Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act
Latest action · Jun 26, 2017 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMar 21, 2017
- Passed HouseJun 22, 2017
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act
(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Bureau of Reclamation as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all reviews, permits, licenses, or other approvals or decisions (reviews) required under federal law to construct new surface water storage projects in the states covered under the Reclamation Act on lands administered by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture, including state-led projects, exclusive of any easement, right-of-way, lease, or any private holding, unless the project applicant elects not to participate in the process authorized by this bill (qualifying projects).
The Bureau: (1) upon receipt of an application for a qualifying project, shall identify any federal agency that may have jurisdiction over a required review; and (2) shall notify such agency that it has been designated as a cooperating agency unless specified conditions apply.
A state in which a qualifying project is being considered may choose to: (1) participate as a cooperating agency; and (2) make subject to the processes of this bill all state agencies that have jurisdiction over the project, are required to conduct or issue a review, or are required to make a determination on issuing a permit, license, or approval for the qualifying project.
(Sec. 4) The principal responsibilities of the Bureau are to: (1) serve as the point of contact for applicants, state agencies, Indian tribes, and others regarding qualifying projects; (2) coordinate preparation of unified environmental documentation that will serve as the basis for all federal decisions necessary to authorize the use of federal lands for qualifying projects; and (3) coordinate all federal agency reviews necessary for the development and construction of qualifying projects.
The Bureau shall notify cooperating agencies of proposed qualifying projects by 30 days after receipt of a proposal and facilitate a pre-application meeting for prospective applicants, relevant federal and state agencies, and Indian tribes to: (1) explain applicable processes, data requirements, and applicant submissions necessary to complete the required federal agency reviews within the time frame established; and (2) establish the schedule for the qualifying project.
The Bureau shall work with the qualifying project applicant and cooperating agencies to establish a project schedule. In establishing the schedule, it shall consider:
- the responsibilities of cooperating agencies under applicable laws and regulations;
- the resources available to such agencies and the non-federal qualifying project sponsor;
- the overall size, complexity, schedule for, and cost of the qualifying project; and
- the sensitivity of the natural and historic resources that may be affected.
The Bureau must:
- prepare a unified environmental review document on which all cooperating agencies shall base project approval decisions;
- help ensure that cooperating agencies make necessary decisions regarding environmental compliance in accordance with specified time lines;
- maintain a consolidated administrative record of the information assembled and used by the cooperating agencies as the basis for agency decisions;
- ensure that all project data is submitted and maintained in generally accessible electronic format and make such project data available to cooperating agencies, the qualifying project applicant, and the public; and
- appoint a project manager for each qualifying project.
(Sec. 5) Each cooperating agency must submit to the Bureau: (1) a time frame for completing the agency's authorizing responsibilities, (2) all environmental review material produced in the course of carrying out activities required under federal law, consistent with the project schedule, and (3) all relevant project data in a generally accessible electronic format.
(Sec. 6) The Department of the Interior, after public notice, may accept and expend funds contributed by a non-federal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity related to a qualifying project. Interior must ensure that all final permit decisions are made available to the public, including on the Internet.
Recorded votes 2
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House 319 | On Passage | Passed233–180 | Jun 22, 2017 |
| House 318 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | Failed179–232 | Jun 22, 2017 |
Cosponsors 8
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Mar 21, 2017.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-CA | Dana Rohrabacher | Original | Mar 21, 2017 |
| R-CA | Darrell Issa | Original | Mar 21, 2017 |
| R-CA | Doug LaMalfa | Original | Mar 21, 2017 |
| R-ND | Kevin Cramer | Original | Mar 21, 2017 |
| R-WY | Liz Cheney | Original | Mar 21, 2017 |
| R-AZ | Paul A. Gosar | Original | Mar 21, 2017 |
| R-CA | Paul Cook | Original | Mar 21, 2017 |
| R-CO | Scott R. Tipton | Original | Mar 21, 2017 |
Committees 2
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Natural Resources Committee | Referred Mar 21, 2017Markup Apr 27, 2017Reported Jun 12, 2017 |
| Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee | Referred Mar 27, 2017Discharged Apr 27, 2017 | |
| Senate | Energy and Natural Resources Committee | Referred Jun 26, 2017 |
Actions 23
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Jun 26, 2017Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Jun 22, 2017Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 392. (consideration: CR H5082-5095)
- Jun 22, 2017Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1873 and 1654, with 1 hour of general debate for each bill. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except a motion to recommit with or without instructions on each bill. Both measures will be considered read and have specified amendments.
