H.R. 1655 — Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act

This section exempts federal authorizations for covered communications projects from (1) National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) review by deeming them not major Federal actions under 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and (2) National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) review by deeming them not undertakings under 54 U.S.C. 300320. (As background, NEPA requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts, including alternatives and irreversible commitments, for major Federal actions significantly affecting the human environment; NHPA requires federal agencies to consider effects on historic properties.) A covered project replaces a communications facility damaged by a wildfire-related major disaster or emergency declared by the President, a state governor, or an Indian tribal chief executive, or makes necessary recovery or mitigation improvements, if conducted entirely within the declared area and not later than five years after the declaration date. (Thus, such projects require no NEPA environmental impact statements or NHPA Section 106 reviews.)