(a) Short title.—This Act may be cited as the “Energy Freedom Act”.

(b) Table of contents.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.

In this Act, the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

Congress finds that—

(1) natural gas is a safe and abundant resource and is proven to be environmentally responsible; and

(2) increasing the safe transmission of natural gas will lead to more reliable, abundant, and cleaner domestic supplies of energy that will contribute to job growth and economic development.

(a) FERC approvals.—Section 7(e) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f(e)) is amended—

(1) in the second sentence, by striking “The Commission” and inserting the following:

“(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The Commission”;

(2) by striking “(e) Except” and inserting the following:

“(e) Application procedure.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—Except”; and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as so designated) the following:

“(2) DEADLINE FOR PROCESSING APPLICATIONS.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Commission receives an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under subsection (c), the Commission shall—

“(i) complete all required consultations with other Federal agencies;

“(ii) review the application in accordance with the requirements of this section; and

“(iii) issue the certificate or deny the application.

“(B) REASONS FOR DENIAL.—If the Commission denies an application under subparagraph (A)(iii), the Commission shall state the reasons for the denial.”.

(b) Corps of Engineers approvals.—

(1) DEFINITION OF COVERED AUTHORIZATION.—In this subsection, the term “covered authorization” means an authorization or approval required under Federal law from the Secretary of the Army for any natural gas transmission project, including an authorization—

(A) under section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344);

(B) under section 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (commonly known as the “Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899”) (30 Stat. 1151, chapter 425; 33 U.S.C. 403);

(C) for an easement under section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185);

(D) for permission under section 14 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (commonly known as the “Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899”) (30 Stat. 1152, chapter 425; 33 U.S.C. 408);

(E) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and

(F) any other applicable Federal law.

(2) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the Army shall—

(A) approve or deny an application or request for a covered authorization, including the completion of any required consultations with other Federal agencies, by not later than 1 year after the date on which the application or request is submitted; and

(B) if the application or request for a covered authorization is denied, provide to the applicant or requester the reasons for the denial.

Section 7(c)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f)(c)(1)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A)—

(A) in the first sentence, by striking “or operations: Provided, however, That if any such” and inserting the following: “or operations.

“(ii) PRIOR OPERATIONS.—If any such”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(iii) PROJECTS THAT MEET SAFETY REGULATIONS.—With respect to any application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under clause (i) for which the Commission determines that the project covered by the application meets all safety regulations in effect as of the date of the application, the Commission shall issue the certificate without requiring further proof that public convenience and necessity will be served by the project, and without further proceedings.”;

(2) by striking “(c)(1)(A) No natural-gas company” and inserting the following:

“(c) Certificates of public convenience and necessity.—

“(1) APPLICATIONS.—

“(A) REQUIREMENT TO APPLY FOR CERTIFICATE.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—No natural-gas company”; and

(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking “(B) In all other cases the Commission” and inserting the following:

“(B) HEARINGS.—In all cases other than the cases described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A), the Commission”.

(a) Findings.—Congress finds that—

(1) increasing clean and safe natural gas exports will lead to increased investment and development of domestic supplies of natural gas that will contribute to job growth and economic development; and

(2) the export of clean and safe natural gas to other nations is of vital national interest to the United States.

(b) Natural gas exports.—Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(c)) is amended—

(1) by inserting “or any other nation not excluded by this section” after “trade in natural gas”;

(2) by inserting “and in any event by not later than 60 days after the date on which the application is received” before the period at the end;

(3) by striking “(c) For purposes” and inserting the following:

“(c) Expedited application and approval process.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes”; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) EXCLUSIONS.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Any nation subject to sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by the United States is excluded from expedited approval under paragraph (1).

“(B) DESIGNATION BY PRESIDENT OR CONGRESS.—The President or Congress may designate nations that may be excluded from expedited approval under paragraph (1) for reasons of national security.

“(3) ORDER NOT REQUIRED.—No order is required under subsection (a) to authorize the export or import of any natural gas to or from Canada or Mexico.”.

All applications to export natural gas from the United States to a foreign country submitted under section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(a)) during the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on January 1, 2025, are deemed approved.

(a) In general.—Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C)—

(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting “in the United States” after “human environment”;

(B) in clause (i), by inserting “in the United States” after “proposed action”; and

(C) in clause (ii), by inserting “in the United States” after “environmental effects”; and

(2) in subparagraph (F), by inserting “in any proposal or other major Federal action that involves the funding or development of projects outside the United States or the exclusive economic zone of the United States,” before “recognize”.

(b) Implementing regulations.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council on Environmental Quality shall revise the implementing regulations of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) under subchapter A of chapter V of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), in accordance with the amendments made by subsection (a).

No Presidential permit (or similar permit) required under Executive Order 13337 (3 U.S.C. 301 note; 69 Fed. Reg. 25299 (April 30, 2004)), Executive Order 11423 (3 U.S.C. 301 note; 33 Fed. Reg. 11741 (August 16, 1968)), section 301 of title 3, United States Code, Executive Order 12038 (43 Fed. Reg. 3674 (January 26, 1978)), Executive Order 10485 (18 Fed. Reg. 5397 (September 9, 1953)), or any other Executive order shall be necessary for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of an oil or natural gas pipeline or electric transmission facility, or any cross-border segment thereof.

