§15943 Certain Gathering Lines Located on Federal Land and Indian Land

Summary

Allows the Secretary of the Interior to treat approvals for certain pipelines and their field compressors or pumps on Federal land or Indian land as a categorical exclusion under NEPA, using the definition in 40 CFR section 1508.1 as it existed on November 15, 2021. That can happen when the pipeline serves one or more oil or gas wells, is inside a field or unit already covered by an approved land use plan or NEPA document that expected oil, gas, or produced water transport, lies next to or inside an already disturbed area or an existing right-of-way corridor, and would cut methane releases if it carries methane or would cut vehicle trips if it does not. For Indian land, NEPA must already apply there and the tribe with jurisdiction must send a written request asking the Secretary to apply these rules. This does not change prior consent rules under section 324 of title 25, section 5123(e) of title 25, section 306108 of title 54, or any other federal law about tribal consent, and it does not make NEPA apply to land where it otherwise would not. Definitions in one line each: Federal land = land owned by the United States, but not national parks, national wildlife refuges, certain wilderness areas, wilderness study areas in national forests, or Indian land. Gathering line and associated field compression or pumping unit = a pipeline from one or more wells plus any needed compressors or pumps; includes lines from a processing plant to a common carrier but not the common carrier pipeline. Indian land = land held in trust for a tribe or individual or land owned by a tribe or individual that the U.S. restricts from sale. Produced water = water that comes out of a well and is not water brought in to fix a well problem. Secretary = Secretary of the Interior.