H.R. 3668 · Passed House · Energy

Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act

What it does

Makes FERC the sole lead agency for coordinating National Environmental Policy Act review of certain natural gas pipeline projects and LNG import or export terminals.
Requires other agencies to defer to FERC's approved review scope, and requires FERC to invite federal, state, local, or tribal agencies to participate by set deadlines.
Requires FERC to consult the TSA on pipeline security and bars FERC authorization deadlines later than 90 days after the NEPA review ends.
Requires concurrent reviews when multiple agencies are involved and removes the requirement for a state Clean Water Act Section 401 certification, with FERC coordinating with states on potential discharges.

Official summary

Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act This bill expedites the environmental review of certain natural gas pipeline projects or liquefied natural gas (LNG) import or export terminals for authorizations under the Natural Gas Act. Specifically, the bill makes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the only lead agency for the purpose of coordinating the environmental review of such projects under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Thus, agencies involved in the environmental review process must defer to FERC's approved scope for a NEPA review. FERC must invite certain federal, state, local, or tribal governmental agencies to participate in the review process for an authorization and designate the applicable governments as participating agencies by deadlines established by the bill. In addition, FERC must consult with the Transportation Security Administration regarding various pipeline security measures. The bill prohibits FERC from establishing a deadline for authorizing a project that is more than 90 days after the completion of the NEPA review. It also requires concurrent reviews when multiple federal or state agencies are…

Latest action

Dec 15, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation