To provide that construction, rebuilding, or hardening of communications facilities following a major disaster or an emergency related to a wildfire is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 19, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
The Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act exempts wildfire-related communications infrastructure projects from two major federal environmental review requirements: the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. These exemptions apply to projects that rebuild, repair, or improve communications facilities damaged by wildfires or prevent future wildfire damage, but only within designated disaster areas and within five years of a wildfire declaration. The bill affects telecommunications companies, internet providers, and other communications infrastructure operators working to restore service after wildfires in areas declared as major disasters or emergencies by the President, state governors, or tribal governments. The legislation contains no specific funding allocations but streamlines the federal authorization process by eliminating lengthy environmental and historical reviews that would otherwise be required for such projects.
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