Paul Tonko: “I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding. I rise in opposition to H.R. 2910, the Promoting Interagency…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding. I rise in opposition to H.R. 2910, the Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act. This bill is a solution in search of a problem. We heard from FERC that 88 percent of projects are certified within 1 year following a completed application. It is clear that, under the existing process, these projects are moving forward without significant delays. We have not seen good evidence that we need to further tilt the process in favor of pipeline companies, which is what the bill before us today would do. While I am concerned about a number of provisions in this bill, I specifically want to highlight the section that would require Federal and State agencies to accept aerial survey data, such as data collected by drones, and allow these agencies to grant conditional approvals based on that data. Aerial data have limitations and can be insufficient. These data may not account for historic sites, endangered species, or wetlands. But, under this bill, agencies would be required to consider the project. Granting conditional permits based on inadequate data will ultimately not speed up the process, but what it does instead is circumvent the rights of landowners. We also should be more thoughtful about changing this process, given the implications that will impact private landowners' rights.…”