Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026.
Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1341) is amended—
by striking the heading and section designation and all that follows through may be. at the end of subsection (a)(1) and inserting the following:
In this paragraph:
The term certification application means a request from an applicant for a certification described in subparagraph (B).
The term certifying authority, with respect to a certification described in subparagraph (B), means the applicable entity described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of subparagraph (B)(i).
The term discharge, without any qualification, means the discharge of a pollutant from a point source.
Any applicant for a Federal license or permit to conduct an activity, including the construction or operation of facilities, that may result in a discharge from a point source into the waters of the United States shall provide the Federal licensing or permitting agency a certification that the discharge will comply with applicable water quality requirements from—
the State in which the discharge originates or will originate;
if appropriate, the interstate water pollution control agency with jurisdiction over the waters of the United States at the point where the discharge originates or will originate; or
if no State or interstate water pollution control agency has the authority to give such a certification, the Administrator.
In the case of any activity described in clause (i) for which there is not an applicable effluent limitation or other limitation under sections 301(b) and 302 and for which there is not an applicable standard under sections 306 and 307, the certifying authority shall so certify.
A certification under subclause (I) does not satisfy section 511(c).
Construction for which a certification is required under this subparagraph may not begin until the certification has been obtained, unless the requirement for the certification has been waived in accordance with this paragraph.
If a certifying authority denies a certification application, the Federal license or permit for which the certification application was made may not be granted.
In determining whether to issue a certification under this subparagraph and in determining what conditions to impose on a certification under this subparagraph, a certifying authority may only consider whether the point source discharge for which the certification application was made complies with applicable water quality requirements.
Each certifying authority shall establish procedures for—
public notice in the case of all certification applications;
to the extent the certifying authority determines to be appropriate, public hearings in connection with specific certification applications; and
a prefiling meeting as described in clause (ii).
Before submitting a certification application, the prospective applicant may request a prefiling meeting with the certifying authority—
to ensure that the certifying authority receives early notification of projects for which a certification under subparagraph (B) is necessary; and
to discuss informational needs with the certifying authority before submitting the application.
If a prospective applicant requests a prefiling meeting with a certifying authority pursuant to subclause (I), the certifying authority shall—
respond to the request not later than 30 days after the date on which the request is received; and
hold the prefiling meeting with the prospective applicant by not later than 60 days after the date on which the request is received.
A certifying authority may only deny a certification application if the certifying authority determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that there is no modification to or reasonable condition on the activities of the applicant that could make it possible for the activity to avoid violating the applicable water quality requirements.
A certifying authority may include a condition in a certification under this subparagraph that requires an applicant to modify the activity of the applicant only if the certifying authority determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the modification is—
necessary for the activity to avoid violating the applicable water quality requirements;
the least burdensome of possible modifications for the applicant, taking into account—
technical feasibility;
cost;
the purpose of the applicant in proposing the activity;
impacts on the schedule for the activity; and
commercial viability of the activity; and
consistent with the requirements of the Federal license or permit that is the subject of the certification.
If a certifying authority denies a certification application for an individual license or permit, the certifying authority shall provide to the applicable Federal licensing or permitting agency—
the specific applicable water quality requirements with which the discharge will not comply;
a statement explaining why the discharge will not comply with the identified applicable water quality requirements; and
if the denial is due to insufficient information, a description of the specific water quality data or information, if any, that would be needed to ensure that the discharge from the proposed project will comply with applicable water quality requirements.
If a certifying authority denies a certification application for a general license or permit, the certifying authority shall provide to the applicable Federal licensing or permitting agency—
the specific applicable water quality requirements with which discharges that could be authorized by the general license or permit will not comply;
a statement explaining why discharges that could be authorized by the general license or permit will not comply with the identified applicable water quality requirements; and
if the denial is due to insufficient information, a description of the specific water quality data or information, if any, that would be needed to ensure that the range of discharges that could be authorized by the general license or permit from potential projects will comply with applicable water quality requirements.
