JOAN Act

In this section:

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The term Federal authorization has the meaning given that term in section 15(a) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(a)).

The term NEPA review means the process of reviewing a proposed Federal action under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).

The term project-related NEPA review means any NEPA review required to be conducted with respect to the issuance of an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f).

In acting as the lead agency under section 15(b)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(b)(1)) for the purposes of complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f), the Commission shall, in accordance with this section and other applicable Federal law—

(1) be the only lead agency;

(2) coordinate as early as practicable with each agency designated as a participating agency under subsection (d)(3) to ensure that the Commission develops information in conducting its project-related NEPA review that is reasonably required by the participating agency in considering an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization for which the agency is responsible; and

(3) take such actions as are necessary and proper to facilitate the expeditious resolution of its project-related NEPA review.

In making a decision with respect to a Federal authorization required with respect to an application for authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f), each agency shall give deference, to the maximum extent authorized by law, to the scope of the project-related NEPA review that the Commission determines to be appropriate.

The Commission shall identify, not later than 30 days after the Commission receives an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f), any Federal or State agency, local government, or Indian Tribe that may issue a Federal authorization or is required by Federal law to consult with the Commission in conjunction with the issuance of a Federal authorization required for such authorization or certificate.

Not later than 45 days after the Commission receives an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f), the Commission shall invite any agency identified under paragraph (1) to participate in the review process for the applicable Federal authorization.

An invitation issued under subparagraph (A) shall establish a deadline by which a response to the invitation shall be submitted to the Commission, which may be extended by the Commission for good cause.

Not later than 60 days after the Commission receives an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f), the Commission shall designate an agency identified under paragraph (1) as a participating agency with respect to an application for authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) unless the agency informs the Commission, in writing, by the deadline established pursuant to paragraph (2)(B), that the agency—

(A) has no jurisdiction or authority with respect to the applicable Federal authorization;

(B) has no special expertise or information relevant to any project-related NEPA review; or

(C) does not intend to submit comments for the record for the project-related NEPA review conducted by the Commission.

Designation or non-designation of an agency as a participating agency under paragraph (3) with respect to an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) may not serve as evidence of an incomplete record before a court.

Notwithstanding section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1341), an applicant for a Federal authorization shall not be required to provide a certification under such section with respect to the Federal authorization.

With respect to any NEPA review for a Federal authorization to conduct an activity that will directly result in a discharge into the navigable waters (within the meaning of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.)), the Commission shall identify as an agency under subsection (d)(1) the State in which the discharge originates or will originate, or, if appropriate, the interstate water pollution control agency having jurisdiction over the navigable waters at the point where the discharge originates or will originate.

A State or interstate agency designated as a participating agency pursuant to paragraph (2) may propose to the Commission terms or conditions for inclusion in an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) that the State or interstate agency determines are necessary to ensure that any activity described in paragraph (2) conducted pursuant to such authorization or certification will comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1311, 1312, 1313, 1316, 1317).

The Commission may include a term or condition in an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) proposed by a State or interstate agency under paragraph (3) only if the Commission finds that the term or condition is necessary to ensure that any activity described in paragraph (2) conducted pursuant to such authorization or certification will comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1311, 1312, 1313, 1316, 1317).

A deadline for a Federal authorization required with respect to an application for authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) set by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)) shall be not later than 90 days after the Commission completes its project-related NEPA review, unless an applicable schedule is otherwise established by Federal law.

Each Federal and State agency—

(A) that may consider an application for a Federal authorization required with respect to an application for authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) shall formulate and implement a plan for administrative, policy, and procedural mechanisms to enable the agency to ensure completion of Federal authorizations in compliance with schedules established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)); and

(B) in considering an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization required with respect to an application for authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f), shall—

(i) formulate and implement a plan to enable the agency to comply with the schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1));

(ii) carry out the obligations of that agency under applicable law concurrently, and in conjunction with, the project-related NEPA review conducted by the Commission, and in compliance with the schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) (15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)) of such Act, unless the agency notifies the Commission in writing that doing so would impair the ability of the agency to conduct needed analysis or otherwise carry out such obligations;

(iii) transmit to the Commission a statement—

(I) acknowledging receipt of the schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)); and

(II) setting forth the plan formulated under clause (i) of this subparagraph;

(iv) not later than 30 days after the agency receives such application for a Federal authorization, transmit to the applicant a notice—

(I) indicating whether such application is ready for processing; and

(II) if such application is not ready for processing, that includes a comprehensive description of the information needed for the agency to determine that the application is ready for processing;

(v) determine that such application for a Federal authorization is ready for processing for purposes of clause (iv) if such application is sufficiently complete for the purposes of commencing consideration, regardless of whether supplemental information is necessary to enable the agency to complete the consideration required by law with respect to such application; and

(vi) not less often than once every 90 days, transmit to the Commission a report describing the progress made in considering such application for a Federal authorization.

