Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act

This bill aims to speed up and simplify federal reviews for natural gas pipelines and related projects. It makes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the single lead for environmental review, and other agencies are expected to follow FERC’s lead on what that review should cover. FERC must quickly identify, invite, and designate which federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies will take part (at 30, 45, and 60 days after an application arrives). Agencies that don’t join can’t demand extra studies, and FERC won’t count their comments in the official record .

The bill sets firm timelines and pushes reviews to happen at the same time. After FERC finishes its environmental review, other needed permits must be decided within 90 days, agencies must quickly tell applicants if their paperwork is ready, and missed deadlines trigger a notice to Congress with a plan to get back on track. Agencies may use aerial or other remote survey data, applicants can fund third‑party reviewers, and FERC must post a public tracker showing each required step, target dates, and contacts. For water quality, companies no longer need a state certification under section 401 of the Clean Water Act for these federal approvals; instead, the state water agency can propose conditions, and FERC may include them only if needed to meet clean‑water rules. FERC must also consult with the Transportation Security Administration on pipeline security and cybersecurity practices.

• Who is affected: Applicants for natural gas projects; federal and state agencies; local governments and Indian Tribes involved in permitting.
• What changes: FERC is the only lead for environmental review, and other agencies defer to its scope. Faster schedules with concurrent reviews and progress updates; missed deadlines must be reported to Congress. No state 401 water certification; states may propose water‑quality conditions that FERC can adopt if necessary. Remote surveys allowed; applicant‑funded third‑party help; public tracking website.
• When: During the review process—FERC sets participants within 30/45/60 days; permit decisions are due within 90 days after FERC’s review; agencies report progress at least every 90 days .