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HR 2172 112th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Administrative remedies Alternative and renewable resources Atmospheric science and weather Department of the Interior Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Environmental regulatory procedures Forests, forestry, trees Land use and conservation Licensing and registrations

Utilizing America's Federal Lands for Wind Energy Act

Introduced: June 14, 2011 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 1, 2011
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 200.
Dec 1, 2011
Committee on Agriculture discharged.
Dec 1, 2011
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-300, Part I.
Jul 13, 2011
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 16.
Jul 13, 2011
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
Jul 13, 2011
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 27, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry.
Jun 23, 2011
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 16, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Jun 14, 2011
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
Jun 14, 2011
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Utilizing America's Federal Lands for Wind Energy Act - Exempts projects determined by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service to be meteorological site testing and monitoring projects from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).

Defines a "meteorological site testing and monitoring project" as a project that is carried out on land administered by BLM or the Forest Service to test or monitor weather using towers or other devices, that is decommissioned within five years of its commencement, that provides meteorological information to such agencies, that causes less than one acre of soil or vegetation disruption at the location of each meteorological tower or other device and no more than five acres of soil or disruption within the proposed right-of-way for the project, and that is installed: (1) using existing access roads, (2) in a manner that does not require off-road motorized access other than one installation activity and one decommissioning activity along an identified off-road route approved by the BLM Director or the Chief of the Forest Service, (3) without construction of new roads other than upgrading of existing minor drainage crossings for safety purposes, and (4) without the use of digging or drilling equipment vehicles other than rubber-tired vehicles with gross weight ratings under 8,500 pounds.

Requires the BLM Director or Chief of the Forest Service: (1) to decide whether to issue a permit for such a project within 30 days after receiving an application for such permit; (2) during such period, to provide an opportunity for public comments and to consult with the heads of agencies that would be affected by issuance of the permit; and (3) to provide to the applicant reasons why an application is denied and an opportunity to remedy any deficiencies.

Requires BLM and the Forest Service to treat the meteorological information provided under this Act as proprietary information and to protect it against disclosure.

What's happening now December 1, 2011

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 200.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2