§717n Process Coordination; Hearings; Rules of Procedure

Summary

Makes the Commission the lead agency for coordinating all federal approvals and for handling environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for applications under section 717b or for certificates under section 717f. “Federal authorization” means any required federal approval for those applications, including permits, special use permissions, certifications, opinions, or similar approvals. All federal and state agencies that review parts of an application must work with the Commission and follow the deadlines the Commission sets. Requires the Commission to set a schedule to finish all federal approvals quickly and to follow any timing rules in other federal laws. If an agency misses the Commission’s schedule, the applicant can use the remedy in section 717r(d). The Commission must keep one complete record of every decision or action by it or by any federal or state agency acting under federal authority. That consolidated record is used for appeals under the Coastal Zone Management Act (may be added to as allowed under section 319 [16 U.S.C. 1465]) and for judicial review under section 717r(d); a court may send the case back to the Commission if the record is incomplete. Hearings may be held by the Commission or its designees, and the Commission can allow interested states, municipalities, consumer or investor representatives, competitors, or others in the public interest to join. The Commission must make rules for hearings and procedures; strict technical evidence rules are not required, and informal procedures do not invalidate its orders.