119-hr1655

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1655 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 1655

 To provide that construction, rebuilding, or hardening of 
 communications facilities following a major disaster or an emergency 
related to a wildfire is not subject to requirements to prepare certain 
 environmental or historical preservation reviews.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 February 27, 2025

 Mr. Bentz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
 Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
 within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To provide that construction, rebuilding, or hardening of 
 communications facilities following a major disaster or an emergency 
related to a wildfire is not subject to requirements to prepare certain 
 environmental or historical preservation reviews.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Wildfire Communications Resiliency 
Act''.

SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO COVERED COMMUNICATIONS 
 PROJECTS.

    (a) NEPA Exemption.--A Federal authorization with respect to a 
covered project may 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) ).

    (b) National Historic Preservation Act Exemption.--A covered 
project may not be considered an undertaking under 

section 300320 of 
title 54, United States Code.
            (c) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Chief executive.--The term ``Chief Executive'' has the 
 meaning given such term in 

section 102 of the Robert T. 
 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
 U.S.C. 5122).

    (2) Communications facility.--The term ``communications 
 facility'' has the meaning given the term ``communications 
 facility installation'' in 

section 6409
            (d) of the Middle Class 
 Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1455
            (d) ).

    (3) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a 
 project that--
        (A) is to be carried out entirely within an area 
 for which the President, the Governor of a State, or 
 the Chief Executive of an Indian tribal government has 
 declared a major disaster or an emergency related to a 
 wildfire;
        (B) is to be carried out not later than 5 years 
 after the date on which the President, Governor, or 
 Chief Executive made such declaration; and
            (C) replaces a communications facility damaged by 
 such disaster or emergency or makes improvements to a 
 communications facility in such area that could 
 reasonably be considered as necessary for recovery from 
 such disaster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate 
 any future disaster or emergency.

    (4) Emergency.--The term ``emergency'' means--
        (A) in the case of an emergency declared by the 
 President, an emergency declared by the President under 
 

section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
 and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); and
        (B) in the case of an emergency declared by the 
 Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian 
 tribal government, any occasion or instance with 
 respect to which the Governor or Chief Executive 
 declares that an emergency exists (or makes a similar 
 declaration) under State or Tribal law (as the case may 
 be).

    (5) Federal authorization.--The term ``Federal 
 authorization''--
        (A) means any authorization required under Federal 
 law with respect to a covered project; and
        (B) includes any permits, special use 
 authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other 
 approvals as may be required under Federal law with 
 respect to a covered project.

    (6) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the chief 
 executive of any State.

    (7) Indian tribal government.--The term ``Indian tribal 
 government'' has the meaning given such term in 

section 102 of 
 the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).

    (8) Major disaster.--The term ``major disaster'' means--
        (A) in the case of a major disaster declared by the 
 President, a major disaster declared by the President 
 under 

section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170); 
 and
        (B) in the case of a major disaster declared by the 
 Governor of a State or the Chief Executive of an Indian 
 tribal government, any occasion or instance with 
 respect to which the Governor or Chief Executive 
 declares that a disaster exists (or makes a similar 
 declaration) under State or Tribal law (as the case may 
 be).

    (9) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the 
 United States, the District of Columbia, and each territory or 
 possession of the United States.
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