Committee Statements

HR 4517 United States Refinery Revitalization Act

H.R.4517
Passed 239-192
Burgess voted YES

Title:To provide incentives to increase refinery capacity in the United States.
Sponsor: Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] (introduced 6/4/2004) Cosponsors: (none)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; Senate Environment and Public Works
Related Bills: H.RES.671
Latest Major Action: 6/17/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY AS OF:
6/16/2004--Passed House, without amendment. (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

United States Refinery Revitalization Act of 2004 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of Energy to designate as a Refinery Revitalization Zone any area that: (1) has experienced mass layoffs at manufacturing facilities or contains an idle refinery; and (2) has an unemployment rate of at least 20 percent above the national average, as set forth at the time of designation as a Refinery Revitalization Zone.

(Sec. 5) Designates the Department of Energy (DOE) as Lead Agency for coordinating Federal authorizations and related environmental reviews of the facility upon request of an applicant for a Federal authorization related to the siting and operation of a refinery facility within a Refinery Revitalization Zone.

Instructs the Secretary to coordinate the Federal authorization and review process with any Indian Tribes and State and local agencies responsible for conducting any separate permitting and environmental reviews of the facility.

Directs DOE, as lead agency, to prepare a single environmental review document to be used as the basis for all decisions on the proposed project.

Sets forth an appeals process in the event the Federal authorization required for a refinery facility within a Refinery Revitalization Zone has been either denied, or an agency has failed to act by the deadline established by the Secretary.

Directs the Secretary and the appropriate heads of Federal agencies to enter into Memoranda of Understanding to ensure timely, coordinated review and permitting of refinery facilities within a Refinery Revitalization Zone.

Permits interested Indian Tribes and State and local agencies to enter into such Memoranda as well.