If a Federal or State agency, including the Commission, fails to meet a deadline for a Federal authorization set forth in the schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)), not later than 5 days after such deadline, the head of the relevant Federal agency (including, in the case of a failure by a State agency, the Federal agency overseeing the delegated authority) shall notify Congress and the Commission of such failure and set forth a recommended implementation plan to ensure completion of the action to which such deadline applied.

Federal and State agencies that may consider an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization shall identify, as early as possible, any issues of concern that may delay or prevent an agency from working with the Commission to resolve such issues and granting such authorization.

The Commission may forward any issue of concern identified under subparagraph (A) to the heads of the relevant agencies (including, in the case of an issue of concern that is a failure by a State agency, the Federal agency overseeing the delegated authority, if applicable) for resolution.

If a Federal or State agency considering an aspect of an application for a Federal authorization requires the person applying for such authorization to submit data, the agency shall consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that the person submits.

The agency may grant a conditional approval for the Federal authorization based on data gathered by aerial or remote means, conditioned on the verification of such data by subsequent onsite inspection.

The Commission, and Federal and State agencies, may allow a person applying for a Federal authorization to fund a third-party contractor to assist in reviewing the application for such authorization.

For an application for an authorization under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) or a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) that requires multiple Federal authorizations, the Commission, with input from any Federal or State agency considering an aspect of the application, shall track and make available to the public on the website of the Commission information related to the actions required to complete the Federal authorizations. Such information shall include the following:

(1) The schedule established by the Commission under section 15(c)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717n(c)(1)).

(2) A list of all the actions required by each applicable agency to complete permitting, reviews, and other actions necessary to obtain a final decision on the application.

(3) The expected completion date for each such action.

(4) A point of contact at the agency responsible for each such action.

(5) In the event that an action is still pending as of the expected date of completion, a brief explanation of the reasons for the delay.

In this section:

The term civil action means an initial claim challenging a core authorization for a covered project.

The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The term core authorization means a Federal authorization issued pursuant to section 3(e) or section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(e), 717f(c)).

The term covered project means a project requiring a core authorization.

The term Federal authorization means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or administrative decision issued by an agency, and any interagency consultation that is required or authorized under Federal law, to site, construct, reconstruct, abandon, or commence operations of a covered project administered by—

(A) a Federal agency; or

(B) in the case of a State participating in or administering a review required or authorized under Federal law, as applicable, a State agency.

The term project sponsor means any person, including a State, Tribal, or local government entity, that—

(A) is an applicant for, or holder of, a core authorization or any other Federal authorization for a covered project; or

(B) otherwise proposes to site, construct, reconstruct, own, or operate a covered project.

The term related claim means a claim challenging a Federal authorization that is joined to a civil action after that civil action has been filed.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, issuance of a core authorization for a covered project shall be considered a final agency action for the purposes of chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to all Federal authorizations required for that covered project.

The filing and final adjudication of a civil action shall constitute the sole and exclusive means of judicial review and relief with respect to the applicable covered project and all Federal authorizations issued for that covered project.

After the final adjudication of a civil action, any subsequent cause of action or challenge, whether statutory, procedural, or substantive, related to or connected with the applicable covered project or any Federal authorization for that covered project brought by any party except the project sponsor shall be barred and dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

A civil action shall be filed exclusively in—

(i) the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; or

(ii) the court of appeals of the United States for the judicial circuit in which the principal place of business of the project sponsor for the applicable covered project is located.

After a civil action is filed in an applicable court described in subparagraph (A), all related claims arising out of the same nucleus of operative fact as that civil action shall be joined or consolidated to that court for adjudication.

A civil action and all related claims arising out of the same nucleus of operative fact shall be filed with the applicable court by the earlier of—

(A) the date that is 60 days after the core authorization is published in the Federal Register; and

(B) the statutory deadline required for causes of action relating to that core authorization.

Subject to subsection (d), the filing and final adjudication of a civil action shall constitute the only opportunity for judicial review of the applicable covered project and all Federal authorizations issued for that covered project.

Judicial review of a civil action and any related claim arising out of the same nucleus of operative fact under this section—

(i) shall—

(I) be limited to the finalized consolidated record under subsection (g)(3)(C); and

(II) be based exclusively on that finalized consolidated record; and

(ii) shall not take evidence, permit discovery, receive testimony, or engage in fact-finding.

In any civil action seeking a preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order to halt a Federal action based on an alleged violation of this Act, the applicable court shall determine the likelihood of success on the merits by calculating the cumulative probability of success across all independent legal and jurisdictional requirements.