Not later than 60 days after the date on which a Federal licensing or permitting agency receives a notice described in clause (iii) or a certification under subparagraph (B) that includes conditions to that certification, the Federal licensing or permitting agency shall complete a review of the process undertaken by the certifying authority in reviewing the applicable certification application to determine whether the certifying authority established a reasonable period of time within which to review that certification application in accordance with subparagraph (D)(ii).
If, after carrying out a review under subclause (I) of the process undertaken by a certifying authority with respect to a denial of a certification application, a Federal licensing or permitting agency determines that the certifying authority did not, in determining the reasonable period of time within which to review the certification application, consider all of the factors described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of subparagraph (D)(ii), the Federal licensing or permitting agency shall—
deem the certifying authority to have failed to act on the certification application; and
pursuant to subparagraph (D)(iii), consider the requirement for a certification under subparagraph (B) waived.
If, after carrying out a review under subclause (I) of the process undertaken by a certifying authority with respect to including conditions to a certification under subparagraph (B), a Federal licensing or permitting agency determines that the certifying authority did not, in determining the reasonable period of time within which to review the applicable certification application, consider all of the factors described in subclauses (I), (II), and (III) of subparagraph (D)(ii), the Federal licensing or permitting agency shall consider the certification conditions void.
A certifying authority shall, subject to this subparagraph, issue to the applicable Federal licensing or permitting authority a final action on a certification application within a reasonable period of time, which—
shall be determined by the certifying authority by not later than 60 days after the date on which the certification application is received by the certifying authority; but
shall begin on the date on which the certification application is received by the certifying authority; and
shall not exceed 1 year from the date on which the certifying authority receives the certification application.
In determining the reasonable period of time under clause (i)(I), a certifying authority shall consider—
the complexity of the project described in the certification application;
the nature of any potential discharge from that project; and
the potential need for additional study or evaluation of water quality effects from the discharge.
If a certifying authority fails or refuses to issue a final action on a certification application by the end of the reasonable period of time established under this subparagraph, the requirement for a certification under subparagraph (B) shall be waived.
The reasonable period of time established for a certification application under this subparagraph may not be paused or tolled for any reason.
After completion of the reasonable period of time established under subparagraph (D) and any review that may be required under subparagraph (C)(iv) for a certification application, the certifying authority or Federal licensing or permitting authority, as applicable, shall apply only 1 of the following final actions to the certification application:
The certification application is granted.
The certification application is granted with conditions.
The certification application is denied.
The certification requirements under subparagraph (B) have been waived in accordance with this paragraph with respect to the activity for which the certification application was submitted.
No other final action may apply to a certification application except as described in clause (i).
The Federal licensing or permitting authority to which a certification under this subsection was issued shall be responsible for enforcing any conditions included with that certification.
in subsection (a) (as so amended)—
in paragraph (2), by striking (2) Upon receipt and inserting the following:
On receipt
in paragraph (3), by striking (3) The certification and inserting the following:
The certification
in paragraph (4), by striking (4) Prior to and inserting the following:
Prior to
in paragraph (5), by striking (5) Any Federal and inserting the following:
Any Federal
in paragraph (6), by striking (6) Except with and inserting the following:
Except with
in subsection (b), by striking (b) Nothing and inserting the following:
Nothing
in subsection (c), by striking (c) In order and inserting the following:
In order
by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
Any certification provided under this section shall set forth any effluent limitations and other limitations and monitoring requirements necessary to ensure that any discharge into navigable waters will comply with applicable water quality requirements and shall become a condition on any Federal license or permit subject to the provisions of this section.
by adding at the end the following:
In this paragraph, the term affected certification action means a civil action for the judicial review of a certification under subsection (a)(1) for a Federal license or permit—
for the construction or operation of a facility for—
the transmission of electric energy or energy fuels in interstate or foreign commerce; or
the transportation of carbon dioxide (including pipelines or associated infrastructure) in interstate or foreign commerce; or
from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Notwithstanding section 19(d)(1) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717r(d)(1)), an affected certification action shall be filed in a court of appeals of the United States—
for the circuit in which the applicant for certification under subsection (a) is located or has its place of business;
for the circuit for the State for which the affected certification action applies; or
for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The court of appeals in which an affected certification action is filed pursuant to clause (i) shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over the affected certification action.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no court shall have jurisdiction over an affected certification action unless the affected certification action has been filed not later than 30 days after the date on which final action was taken on the certification under subsection (a) for which review was sought by—
the applicant for the underlying Federal license or permit; or
a person who has suffered, or likely and imminently will suffer, direct and irreparable economic harm from the authorization, certification under subsection (a), Federal license or permit for which a certification under subsection (a) was sought, or activity for which that certification was sought.
