Sec. 6. Program to improve renewable energy project permit coordination

538 words·~2 min read·/bill/115/s/282/is/section-6

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

The Secretary shall establish a program to improve Federal permit coordination with respect to renewable energy projects on covered land. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for purposes of this section, including to specifically expedite the environmental analysis of applications for projects proposed in a variance area, with— the Secretary of Agriculture; and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

The Secretary may request the Governor of any interested State to be a signatory to the memorandum of understanding under paragraph (1). Not later than 30 days after the date on which the memorandum of understanding under subsection

(b)is executed, all Federal signatories, as appropriate, shall identify for each of the Bureau of Land Management Renewable Energy Coordination Offices an employee who has expertise in the regulatory issues relating to the office in which the employee is employed, including, as applicable, particular expertise in— consultation regarding, and preparation of, biological opinions under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1536 ); permits under section 404 of Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ); regulatory matters under the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); planning under section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 ( 16 U.S.C. 472a ); the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.); and the preparation of analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Each employee assigned under paragraph

(1)shall— be responsible for addressing all issues relating to the jurisdiction of the home office or agency of the employee; and participate as part of the team of personnel working on proposed energy projects, planning, monitoring, inspection, enforcement, and environmental analyses. The Secretary may assign such additional personnel for the Bureau of Land Management Renewable Energy Coordination Offices as are necessary to ensure the effective implementation of any programs administered by the offices, including inspection and enforcement relating to renewable energy project development on covered land, in accordance with the multiple use mandate of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). In carrying out the program established under subsection (a), the Secretary may— establish additional Bureau of Land Management Renewable Energy Coordination Offices; or temporarily assign the qualified staff designated under subsection

(c)to a State, district, or field office of the Bureau of Land Management to expedite the permitting of renewable energy projects. Not later than February 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, and each February 1 thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing the progress made under the program established under subsection

(a)during the preceding year. Each report under this subsection shall include— projections for renewable energy production and capacity installations; and a description of any problems relating to leasing, permitting, siting, or production.

Connectionstraces to 7

Traces to 7 documents

U.S. Code

Citation graph

cites case law

Sec. 6

Program to improve renewable energy project permit coordination

Cites 7Cited by 0 across 0 sources