GAO Report Released: Pipeline Permitting: Interstate and Intrastate Natural Gas Permitting Processes Include Multiple Steps, and Time Frames Vary

Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report, titled Pipeline Permitting: Interstate and Intrastate Natural Gas Permitting Processes Include Multiple Steps, and Time Frames Vary GAO-13-221 (Feb. 15, 2013). The details of the 44-page report, available here, are discussed below:

Why GAO Did This Study

Recent growth in domestic natural gas production, particularly due to increased production from shale, is resulting in an increase in the pipelines needed to transport that gas. Constructing natural gas pipelines requires clearing and maintaining rights-of-way, which may disturb habitat and historical and cultural resources. These resources are protected under a variety of federal, state, and local regulations implemented by multiple agencies. The laws, regulations and stakeholders involved in the permitting process depend on where the pipeline is constructed. FERC is the lead federal agency in approving interstate pipelines, coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies, but FERC is not involved in the approval of intrastate pipelines.

In response to the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011, GAO determined (1) the processes necessary to acquire permits to construct interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines, (2) information available on the time frames associated with the natural gas pipeline permitting process, and (3) stakeholder-identified management practices that may improve the permitting process. GAO reviewed relevant laws and regulations and interviewed federal officials, state officials from a nonprobability sample of 11 states, and representatives from natural gas industry associations and public interest groups.

GAO makes no recommendations in this report. The Departments of Agriculture and Defense generally agreed with the findings, and the other agencies had no comments

GAO Report Released: EPA Needs Better Information on New Source Review Permits

Recently the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report, titled EPA Needs Better Information on New Source Review Permits GAO-12-590 (Jun 22, 2012).  The forty-four page report, available here, recommends that

EPA, among other actions, consider ways to develop a centralized source of data on NSR permits issued to electricity generating units. EPA expressed its commitment to filling gaps in its data systems, but disagreed with the actions GAO recommended. GAO believes that its recommendations would enhance oversight of NSR permitting and enforcement.

A virtually identical recommendation was made six years ago in report issued by the National Research Council in 2006 titled, New Source Review for Stationary Sources of Air Pollution.  For more information about the current structure and permit reporting for New Source Review permits under the Clean Air Act (CAA), see the additional resources listed below.

Additional Resources:

New Source Review Publications, EPA, http://www.epa.gov/nsr/publications.html (last visited July 26, 2012).

New Source Review, Policy & Guidance, EPA, http://www.epa.gov/nsr/guidance.html (last visited July 26, 2012).

Where You Live, NSR Permit Contacts, EPA, http://www.epa.gov/nsr/where.html (last visited July 26, 2012) (organized by state).