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Bill
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Brownfields Broadband Deployment Act

H.R. 7378 · 116th Congress · Jun 25, 2020 · Lineage

A BILL

To provide that a request for the deployment or modification of a communications facility entirely within a brownfields site is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.

Section 1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Brownfields Broadband Deployment Act”.

Sec. 2 Application of NEPA and NHPA to brownfields

(a)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
Communications facility— The term communications facility includes—
(A)
any wireless or wireline infrastructure for the transmission of writing, signs, signals, data, images, pictures, or sounds of all kinds;
(B)
any transmitting device, tower, or support structure, and any equipment, switches, wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabinets, associated with the provision of communications service; and
(C)
any antenna or apparatus that—
(i)
is designed for the purpose of emitting radio frequency;
(ii)
is designed to be operated, or is operating, from a fixed location; and
(iii)
is added to a tower, building, or other structure.
(2)
Communications service— The term communications service means a service for the transmission of writing, signs, signals, data, images, pictures, or sounds of all kinds.
(3)
Covered project— The term covered project means a project for the deployment or modification of a communications facility that is to be carried out entirely within a brownfield site (as defined in section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601)).
(b)
NEPA categorical exclusion—
(1)
In general— A covered project subject to the approval of the Commission shall be categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
(2)
Relation to extraordinary circumstances procedures— The use of the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1) shall not be considered to include extraordinary circumstances under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, or section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor to such regulations).
(c)
National Historic Preservation Act exemption— A covered project for which the Commission is required to issue a permit or that is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission shall not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United States Code.