SB325
To Add Certain Gas Pipeline Facilities As An Exemption Under The Utility Facility Environmental And Economic Protection Act; And To Declare An Emergency.
Last Action (Feb. 27, 2023): Sine Die adjournment
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AI-Generated Summary
Senate Bill 325 amends the Utility Facility Environmental and Economic Protection Act in Arkansas to create a new exemption for certain gas pipeline facilities. Under this bill, gas pipelines constructed primarily to serve a single customer or group of customers and located entirely on land owned or leased by those customers are exempt from the regulatory requirements of the Act. To qualify, the pipeline must also be under the common ownership or control of the customer or customers served. The bill includes an emergency clause, citing economic conditions and the potential for job creation as reasons for the act to take effect immediately upon its approval. The legislation intends to streamline the development process for these specific, privately owned or controlled pipeline projects.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are industrial customers or private entities that require dedicated gas pipeline infrastructure, as the bill lowers the regulatory burden for constructing pipelines on their own property. Additionally, contractors and laborers may benefit from the potential increase in construction projects that the bill aims to facilitate.
Who Might Suffer?
Parties who might be negatively impacted include state regulatory agencies that exercise oversight under the Utility Facility Environmental and Economic Protection Act, as their jurisdiction is reduced. Furthermore, environmental groups or neighbors who might otherwise provide input or scrutiny regarding the environmental or economic impact of these pipeline projects during the certification process may find their ability to influence or challenge such developments diminished.
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