Rep. Hudson’s Bill to Speed Pipeline Approvals, Lower Energy Costs Passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Richard Hudson's (NC-09) H.R. 3668, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, with a bipartisan vote through the House.

H.R. 3668 modernizes and streamlines the federal permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines by strengthening the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) role as the lead agency. This puts state and federal regulators on a single, coordinated timeline, and cuts red tape so critical projects can move forward faster - helping lower energy costs for families and businesses.

"Delays in the construction of new natural gas pipelines drive up energy prices," said Rep. Hudson. "My bill makes long-overdue modernizations to the permitting process by streamlining the regulatory authority of FERC. This makes sure the environment is protected, but no single state can arbitrarily block the construction of new pipelines."

BACKGROUND

• Under current law, FERC serves as the lead agency for coordinating environmental reviews and federal authorizations for interstate natural gas pipelines. However, approvals are often delayed by a lack of coordination or inaction among states and other federal agencies, as well as statutory challenges under the Clean Water Act's Section 401 process.
• The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects natural gas demand to reach an all-time high of more than 107 billion cubic feet per day in 2026, supplying over 40 percent of U.S. electric generation.Between 2013 and 2021, several major pipeline projects were canceled, jeopardizing the energy needs of roughly 25.5 million homesthey were planned to serve daily. Without reform, families face higher energy prices and increased risk of shortages, particularly in constrained regions.

ABOUT H.R. 3668

• H.R. 3668, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act:
• Affirms FERC as the sole lead agency for coordinating National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews and related federal authorizations for interstate natural gas pipelines under the Natural Gas Act.
• Requires participating federal and state agencies to follow schedules set by FERC and conduct their reviews concurrently with FERC's NEPA process, including acceptance of appropriate remote environmental data.
• Incorporates Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification into FERC's NEPA review, including any terms or conditions required to comply with the Clean Water Act, preventing separate, indefinite processes that can delay projects for reasons unrelated to water quality.
• Requires FERC to act on certification requests within 90 days after completing NEPA review.
• Requires FERC to consult with the Transportation Security Administration regarding pipeline infrastructure and security measures.
• Ensures continued compliance with the Clean Water Act and all other environmental protections.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

The PAGE Coalition, INCOMPAS, the Natural Gas Council, and leading natural gas and pipeline companies back H.R. 3668. The National Taxpayers Union's support for the bill highlights its role in cutting delays and bringing commonsense permitting reform.

Read the full bill text here.