The term “natural gas company” has the meaning given the term in section 16451 of title 42, except that the term also includes a person engaged in the transportation of natural gas in intrastate commerce.
The term “public-utility company” has the meaning given the term in section 16451 of title 42.
The term “railroad carrier” has the meaning given the term in section 20102 of title 49.
The Secretary, after public notice, may accept and expend funds contributed by a non-Federal public entity or a public-utility company, natural gas company, or railroad carrier to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity, company, or carrier related to a project or activity for a public purpose under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army.
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that expediting the evaluation of a permit through the use of funds accepted and expended under this section does not adversely affect the timeline for evaluation (in the Corps district in which the project or activity is located) of permits under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army of other entities that have not contributed funds under this section.
Not later than December 31, 2022, the Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a followup study of the implementation by the Secretary of the authority provided under paragraph (2) to public-utility companies, natural gas companies, and railroad carriers, including an evaluation of the compliance with the requirements of this section and, with respect to a permit for those entities, the requirements of applicable Federal laws.
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the use of funds accepted under subsection (a) will not impact impartial decisionmaking with respect to permits, either substantively or procedurally.
None of the funds accepted under this section shall be used to carry out a review of the evaluation of permits required under subsection (b)(2)(A).
The Secretary shall ensure that all final permit decisions carried out using funds authorized under this section are made available to the public in a common format, including on the Internet, and in a manner that distinguishes final permit decisions under this section from other final actions of the Secretary.
The Secretary shall make all active agreements to accept funds under this section available on a single public Internet site.