Sec. 84404. Program to improve renewable energy project permit coordination

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The Secretary shall establish a national Renewable Energy Coordination Office and State, district, or field offices with responsibility to establish and implement a program to improve Federal permit coordination with respect to renewable energy projects on covered land and other activities deemed necessary by the Secretary. In carrying out the program, the Secretary may temporarily assign qualified staff to Renewable Energy Coordination Offices to expedite the permitting of renewable energy projects.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the 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 or a priority area, with the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary may request the Governor of any interested State or any Tribal leader of any interested Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 )) 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 one or more employees who have 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 the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1344 ); regulatory matters under the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); 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.); the preparation of analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); implementation of the requirements of section 306108 of title 54, United States Code (formerly known as section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act); the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ( 16 U.S.C. 668 through 668d); and section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753 and 102101 of title 54 , United States Code (previously known as the National Park Service Organic Act ). 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 in accordance with the multiple use mandate of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). Under section 307 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1737 ), the Bureau of Land Management may— accept donations for the purposes of public lands management; and accept donations from renewable energy companies working on public lands to help cover the costs of environmental reviews. Not later than February 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the 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.

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