Congress finds that regular and predictable leasing and permitting on Federal land is important to domestic energy production, which leads to robust competition and lower energy prices.

(a) Annual lease sales.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Secretary shall conduct a minimum of 4 oil and natural gas lease sales annually in each of the following States:

(1) Wyoming.

(2) New Mexico.

(3) Colorado.

(4) Utah.

(5) Montana.

(6) North Dakota.

(7) Oklahoma.

(8) Nevada.

(9) Alaska.

(10) Any other State in which there is land available for oil and natural gas leasing under that Act.

(b) Requirement.—In conducting a lease sale under subsection (a) in a State described in that subsection, the Secretary shall offer all parcels eligible for oil and gas development under the resource management plan in effect for the State.

(c) Replacement sales.—If, for any reason, a lease sale under subsection (a) for a calendar year is canceled, delayed, or deferred, including for a lack of eligible parcels, the Secretary shall conduct a replacement sale during the same calendar year.

Section 17(p) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(p)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS TO DRILL REFORM AND PROCESS.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date an application for a permit to drill is received by the Secretary, the Secretary shall decide whether to issue the permit.

“(B) EXTENSION.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may extend the period described in subparagraph (A) for up to 2 periods of 15 days each, if the Secretary has given written notice of the delay to the applicant.

“(ii) NOTICE.—The notice shall—

“(I) be in the form of a letter from the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary; and

“(II) include—

“(aa) the names and titles of the persons processing the application;

“(bb) the specific reasons for the delay; and

“(cc) a specific date a final decision on the application is expected.

“(C) NOTICE OF REASONS FOR DENIAL.—If the application is denied, the Secretary shall provide the applicant—

“(i) a written statement that provides clear and comprehensive reasons why the application was not accepted and detailed information concerning any deficiencies; and

“(ii) an opportunity to remedy any deficiencies.

“(D) APPLICATION DEEMED APPROVED.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii), if the Secretary has not made a decision on the application by the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date the application is received by the Secretary, the application shall be considered approved.

“(ii) EXCEPTIONS.—Clause (i) shall not apply in cases in which existing reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) are incomplete.

“(E) DENIAL OF PERMIT.—If the Secretary decides not to issue a permit to drill under this paragraph, the Secretary shall—

“(i) provide to the applicant a description of the reasons for the denial of the permit;

“(ii) allow the applicant to resubmit an application for a permit to drill during the 10-day period beginning on the date the applicant receives the description of the denial from the Secretary; and

“(iii) issue or deny any resubmitted application not later than 10 days after the date the application is submitted to the Secretary.

“(F) FEE.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall collect a single $6,500 permit processing fee per application from each applicant at the time the final decision is made whether to issue a permit under subparagraph (A).

“(ii) RESUBMITTED APPLICATION.—The fee required under clause (i) shall not apply to any resubmitted application.

“(iii) TREATMENT OF PERMIT PROCESSING FEE.—Subject to appropriation, of all fees collected under this paragraph for each fiscal year, 50 percent shall be—

“(I) transferred to the field office at which the fees are collected; and

“(II) used to process protests, leases, and permits under this Act.”.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may not declare a moratorium on the leasing of Federal land, including outer Continental Shelf land, for the drilling, mining, or collection of oil, gas, or coal, or for related activities, unless the moratorium is authorized by an Act of Congress.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) CRITICAL MINERAL.—The term “critical mineral” has the meaning given the term in section 7002(a) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)).

(2) FEDERAL LAND.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term “Federal land” means—

(i) National Forest System land;

(ii) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));

(iii) the outer Continental Shelf (as defined in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331)); and

(iv) land managed by the Secretary of Energy.

(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term “Federal land” includes land described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (A) for which the rights to the surface estate or subsurface estate are owned by a non-Federal entity.

(3) PRESIDENT.—The term “President” means the President or any designee of the President, including—

(A) the Secretary of Agriculture;

(B) the Secretary of Energy; and

(C) the Secretary.

(b) Prohibitions.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President may not carry out any action that would prohibit or substantially delay the issuance of any of the following on Federal land, unless such an action has been authorized by an Act of Congress:

(A) New oil and gas leases, drill permits, approvals, or authorizations.

(B) New coal leases, permits, approvals, or authorizations.

(C) New hardrock leases, permits, approvals, or authorizations.

(D) New critical minerals leases, permits, approvals, or authorizations.

(2) PROHIBITION ON WITHDRAWAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President may not withdraw any Federal land from forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, or disposition under laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials unless the withdrawal has been authorized by an Act of Congress.

Congress finds that regular and predictable leasing and permitting on the outer Continental Shelf is important to domestic energy production, which leads to robust competition and low energy prices.

(a) Offshore lease sales.—The Secretary shall conduct all lease sales described in the 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (November 2016) that have not been conducted as of the date of enactment of this Act by not later than December 31, 2022.

