1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Streamlining Environmental Approvals Act of 2019” or the “SEA Act of 2019” .
Streamlining Environmental Approvals Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reduce unnecessary permitting delays by clarifying associated procedures to increase economic development and support coastal restoration programs, and for other purposes.
2. Addressing permits for taking of marine mammals
Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)(D)) is amended as follows:
In clause (i)—
by striking “citizens of the United States” and inserting “persons”;
by striking “within a specific geographic region”;
by striking “of small numbers”;
by striking “such citizens” and inserting “such persons”; and
by striking “within that region”.
In clause (ii)—
in subclause (I), by striking “, and other means of effecting the least practicable impact on such species or stock and its habitat”;
in subclause (III), by striking “requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking by harassment, including” and inserting “efficient and practical requirements pertaining to the monitoring of such taking by harassment while the activity is being conducted and the reporting of such taking, including, as the Secretary determines necessary, ”; and
by adding at the end the following:
In clause (iii), by striking “receiving an application under this subparagraph” and inserting “an application is accepted or required to be considered complete under subclause (I)(aa), (II)(aa), or (IV) of clause (viii), as applicable,”.
In clause (vi), by striking “a determination of “least practicable adverse impact on such species or stock” under clause (i)(I)” and inserting “conditions imposed under subclause (I), (II), or (III) of clause (ii)”.
By adding at the end the following:
“(viii)
“(I) The Secretary shall—
“(aa) accept as complete a written request for authorization under this subparagraph for incidental taking described in clause (i), by not later than 45 days after the date of submission of the request; or
“(bb) provide to the requester, by not later than 15 days after the date of submission of the request, a written notice describing any additional information required to complete the request.
“(II) If the Secretary provides notice under subclause (I)(bb), the Secretary shall, by not later than 30 days after the date of submission of the additional information described in the notice—
“(aa) accept the written request for authorization under this subparagraph for incidental taking described in clause (i); or
“(bb) deny the request and provide the requester a written explanation of the reasons for the denial.
“(III) The Secretary may not make a second request for information, request that the requester withdraw and resubmit the request, or otherwise delay a decision on the request.
“(IV) If the Secretary fails to respond to a request for authorization under this subparagraph in the manner provided in subclause (I) or (II), the request shall be considered to be complete.
“(ix)
“(I) At least 90 days before the expiration of any authorization issued under this subparagraph, the holder of such authorization may apply for a one-year extension of such authorization. The Secretary shall grant such extension within 14 days after the date of such request on the same terms and without further review if there has been no substantial change in the activity carried out under such authorization nor in the status of the marine mammal species or stock, as applicable, as reported in the final annual stock assessment reports for such species or stock.
“(II) In subclause (I) the term “substantial change” means a change that prevents the Secretary from making the required findings to issue an authorization under clause (i) with respect to such species or stock.
“(III) The Secretary shall notify the applicant of such substantial changes with specificity and in writing within 14 days after the applicant’s submittal of the extension request.
“(x) If the Secretary fails to make the required findings and, as appropriate, issue the authorization within 120 days after the application is accepted or required to be considered complete under subclause (I)(aa), (II)(aa), or (III) of clause (viii), as applicable, the authorization is deemed to have been issued on the terms stated in the application and without further process or restrictions under this Act.”
3. Removing duplications
Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)(D)), as amended by section 2 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(xi) Any taking of a marine mammal in compliance with an authorization under this subparagraph is exempt from the prohibition on taking in section 9 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538). Any Federal agency authorizing, funding, or carrying out an action that results in such taking, and any agency action authorizing such taking, is exempt from the requirement to consult regarding potential impacts to marine mammal species or designated critical habitat under section 7(a)(2) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)).”