United States S 4944: American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026

Summary

This bill streamlines the permitting process for natural gas pipeline projects by making the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the sole lead agency for environmental reviews and establishing strict timelines for other agencies to complete their approvals. It limits water quality certifications requirements, allows the use of remote surveys instead of on-site inspections, and requires agencies to meet 270-day deadlines (with possible 60-day extensions) or notify Congress of delays. The bill affects natural gas companies seeking permits, federal and state environmental agencies, and communities potentially impacted by pipeline projects.

Bill Text

II 
119THCONGRESS 
2
DSESSION 
S. 4944 
To  streamline  permitting  under  the  Natural  Gas  Act,  the  Federal  Water  
Pollution  Control  Act,  and  the  National  Environmental  Policy  Act  of  
1969, and for other purposes. 
IN  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  
JUNE24, 2026 
Mr.  A
RMSTRONG(for  himself,  Ms.  LUMMIS,  Mr.  SCOTTof  Florida,  and  Mrs.  
B
RITT)  introduced  the  following  bill;  which  was  read  twice  and  referred  
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works 
A  BILL  
To  streamline  permitting  under  the  Natural  Gas  Act,  the  
Federal  Water  Pollution  Control  Act,  and  the  National  
Environmental  Policy  Act  of  1969,  and  for  other  pur-
poses. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This  Act  may  be  cited  as  the  ‘‘American  Energy  and  4
Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026’’. 5
SEC.   2.   PROMOTING   INTERAGENCY   COORDINATION   FOR   6
REVIEW OF NATURAL GAS PIPELINES. 7
(a) D
EFINITIONS.—In this section: 8
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•S  4944  IS
(1)    COMMISSION.—The    term    ‘‘Commission’’    1
means  the  Federal  Energy  Regulatory  Commission.  2
(2)  E
NVIRONMENTAL  REVIEW.—The  term  ‘‘en-3
vironmental  review’’  means  the  process  of  preparing,  4
for  a  proposed  agency  action  in  accordance  with  the  5
National   Environmental   Policy   Act   of   1969   (42   6
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)— 7
(A) an environmental impact statement; 8
(B) an environmental assessment; 9
(C) a categorical exclusion; and 10
(D) a finding of no significant impact. 11
(3)    F
EDERALAUTHORIZATION.—The    term    12
‘‘Federal  authorization’’  has  the  meaning  given  that  13
term  in  section  15(a)  of  the  Natural  Gas  Act  (15  14
U.S.C. 717n(a)). 15
(4)   P
ROJECT-RELATED    ENVIRONMENTAL    RE-16
VIEW.—The  term  ‘‘project-related  environmental  re-17
view’’  means  any  environmental  review  required  to  18
be  conducted  with  respect  to  the  issuance  of  an  au-19
thorization  under  section  3  of  the  Natural  Gas  Act  20
(15  U.S.C.  717b)  or  a  certificate  of  public  conven-21
ience  and  necessity  under  section  7  of  that  Act  (15  22
U.S.C. 717f). 23
(b)  C
OMMISSIONRESPONSIBILITIES.—In  acting  as  24
the lead agency under section 15(b)(1) of the Natural Gas 25
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•S  4944  IS
Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(b)(1)) for the purposes of complying 1
with  the  National  Environmental  Policy  Act  of  1969  (42  2
U.S.C.  4321  et  seq.)  with  respect  to  an  authorization  3
under  section  3  of  the  Natural  Gas  Act  (15  U.S.C.  717b)  4
or  a  certificate  of  public  convenience  and  necessity  under  5
section  7  of  that  Act  (15  U.S.C.  717f),  the  Commission  6
shall,  in  accordance  with  this  section  and  other  applicable  7
Federal law— 8
(1) be the only lead agency; 9
(2)  coordinate  as  early  as  practicable  with  each  10
agency  designated  as  a  participating  agency  under  11
subsection  (d)(3)  to  ensure  that  the  Commission  de-12
velops  information  in  conducting  its  project-related  13
environmental  review  that  is  usable  by  the  partici-14
pating  agency  in  considering  an  aspect  of  an  appli-15
cation  for  a  Federal  authorization  for  which  the  16
agency is responsible; and 17
(3)   take   such   actions   as   are   necessary   and   18
proper  to  facilitate  the  expeditious  resolution  of  its  19
project-related environmental review. 20
(c) D
EFERENCE TOCOMMISSION.—In making a deci-21
sion with respect to a Federal authorization required with 22
respect  to  an  application  for  an  authorization  under  sec-23
tion  3  of  the  Natural  Gas  Act  (15  U.S.C.  717b)  or  a  cer-24
tificate  of  public  convenience  and  necessity  under  section  25
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•S  4944  IS
7  of  that  Act  (15  U.S.C.  717f),  each  agency  shall  give  1
deference,  to  the  maximum  extent  authorized  by  law,  to  2
the  scope  of  the  project-related  environmental  review  that  3
the Commission determines to be appropriate. 4
(d) P
ARTICIPATINGAGENCIES.— 5
(1)   I
DENTIFICATION.—The   Commission   shall   6
identify,  not  later  than  30  days  after  the  Commis-7
sion   receives   an   application   for   an   authorization   8
under  section  3  of  the  Natural  Gas  Act  (15  U.S.C.  9
717b)  or  a  certificate  of  public  convenience  and  ne-10
cessity  und