(b) Central and Western Gulf of Mexico region annual lease sales.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a final 2023–2027 oil and gas leasing program is not approved under section 18(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(a)) by July 1, 2022, the Secretary shall conduct a minimum of 2 region-wide oil and natural gas lease sales annually in the Gulf of Mexico Region of the outer Continental Shelf, which shall include the following areas described in the 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (November 2016):

(A) The Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.

(B) The Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.

(2) TIMING.—The Secretary shall conduct the first lease sales required under paragraph (1) in the first and third quarters of calendar year 2023.

(3) INCLUSIONS.—Each lease sale required under paragraph (1)—

(A) shall offer all unleased acres in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area; and

(B) shall be subject to the same lease stipulations, withdrawals, and moratoriums as were included in Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Region-wide Oil and Gas Lease Sale 256 conducted on November 18, 2020.

(4) CONTINUATION.—The Secretary shall conduct lease sales annually under this subsection until the date on which a new 5-year oil and gas leasing program is approved and implemented under section 18(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344(a)).

(c) Alaska region annual lease sales.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Secretary shall conduct a minimum of 2 region-wide oil and natural gas lease sales annually in the Alaska Region of the outer Continental Shelf, as described in the 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (November 2016).

(a) Designation of geothermal, solar, and wind leasing priority areas.—As soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall designate—

(1) 1 or more priority areas on Federal land for geothermal energy leasing;

(2) 1 or more priority areas on Federal land for solar energy leasing; and

(3) 1 or more priority areas on Federal land for wind energy leasing.

(b) Criteria for selection.—In determining whether Federal land should be designated as a priority area for geothermal, solar, or wind energy leasing under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall consider whether—

(1) production of geothermal, solar, or wind energy on the Federal land is economically viable, including whether the Federal land has access to existing methods of energy transmission; and

(2) the designation would comply with section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712), including subsection (c)(9) of that section.

(c) Timeline for leasing.—As soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year, after designating the priority areas under subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct, as applicable, geothermal, solar, or wind lease sales for the priority areas.

The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) by striking “lying seaward” and inserting the following: “lying—

“(1) seaward”;

(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by adding “or” after the semicolon at the end; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) within the exclusive economic zone of the United States adjacent to any territory or possession (other than an area conveyed by Congress to a territorial government for administration);”;

(2) in subsection (p), by striking “and” after the semicolon at the end;

(3) in subsection (q), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(r) The term ‘State’ means—

“(1) each of the several States; and

“(2) each territory or possession; and

“(s) The term ‘territory or possession’ means—

“(1) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

“(2) Guam;

“(3) American Samoa;

“(4) the United States Virgin Islands; and

“(5) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Congress finds that frequent change to major energy regulations have a detrimental effect on investment in, and development of, domestic energy production, which reduces competition and raises energy prices.

(a) Reinstatement.—The final rule of the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency entitled “The Navigable Waters Protection Rule: Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” (85 Fed. Reg. 22250 (April 21, 2020)) is hereby reinstated, and each of its provisions shall apply unless and until the effective date of a subsequent final rule promulgated, subject to subsection (b), under applicable authority that replaces or repeals that provision.

(b) Modification prohibited.—The Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not modify the final rule described in subsection (a) during the 15-year period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act.

(a) Reinstatement.—Notwithstanding Public Law 117–23 (135 Stat. 295), the final rule of the Environmental Protection Agency entitled “Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review” (85 Fed. Reg. 57018 (September 14, 2020)) is hereby reinstated, and each of its provisions shall apply unless and until the effective date of a subsequent final rule promulgated, subject to subsection (b), under applicable authority that replaces or repeals that provision.

(b) Modification prohibited.—The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may not modify the final rule described in subsection (a) during the 15-year period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act.

(a) Reinstatement.—The final rule of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue of the Department of the Interior entitled “ONRR 2020 Valuation Reform and Civil Penalty Rule” (86 Fed. Reg. 4612 (January 15, 2021)) is hereby reinstated, and each of its provisions shall apply unless and until the effective date of a subsequent final rule promulgated, subject to subsection (b), under applicable authority that replaces or repeals that provision.

(b) Modification prohibited.—The Secretary and the Director of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue may not modify the final rule described in subsection (a) during the 15-year period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act.

(a) Reinstatement.—The final rule of the Council on Environmental Quality entitled “Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act” (85 Fed. Reg. 43304 (July 16, 2020)) is hereby reinstated, and each of its provisions shall apply unless and until the effective date of a subsequent final rule promulgated, subject to subsection (b), under applicable authority that replaces or repeals that provision.

(b) Updates to implementing regulations.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council on Environmental Quality shall revise the implementing regulations of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) under subchapter A of chapter V of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), in accordance with the final rule described in subsection (a).

(c) Prohibition.—The Council on Environmental Quality may not modify the final rule described in subsection (a) during the 15-year period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of the Army may not modify nationwide permit 12, as described in the final rule of the Secretary of the Army entitled “Reissuance and Modification of Nationwide Permits” (86 Fed. Reg. 2744 (January 13, 2021)), during the 15-year period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act.