With respect to an affected certification action, a court shall—
set any petition for review for expedited consideration; and
subject to clause (ii), issue a final decision not later than 120 days after the date on which the affected certification action was filed.
A court may extend the 120-day period under clause (i)(II) by not more than 60 days if the court determines that extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant the extended period.
With respect to an affected certification action seeking review of a certification under subsection (a)(1) the certification application (as defined in subsection (a)(1)) for which was granted, if a court fails to issue a final decision on the affected certification action by the end of the period described in clause (i)(II) and, if applicable, extended under clause (ii), the affected certification action shall be dismissed with prejudice.
If a Federal court remands a civil action for the judicial review of a certification under subsection (a)(1) for a Federal license or permit, the Federal court shall set and enforce a reasonable schedule and deadline, not to exceed 180 days from the date on which the Federal court remands the certification, for the certifying agency to act on the remand.
In this section, the term applicable water quality requirements means the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307.
Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) is amended—
by striking the heading and section designation and all that follows through (a) The Secretary and inserting the following:
The Secretary
in subsection (a)(1) (as so designated), in the second sentence—
by striking this subsection each place it appears and inserting paragraph (1); and
by striking Not later than the fifteenth day and inserting the following:
Not later than the 15th day
in subsection (c)—
in the third sentence—
by striking his finding and his reasons and inserting the findings and reasons of the Administrator; and
by striking The Administrator and inserting the following:
The Administrator
in the second sentence, by striking Before making such determination and inserting the following:
Before making a determination under paragraph (1)
by striking (c) The Administrator and inserting the following:
Subject to paragraph (2), the Administrator
by inserting after paragraph (1) (as so designated) the following:
The Administrator may not prohibit the specification of a defined area as a disposal site, or otherwise deny or restrict the use of a defined area as a disposal site after a permit under this section for the area has been issued by the Secretary.
in subsection (e)—
in paragraph (1), in the second sentence—
by striking subsection (b)(1) of this section, and (B) set forth and inserting the following:
subsection (b)(1); and
set forth
by striking shall (A) be based and inserting the following:
shall—
be based
by striking Any general and inserting the following:
Any general
by striking (e)(1) In carrying and inserting the following:
In carrying
in paragraph (2)—
by striking (2) No general and inserting the following:
No general
by striking five years and inserting 10 years; and
by adding at the end the following:
In determining the environmental effects of an activity under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary—
shall consider only the effects of any discharge of dredged or fill material resulting from the activity;
shall consider any effects of a discharge of dredged or fill material into fewer than 3 acres of navigable waters to be a minimal adverse environmental effect; and
may consider any effects of a discharge of dredged or fill material into 3 acres or more of navigable waters to be a minimal adverse environmental effect.
In this paragraph, the term single and complete project, with respect to a project for which the Secretary is determining whether a general permit issued under this subsection applies, means that portion of the total project proposed or accomplished by—
a single owner or developer;
a partnership of 1 or more owners or developers; or
an association of owners or developers.
In this clause, the term linear project means a project constructed for the purpose of getting people, goods, energy, or services from a point of origin to a terminal point, which may involve multiple crossings of 1 or more waters of the United States at separate and distant locations.
For purposes of this paragraph, with respect to projects described in clause (i) that are linear projects—
the crossings of separate waters of the United States at a specific location shall be considered 1 single and complete project; but
each crossing of a single water of the United States shall be considered a separate single and complete project if those crossings are at separate and distant locations.
