The House voted 213-184 to pass the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, which designates FERC as the lead federal agency for interstate natural gas pipeline permitting and allows FERC to incorporate water‑quality assessments into its environmental reviews. The move is part of broader House efforts to speed permitting for energy infrastructure, alongside another bipartisan bill that also passed. The Senate is working on a separate, broader package focused on NEPA reforms for projects like transmission-line upgrades.
House Approves Bill to Accelerate Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline Permits, Naming FERC Lead
FILE PHOTO: Model of natural gas pipeline and U.S. flag, July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 213-184 on Friday to approve legislation designed to accelerate federal permitting for interstate natural gas pipelines by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the lead federal agency overseeing reviews.
The Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act would give FERC the authority to incorporate water-quality assessments directly into its environmental reviews rather than waiting for separate state certifications under the Clean Water Act — a step supporters say has prolonged the permitting timeline.
Lawmakers also passed a separate bipartisan measure, the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act, as part of a broader push in the House to streamline permitting across energy and infrastructure projects.
How the Bill Works
Under the bill, FERC — a five-member commission whose commissioners are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate — would take the lead coordinating federal reviews for interstate pipeline projects. The change aims to reduce duplicative state-federal steps by allowing FERC to weigh water-quality assessments during its environmental review process.
Why It Matters
Supporters say faster permitting is crucial to build out energy infrastructure to meet rising electricity demand, including from data centers, and to help mitigate higher household energy costs. Critics have warned that streamlining reviews could reduce state oversight or diminish environmental safeguards; proponents say the bill preserves environmental standards while cutting unnecessary delays.
"These bills help unlock the infrastructure America needs to meet growing demand for affordable, reliable energy," American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers said in a statement.
What Comes Next
The Senate is pursuing a broader package of energy-permitting reforms that would include changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), with an emphasis on streamlining approvals for projects such as electric transmission upgrades. Any House-passed measures must still clear the Senate and reconcile differences before becoming law.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; editing by Paul Simao)
