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117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1050
To provide that a project to replace or improve a communications facility
following a major disaster or an emergency declared by the President
is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or histor-
ical preservation reviews, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 15, 2021
Mr. DUNN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural
Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide that a project to replace or improve a communica-
tions facility following a major disaster or an emergency
declared by the President is not subject to requirements
to prepare certain environmental or historical preserva-
tion reviews, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Connecting Commu-
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nities Post Disasters Act of 2021’’.
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SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF NEPA AND NHPA TO COVERED
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COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS.
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(a) NEPA EXEMPTION.—A covered project shall not
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be subject to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the
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National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
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4332(2)(C)).
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(b) NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT EX-
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EMPTION.—A covered project shall not be considered an
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undertaking under section 300320 of title 54, United
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States Code.
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(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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(1) COMMUNICATIONS
FACILITY.—The term
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‘‘communications facility’’ includes—
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(A) any wireless or wireline infrastructure
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for the transmission of writing, signs, signals,
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data, images, pictures, or sounds of all kinds;
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(B) any transmitting device, tower, or sup-
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port structure, and any equipment, switches,
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wiring, cabling, power sources, shelters, or cabi-
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nets, associated with the provision of commu-
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nications services; and
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(C) any antenna or apparatus that—
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(i) is designed for the purpose of
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emitting radio frequency;
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(ii) is designed to be operated, or is
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operating, from a fixed location; and
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•HR 1050 IH
(iii) is added to a tower, building, or
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other structure.
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(2) COMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE.—The term
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‘‘communications service’’ means a service for the
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transmission of writing, signs, signals, data, images,
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pictures, or sounds of all kinds.
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(3) COVERED
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘covered
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project’’ means a project that—
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(A) is to be carried out within an area for
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which the President has declared a major dis-
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aster or an emergency under the Robert T.
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Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
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ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
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(B) is to be carried out not later than 5
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years after the date on which the President
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made such declaration; and
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(C) replaces a communications facility
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damaged by such disaster or emergency or
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makes improvements to a communications facil-
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ity in such area that could reasonably be con-
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sidered as necessary for recovery from such dis-
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aster or emergency or to prevent or mitigate fu-
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ture disasters or emergencies.
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Æ
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