A court may not find a likelihood of success on the merits under clause (i) unless the product of the probabilities of success for each independent legal and jurisdictional requirement, including standing under article III of the Constitution of the United States, final agency action, and the merits of the underlying claim, exceeds 50 percent.

The court under clause (ii) shall issue written findings of fact and conclusions of law specifying—

(I) the estimated probability of success assigned to each independent legal and jurisdictional requirement; and

(II) the cumulative probability of success.

If the applicable court does not issue a final determination for a filed civil action and all related claims arising out of the same nucleus of operative fact by the date that is 180 days after the expiration of the applicable timeline described in paragraph (3), the core authorization and all associated Federal authorizations for the applicable covered project shall be considered approved and not subject to further review.

For the purposes of judicial review, the statements of material fact submitted under subsection (g)(2) shall not constitute independent evidence or a freestanding factual determination apart from the cited administrative record material.

In reviewing a civil action, the applicable court may not—

(i) issue an injunction lasting for a period exceeding 60 days;

(ii) enjoin any covered project activity unrelated to a specific issue identified by the court; or

(iii) grant permanent injunctive relief unless the plaintiff demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that—

(I) the plaintiff has suffered an irreparable injury;

(II) remedies available at law, including monetary damages, are inadequate to compensate for the irreparable injury;

(III) considering the balance of hardships between the plaintiff and defendant, a remedy in equity is warranted; and

(IV) the public interest would not be disserved by a permanent injunction.

Any permanent injunction issued by a court pursuant to this subsection shall be supported by a finding, by clear and convincing evidence, of extraordinary circumstances, and shall be as narrowly tailored as possible to correct the injury and the least intrusive means necessary to correct the injury.

Any court issuing a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction in a civil action under this section shall require the movant to provide security in an amount that the court considers proper to pay the costs and damages sustained by any party found to have been wrongfully enjoined or restrained, consistent with rule 65(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

In reviewing a civil action, the applicable court may not issue a remedy of remand with vacatur.

After the filing of a civil action, the project sponsor for the implicated covered project may continue construction for any part of the covered project that is unaffected by the civil action.

A civil action may not be filed by any party that did not raise the issue giving rise to that civil action during the notice and comment period for the applicable Federal authorization.

Notwithstanding subsection (c), a project sponsor may bring a separate claim challenging a Federal authorization for an applicable covered project regardless of whether a civil action concerning that Federal authorization has been filed and adjudicated, subject to the condition that the specific underlying issue of that separate claim has not previously been finally adjudicated.

A claim described in paragraph (1) may not be joined by a related claim or any other claim arising out of the same nucleus of operative fact.

Nothing in this section alters substantive environmental requirements or reduces opportunities for public comment under applicable Federal law.

If more than 1 Federal agency issues a core authorization for a covered project, the Commission shall be the lead agency for purposes of an environmental review for the covered project under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), if applicable.

In this subsection, the term statement of material fact means a citation index identifying, by specific record citation, the portions of the administrative record that set forth the material factual determinations and technical conclusions relied on in a Federal authorization for a covered project.

Not later than 60 days after the date of publication of a core authorization in the Federal Register, each Federal agency that issued, or is required to issue, a Federal authorization for the applicable covered project shall submit to the Commission—

(A) the administrative record for that Federal authorization; and

(B) a statement of material fact and technical conclusions that identifies, by specific citation to the administrative record, the portions of the record containing the material factual determinations and technical conclusions relied on by the Federal agency.

Not later than 90 days after the date of publication of a core authorization in the Federal Register, the Commission shall—

(i) consolidate the submissions under paragraph (2) (referred to in this subsection as the consolidated administrative record); and

(ii) publish a notice of availability of the consolidated administrative record.

Not later than 30 days after the date of publication of the notice under subparagraph (A), any party may submit to the Commission a written objection limited to whether the consolidated administrative record omits materials—

(I) that were before the Federal agency; and

(II) that were directly or indirectly considered in issuing a Federal authorization.

An objection to the consolidated administrative record submitted under clause (i) may not—

(I) raise merit arguments; or

(II) seek discovery, testimony, or new evidence.

Not later than 60 days after the date of publication of the notice under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall resolve each objection to the consolidated administrative record submitted under clause (i) and, as necessary, direct limited supplementation of the consolidated administrative record by the relevant Federal agency.

After all objections to the consolidated administrative record are resolved under subparagraph (B)(iii)—

(i) the consolidated administrative record shall be considered final and closed; and

(ii) the Commission shall issue a public written order indicating the consolidated administrative record is finalized and closed.

The written order of the Commission under subparagraph (C)(ii) shall constitute a final agency action for the purposes of chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, solely with respect to the contents and completeness of the consolidated administrative record.