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This bill would make certain federal decisions about energy and mineral projects on specific federal lands easier and faster by taking them out of the normal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act. In simple terms, it says some actions tied to oil, gas, coal, and certain critical minerals would not count as major federal actions that need that kind of review before moving forward.
- It would cover leases, easements, and rights-of-way for exploring, developing, or producing oil, gas, or coal under federal mineral leasing rules.
- It would also cover permits and other approvals for exploring for, locating, developing, or extracting critical minerals under the Mining Law of 1872, but only on land that is already open to mineral entry.
Official Summaries
This bill exempts certain energy and mineral actions on federal lands from the environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Specifically, the bill states that the following are not to be considered a major federal action under NEPA:
- issuing, granting, or renewing a lease, easement, or right-of-way under the Mineral Leasing Act for the exploration, development, or production of oil, gas, or coal; or
- issuing, granting, or renewing a permit or other authorization under the Mining Law of 1872 for the exploration, location, development, or extraction of a critical mineral on land that is open to mineral entry.
By way of background, NEPA requires agencies to identify and evaluate the impacts of major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment prior to finalizing certain decisions. Thus, if an action is not considered to be a major federal action, then it is exempt from NEPA.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 676 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 676
To exempt Federal actions related to energy and mineral activities on
certain Federal lands from the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 23, 2025
Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To exempt Federal actions related to energy and mineral activities on
certain Federal lands from the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NEPA EXEMPTION FOR FEDERAL ACTIONS RELATED TO ENERGY AND
MINERAL ACTIVITIES ON CERTAIN FEDERAL LANDS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following shall 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)):
(1) Issuing, granting, or renewing a lease, easement, or
right-of-way under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et
seq.) for the exploration, development, or production of oil,
gas, or coal.
(2) Issuing, granting, or renewing a permit or other
authorization under the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 22 et
seq.) for the exploration, location, development, or extraction
of a critical mineral on land that is open to mineral entry.
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