (1) (2) by 30 days. The Commission shall grant such extension days if the an agency demonstrates that it cannot otherwise complete the process required to approve or deny the license, permit, or approval, and therefor will be compelled to deny the license, permit, or approval. In granting an extension is under this paragraph, the Commission may offer technical assistance to the agency as necessary because to address conditions preventing the completion of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control review of the agency.application for the license, permit, or approval.

changed “(3) “(4) If an agency described in paragraph (1) (2) does not approve or deny the issuance of the license, permit, or approval within the time period specified under para-graph (1) paragraph (2) or (2), (3), as applicable, such license, permit, or approval shall go take effect upon the expiration of 30 days after the end of such period. The Commission shall incorporate into effect.”the terms of such license, permit, or approval any conditions proffered by the agency described in paragraph (2) that the Commission does not find are inconsistent with the final environmental document.

added “(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term “prefiled project” means a project for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a natural gas pipeline with respect to which a prefiling docket number has been assigned by the Commission pursuant to a prefiling process established by the Commission for the purpose of facilitating the formal application process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.”