Frank Pallone: “I really don't understand. I respect my colleague from Kentucky a great deal, but he seems to be arguing that we need…”

“I really don't understand. I respect my colleague from Kentucky a great deal, but he seems to be arguing that we need the deadlines in this bill to hold Federal agencies accountable and ensure that they don't just somehow sit on the applications. As I have already noted, since 2009, FERC has completed action on 91 percent of natural gas pipeline applications within 12 months, so a 12- month deadline isn't needed for more than 90 percent of the applicants. My colleagues have asked: Well, what is the problem with holding the remaining 9 percent to a 12-month deadline? Well, the problem is it becomes a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to consider a wide range of applications that FERC has to review. Some of the applications are for new projects--again, a small number--which span hundreds of miles, cross waterways and wetlands, and pass through neighborhoods and habitats of threatened wildlife; and questions of eminent domain need to be considered. In these cases, there can be unresolved safety, environmental, and legal issues at the local or State level. Again, as I said, the President has said that he would veto this bill. In the Statement of Administration Policy, they specifically say: The small percentage of decisions that have taken longer than 1 year involve complex proposals that merit additional review and consideration. Mr.…”