For purposes of subclause (II), individual channels in a braided stream or river, individual arms of a large, irregularly-shaped wetland or lake, and other, similar bodies of water shall not be considered to be separate waters of the United States.
In determining whether a general permit issued under this subsection applies to an activity, the Secretary shall consider the estimated total of all losses of waters of the United States expected to result from the single and complete project.
The Secretary may combine 2 or more general permits issued under this subsection to authorize a single and complete project, but the same general permit issued under this subsection may not be used more than once for a single and complete project.
In determining whether to reissue a general permit issued under this subsection on a nationwide basis—
no consultation with an applicable State pursuant to section 6(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1535(a)) is required;
no consultation with a Federal agency pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) is required; and
for purposes of carrying out the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to that reissuance, conducting an environmental assessment on a nationwide basis is sufficient for purposes of compliance with that Act.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary shall maintain a nationwide permit for the activities required for the construction, maintenance, repair, operation, and removal of oil and natural gas pipelines and associated facilities that result in the loss of, with respect to waters of the United States, an area of fewer than 3 acres for each single and complete project (as defined in paragraph (4)(A)), which shall be known as nationwide permit 12.
in subsection (h)—
in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:
To issue permits not later than the date that is 1 year after the date on which the State receives an application for the permit, which may not be paused or tolled for any reason.
To ensure that, if the State does not issue a final action with respect to an application for a permit within the 1-year period described in subparagraph (I), the application is considered to be approved.
To carry out a programmatic review of the program annually to ensure that the program does not exceed the authority granted to the State under this section.
by adding at the end the following:
A State with a permit program approved under this subsection shall issue a final action with respect to an application for a permit described in subsection (g)(1) not later than 1 year after the date of receipt of the application.
An application for a permit described in subsection (g)(1) submitted to a State with a permit program approved under this subsection shall be considered to be approved if the State fails to issue a final action with respect to the application by the end of the 1-year period described in subparagraph (A).
The 1-year period described in subparagraph (A) may not be paused or tolled for any reason.
in subsection (s)(3), in the third sentence, by striking acton and inserting action;
in subsection (t), by striking (t) Nothing and inserting the following:
Nothing
by inserting after subsection (s) the following:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an action seeking judicial review of an individual or general permit issued under this section shall be filed not later than the date that is 60 days after the date on which the permit was issued.
Nothing in subparagraph (A) authorizes an action seeking judicial review of the structure of or authorization for a State permit program approved pursuant to this section.
If a Federal court remands a permit under this section, the Federal court shall set and enforce a reasonable schedule and deadline, which may not exceed 180 days from the date on which the Federal court remands the permit, for the issuer of the permit to act on that remand.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each category of activities authorized by a general permit issued under section 404(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(e)) (including nationwide permit 12) or under section 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403), that is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act shall, consistent with subparagraph (A) of section 404(e)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344(e)(1)), be considered to cause—
not more than minimal adverse environmental effects when actions authorized under those permits are carried out separately; and
not more than minimal cumulative adverse effects on the environment.
Nothing in this subsection or the amendments made by this subsection requires a State (including an Indian tribe that is treated as a State pursuant to section 518(e) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1377(e))) for which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has approved a permit program pursuant to subsections (g) and (h) of section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) to seek reapproval of the permit program in accordance with those subsections.
Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended—
in subsection (e)(3)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking find and inserting finds;
in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking Before January 1, 2015, the and inserting The; and
by striking subparagraph (C); and
by adding at the end the following:
In carrying out a finding of public interest under subsection (a), the Commission may not consider any environmental factors pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Section 103 c. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133(c)) is amended—
by striking c. Each such license and inserting the following:
Except as provided in paragraph (2), each such license
by adding at the end the following:
In the case of a license issued under this section for a utilization facility for the generation of electrical or thermal energy, the period of the license shall not exceed 60 years from the authorization to commence operations, and may be renewed on expiration of that period.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall finalize a rulemaking amending section 52.26 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, to provide that—
an early site permit issued after the date of enactment of this Act does not expire;
an early site permit issued before the date of enactment of this Act shall, without further review or approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, remain in effect indefinitely on the request of the permit holder or any other entity that references the early site permit in an application for a construction permit or combined license; and
an early site permit, regardless of when the permit is issued, may be revoked only on a finding by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, supported by clear and convincing evidence, that—
significant new information has arisen since the issuance of the early site permit with respect to the radiological, seismic, meteorological, hydrologic, geologic, or demographic characteristics of the site that was not considered during the original permitting proceeding and that renders the site unsuitable for the construction and operation of a nuclear power facility; or
revocation is necessary to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety or the common defense and security.