- Jun 22, 2017The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Chairman of the Committee.
- Jun 22, 2017House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 392 and Rule XVIII.
- Jun 22, 2017GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1654.
- Jun 22, 2017DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 392, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the LaMalfa amendment No. 1.
- Jun 22, 2017DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 392, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lowenthal amendment No. 2.
- Jun 22, 2017The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1654.
- Jun 22, 2017The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- Jun 22, 2017The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5087-5088)
- Jun 22, 2017Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 233 - 180 (Roll no. 319).
- Jun 22, 2017Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Jun 21, 2017Rule H. Res. 392 passed House.
- Jun 20, 2017Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 392 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1873 and 1654, with 1 hour of general debate for each bill. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except a motion to recommit with or without instructions on each bill. Both measures will be considered read and have specified amendments.
- Jun 12, 2017Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-166.
- Jun 12, 2017Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 111.
- Apr 27, 2017Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Discharged.
- Apr 27, 2017Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- Apr 27, 2017Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 16.
- Mar 27, 2017Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
- Mar 21, 2017Introduced in House
- Mar 21, 2017Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In the Congressional Record 4
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | Debate and remarks H5082–H5095Text printed H5087Amendments H5087, H5088, H5089Recorded votes H5093, H5095enactLowenthal amendment (prohibit streamlining of Federal and State permitting processes of new surface water storage projects on Federal lands that would harm commercial fisheries) | Alan S. Lowenthal D-CA (amendment), Dana Rohrabacher R-CA, Doug LaMalfa R-CA (amendment), Doug Lamborn R-CO, Jared Huffman D-CA, Jim Costa D-CA, Kevin McCarthy R-CA, Paul A. Gosar R-AZ, Scott R. Tipton R-CO, Tom McClintock R-CA | Jun 22, 2017 |
| House | Debate and remarks H5005–H5013Text printed H5005Amendments H5012Recorded votes H5017consideration (H. Res. 392), previous question | Dan Newhouse R-WA, Jared Polis D-CO (amendment), Ken Buck R-CO, Liz Cheney R-WY, Lloyd Doggett D-TX | Jun 21, 2017 |
| House | Declaratory Statements H4996 | — | Jun 20, 2017 |
| House | Debate and remarks H4932 | Kevin McCarthy R-CA | Jun 15, 2017 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Committee report
Congressional Budget Office cost estimate
- May 11, 2017H.R. 1654, Water Supply Permitting Coordination ActAs ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on April 27, 2017
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 163, no. 49, March 21, 2017, page H2288.
Printed hearings 1
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serial No. 115-28 | BUILDING A 21ST-CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AMERICA: HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT STAKEHOLDERS' PERSPECTIVES156 pages | Transportation and Infrastructure Committee | Oct 11, 2017 |
CRS reports 1
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 1
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R44889 | H.R. 23, the Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017 (GROW Act) | Report | Jul 11, 2017 |
Amendments 2
Amendments offered to this bill.
| Amendment | Description | Offered by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAmdt 140 | An amendment numbered 1 printed in Part B of House Report 115-186 to enhance federal cooperation in planning and construction of State-led water storage projects by ensuring such projects are eligible for permit streamlining under this bill. | Doug LaMalfa R-CA | On agreeing to the LaMalfa amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote. |
| HAmdt 141 | An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part B of House Report 115-186 to exempt any dam projects from being fast-tracked by the bill if it could harm commercial fisheries. | Alan S. Lowenthal D-CA | On agreeing to the Lowenthal amendment (A002) Failed by recorded vote: 179 - 232 (Roll no. 318). |
Related bills 5
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
Titles 4
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate Federal and State permitting processes related to the construction of new surface water storage projects on lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture and to designate the Bureau of Reclamation as the lead agency for permit processing, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act
- Short Titles as Reported to House
- Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act
- Short Titles as Passed House
- Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Water Resources Development.
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Department of the Interior
- Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
- Executive agency funding and structure
- General public lands matters
- Government information and archives
- Licensing and registrations
- Water Resources Development
- Water resources funding
- Water storage
- Water use and supply
Text 4
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jun 26, 2017Referred in Senate
- Jun 22, 2017Engrossed in House
- Jun 12, 2017Reported in House
- Mar 21, 2017Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
