H.R. 3 would specify various procedures pertaining to federal review and permitting of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which would be constructed by a private company to carry crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to destinations on the U.S. Gulf Coast. In particular, the bill would exempt the proposed project, which would cross international borders, from the existing requirement to obtain a Presidential permit. In addition, H.R. 3 would deem various actions by federal agencies involved with permitting decisions related to the proposed pipeline to be satisfied and certain federal permits to be granted.
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3 would have no significant impact on the federal budget. Based on information from affected agencies, CBO estimates that the proposed changes to administrative procedures would not significantly affect federal spending for such activities relative to current law. The bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 3 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.