2004 U.S. Code
Title 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 15D - ALASKA NATURAL GAS PIPELINE
Sec. 720d - Federal Coordinator

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§720d. Federal Coordinator (a) Establishment

There is established, as an independent office in the executive branch, the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects.

(b) Federal Coordinator (1) Appointment

The Office shall be headed by a Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve a term to last until 1 year following the completion of the project referred to in section 720a of this title.

(2) Compensation

The Federal Coordinator shall be compensated at the rate prescribed for level III of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5314).

(c) Duties

The Federal Coordinator shall be responsible for—

(1) coordinating the expeditious discharge of all activities by Federal agencies with respect to an Alaska natural gas transportation project; and

(2) ensuring the compliance of Federal agencies with the provisions of this chapter.

(d) Reviews and actions of other Federal agencies (1) Expedited reviews and actions

All reviews conducted and actions taken by any Federal agency relating to an Alaska natural gas transportation project authorized under this section shall be expedited, in a manner consistent with completion of the necessary reviews and approvals by the deadlines under this chapter.

(2) Prohibition of certain terms and conditions

No Federal agency may include in any certificate, right-of-way, permit, lease, or other authorization issued to an Alaska natural gas transportation project any term or condition that may be permitted, but is not required, by any applicable law if the Federal Coordinator determines that the term or condition would prevent or impair in any significant respect the expeditious construction and operation, or an expansion, of the Alaska natural gas transportation project.

(3) Prohibition of certain actions

Unless required by law, no Federal agency shall add to, amend, or abrogate any certificate, right-of-way, permit, lease, or other authorization issued to an Alaska natural gas transportation project if the Federal Coordinator determines that the action would prevent or impair in any significant respect the expeditious construction and operation, or an expansion, of the Alaska natural gas transportation project.

(4) Limitation

The Federal Coordinator shall not have authority to—

(A) override—

(i) the implementation or enforcement of regulations issued by the Commission under section 720a of this title; or

(ii) an order by the Commission to expand the project under section 720c of this title; or

(B) impose any terms, conditions, or requirements in addition to those imposed by the Commission or any agency with respect to construction and operation, or an expansion of, the project.

(e) State coordination (1) In general

The Federal Coordinator and the State shall enter into a joint surveillance and monitoring agreement similar to the agreement in effect during construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, to be approved by the President and the Governor of the State, for the purpose of monitoring the construction of the Alaska natural gas transportation project.

(2) Primary responsibility

With respect to an Alaska natural gas transportation project—

(A) the Federal Government shall have primary surveillance and monitoring responsibility in areas where the Alaska natural gas transportation project crosses Federal land or private land; and

(B) the State government shall have primary surveillance and monitoring responsibility in areas where the Alaska natural gas transportation project crosses State land.

(f) Transfer of Federal Inspector functions and authority

On appointment of the Federal Coordinator by the President, all of the functions and authority of the Office of Federal Inspector of Construction for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System vested in the Secretary under section 3012(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 719e note; Public Law 102–486), including all functions and authority described and enumerated in the Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1979 (44 Fed. Reg. 33663), Executive Order No. 12142 of June 21, 1979 (44 Fed. Reg. 36927), and section 5 of the President's decision, shall be transferred to the Federal Coordinator.

(g) Temporary authority

The functions, authorities, duties, and responsibilities of the Federal Coordinator shall be vested in the Secretary until the later of the appointment of the Federal Coordinator by the President, or 18 months after October 13, 2004.

(Pub. L. 108–324, div. C, §106, Oct. 13, 2004, 118 Stat. 1259.)

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2) and (d)(1), was in the original “this division”, meaning division C of Pub. L. 108–324, Oct. 13, 2004, 118 Stat. 1255, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of division C to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 720 of this title and Tables.

Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1979, referred to in subsec. (f), is set out as a note under section 719e of this title.

Executive Order No. 12142, referred to in subsec. (f), is set out as a note under section 719e of this title.