H.R. 3548 would modify current law to exempt the sponsors of the Keystone XL pipeline from the requirement to obtain a Presidential permit for that project and would specify procedures for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue necessary permits. Under the bill, FERC would have 30 days to review an application for a permit to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed pipeline; if FERC did not act on the application within that time, the permit would be deemed to have been issued. In addition, the bill would specify procedures related to federal reviews of any future applications to modify the route of the proposed pipeline and accompanying environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act.
