H.R. 1655

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

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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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