Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act

HR 829 streamlines the federal permitting process for natural gas pipelines by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It requires all other federal and state agencies involved in pipeline approvals to coordinate with FERC early in the process, submit comments by set deadlines, and complete their reviews concurrently with FERC’s environmental review within a 90-day timeline. Pipeline companies applying for permits and the agencies issuing authorizations (like state environmental departments) are directly affected, as the bill prevents duplicate environmental reviews and mandates public tracking of application status on FERC’s website. Key provisions include requiring agencies to defer to FERC’s environmental review scope, setting strict deadlines for decisions, and creating standardized public reporting on permit progress. This bill focuses on accelerating approvals without altering environmental standards.