The construction and operation of a new nuclear reactor at a site for which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has previously issued, or is currently reviewing an application for, a construction permit, operating license, or combined license under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) shall be categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Title I of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is amended—
by redesignating section 112 (42 U.S.C. 4336f) as section 110A, and moving the section so as to appear after section 110; and
by inserting after section 110A (as so redesignated) the following:
If a court holds, under section 706(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, that a final agency action does not comply with the requirements of this Act, the only remedy the court may order, notwithstanding chapter 7 of that title, is to remand, without vacatur or injunction, the final agency action to the Federal agency with—
specific instruction to correct the errors or deficiencies found by the court; and
a reasonable schedule and deadline to correct such errors or deficiencies, which may not exceed—
with respect to an order entered before the date of enactment of this section, the date that is 180 days after that date of enactment; and
with respect to an order entered on or after the date of enactment of this section, the date that is 180 days after the date on which the order was entered.
A final agency action remanded under paragraph (1) shall remain in effect while the Federal agency corrects any errors or deficiencies found by the court.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim relating to whether a final agency action complies with the requirements of this Act shall be barred unless—
the claim is filed not later than 150 days after the final agency action is made public, unless a shorter deadline is specified under Federal law;
in the case of a final agency action for which there was a public comment period on an environmental document, the claim—
is filed by a party that submitted a substantive and unique comment during that public comment period by the noticed comment deadline for the environmental document and the comment was sufficiently detailed to put the applicable Federal agency on notice of the issue on which the party seeks review; and
concerns the same subject matter raised in the comment submitted during the public comment period;
the claim is filed by a party that has suffered or imminently will suffer direct harm from the final agency action; and
the claim does not challenge the establishment of a categorical exclusion.
If a Federal agency issues a supplemental environmental document in response to a court order remanding a final agency action, the deadline described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be the date on which the Federal agency makes public the agency action for which the supplemental environmental document is prepared.
A claim for review of a final agency action described in subparagraph (A) shall be limited to information contained in the final supplemental environmental document that was not contained in a previous environmental document for the final agency action.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), for any final agency action that authorizes or affects the use of land, minerals, or other resources held in trust at the time of the final agency action by the United States for the benefit of a federally recognized Indian Tribe, there shall be no administrative or judicial review of the final agency action based on a claim of failure to comply with the requirements of this Act.
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to actions for administrative or judicial review—
brought by the federally recognized Indian Tribe for which the United States holds the land, minerals, or other resources in trust; or
that involve reasonably foreseeable effects of the final agency action that occur outside the land, minerals, or other resources held in trust by the United States for the benefit of a federally recognized Indian Tribe.
A court shall issue a final judgment on a claim relating to whether a final agency action complies with the requirements of this Act—
as expeditiously as practicable; and
unless a shorter deadline is specified under Federal law, not later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the agency record for the review is filed with the reviewing court, which shall be not more than 60 days after the filing of the claim.
Nothing in this subsection prevents a court from further expediting review of a claim relating to whether a final agency action complies with the requirements of this Act.
A notice of appeal of a final judgment described in this subsection shall be filed not later than 60 days after the final judgment is issued.
In the case of a final agency action remanded under subsection (a)(1), the Federal agency and, if applicable, the applicant shall have the right to appeal during the pendency of the remand.
A court shall issue a final decision on an appeal filed under subparagraph (A)—
as expeditiously as practicable; and
not later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the notice of the appeal is filed.
Nothing in this section affects the right to obtain review under section 107(g)(3).