This bill streamlines the federal permitting process for natural gas pipelines, water quality certifications, and mining operations by imposing tight deadlines and limiting environmental review requirements. For natural gas projects, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission becomes the sole lead agency for environmental reviews, with participating agencies having only 270 days (plus one possible 60-day extension) to complete their reviews. States lose their traditional authority to require water quality certifications under federal law—instead, they can only propose conditions that the Commission may accept only with "clear and convincing evidence" of necessity. The bill also restricts judicial challenges to pipeline decisions, preventing courts from vacating permits unless they find an imminent danger to health or the environment. The legislation makes similar changes to water pollution control laws, capping the time for water quality certifications at one year and requiring agencies to waive certification requirements if they miss that deadline. It also limits when courts can overturn permit denials and restricts who can challenge permits in court. For hardrock mining, the bill allows operators to claim up to five additional acres per mine for waste disposal without going through standard environmental review, and establishes a fund using mining fees to clean up abandoned mines. Broader changes to environmental law reduce the scope of environmental reviews by narrowing what impacts agencies must consider, extending the validity of environmental documents from five to ten years, and imposing strict deadlines—150 days for most legal challenges and 180 days for court decisions. The bill also limits when new scientific research can delay permits and makes it harder for the public to challenge agency decisions.