15 U.S.C. § 717n : US Code - Section 717N: Process coordination; hearings; rules of procedure

Search 15 U.S.C. § 717n : US Code - Section 717N: Process coordination; hearings; rules of procedure

(a) Definition
In this section, the term "Federal authorization" -
(1) means any authorization required under Federal law with
respect to an application for authorization under section 717b of
this title or a certificate of public convenience and necessity
under section 717f of this title; and
(2) includes any permits, special use authorizations,
certifications, opinions, or other approvals as may be required
under Federal law with respect to an application for
authorization under section 717b of this title or a certificate
of public convenience and necessity under section 717f of this
title.
(b) Designation as lead agency
(1) In general
The Commission shall act as the lead agency for the purposes of
coordinating all applicable Federal authorizations and for the
purposes of complying with the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(2) Other agencies
Each Federal and State agency considering an aspect of an
application for Federal authorization shall cooperate with the
Commission and comply with the deadlines established by the
Commission.
(c) Schedule
(1) Commission authority to set schedule
The Commission shall establish a schedule for all Federal
authorizations. In establishing the schedule, the Commission
shall -
(A) ensure expeditious completion of all such proceedings;
and
(B) comply with applicable schedules established by Federal
law.
(2) Failure to meet schedule
If a Federal or State administrative agency does not complete a
proceeding for an approval that is required for a Federal
authorization in accordance with the schedule established by the
Commission, the applicant may pursue remedies under section
717r(d) of this title.
(d) Consolidated record
The Commission shall, with the cooperation of Federal and State
administrative agencies and officials, maintain a complete
consolidated record of all decisions made or actions taken by the
Commission or by a Federal administrative agency or officer (or
State administrative agency or officer acting under delegated
Federal authority) with respect to any Federal authorization. Such
record shall be the record for -
(1) appeals or reviews under the Coastal Zone Management Act of
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), provided that the record may be
supplemented as expressly provided pursuant to section 319 of
that Act [16 U.S.C. 1465]; or
(2) judicial review under section 717r(d) of this title of
decisions made or actions taken of Federal and State
administrative agencies and officials, provided that, if the
Court determines that the record does not contain sufficient
information, the Court may remand the proceeding to the
Commission for further development of the consolidated record.
(e) Hearings; parties
Hearings under this chapter may be held before the Commission,
any member or members thereof, or any representative of the
Commission designated by it, and appropriate records thereof shall
be kept. In any proceeding before it, the Commission in accordance
with such rules and regulations as it may prescribe, may admit as a
party any interested State, State commission, municipality or any
representative of interested consumers or security holders, or any
competitor of a party to such proceeding, or any other person whose
participation in the proceeding may be in the public interest.
(f) Procedure
All hearings, investigations, and proceedings under this chapter
shall be governed by rules of practice and procedure to be adopted
by the Commission, and in the conduct thereof the technical rules
of evidence need not be applied. No informality in any hearing,
investigation, or proceeding or in the manner of taking testimony
shall invalidate any order, decision, rule, or regulation issued
under the authority of this chapter.