[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1655 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1655
To provide that construction, rebuilding, or hardening of
communications facilities following a major disaster or an emergency
related to a wildfire is not subject to requirements to prepare certain
environmental or historical preservation reviews.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2025
Mr. Bentz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide that construction, rebuilding, or hardening of
communications facilities following a major disaster or an emergency
related to a wildfire is not subject to requirements to prepare certain
environmental or historical preservation reviews.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wildfire Communications Resiliency
Act''.
SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO COVERED COMMUNICATIONS
PROJECTS.
(a) NEPA Exemption.--A Federal authorization with respect to a
covered project may not be considered a major Federal action under
section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
(b) National Historic Preservation Act Exemption.--A covered
project may not be considered an undertaking under section 300320 of
title 54, United States Code.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Chief executive.--The term ``Chief Executive'' has the
meaning given such term in section 102 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5122).
(2) Communications facility.--The term ``communications
facility'' has the meaning given the term ``communications
facility installation'' in section 6409(d) of the Middle Class
Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1455(d)).
(3) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a
project that--
(A) is to be carried out entirely within an area
for which the President, the Governor of a State, or
the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government has
declared a major disaster or an emergency related to a
wildfire;
(B) is to be carried out not later than 5 years
after the date on which the President, Governor, or
Chief Executive made such declaration; and
(C) replaces a communications facility damaged by
such disaster or emergency or makes improvements to a
communications facility in such area that could
reasonably be considered as necessary for recovery from
such disaster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate
any future disaster or emergency.
(4) Emergency.--The term ``emergency'' means--
(A) in the case of an emergency declared by the
President, an emergency declared by the President under
section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); and
(B) in the case of an emergency declared by the
Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian
tribal government, any occasion or instance with
respect to which the Governor or Chief Executive
declares that an emergency exists (or makes a similar
declaration) under State or Tribal law (as the case may
be).
(5) Federal authorization.--The term ``Federal
authorization''--
(A) means any authorization required under Federal
law with respect to a covered project; and
(B) includes any permits, special use
authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other
approvals as may be required under Federal law with
respect to a covered project.
(6) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the chief
executive of any State.
(7) Indian tribal government.--The term ``Indian tribal
government'' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
(8) Major disaster.--The term ``major disaster'' means--
(A) in the case of a major disaster declared by the
President, a major disaster declared by the President
under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170);
and
(B) in the case of a major disaster declared by the
Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian
tribal government, any occasion or instance with
respect to which the Governor or Chief Executive
declares that a disaster exists (or makes a similar
declaration) under State or Tribal law (as the case may
be).
(9) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, and each territory or
possession of the United States.
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