Bill Expediting Interstate Gas Pipeline Permitting Passes House

Interstate natural gas pipelines would be easier to permit under legislation the House passed Friday.

The Republican-led bill (H.R. 3668) passed on a 213-184 vote with Democratic support, and would strengthen the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s lead role in reviewing interstate natural gas pipeline projects by eliminating the need for applicants to obtain water certifications from individual states under the Clean Water Act. Under the legislation, FERC would be empowered to incorporate water quality assessments into existing environmental reviews, expediting the overall process.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

House Republicans have moved to pass several bills ...