H.R. 161, the "Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act"
H.R. 161 proposes to replace the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) existing natural gas permitting process with an unworkable and dangerous approach. The Government Accountability Office has concluded that FERC’s existing pipeline permitting is predictable and consistent and gets pipelines built. FERC currently decides 90% of permit applications within 12 months. In attempting to solve a problem that does not exist, the bill creates new problems. The bill establishes arbitrary and rigid deadlines for FERC and other agencies to issue permits, resulting in rushed reviews and serious environmental, safety, and public health consequences.
In the 113th Congress, the House voted on H.R. 1900 as a previous attempt of this legislation becoming law.
The bill passed the House on January 21, 2015, by a vote of 253-169.