Federal

Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act

Source: Congress.gov · 419 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill allows the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to use environmental reviews that were already completed in the past to fulfill legal review requirements for new projects. The bill applies this process to major federal actions (projects involving federal funding or approval) if the new project is substantially similar to a project that was already reviewed.

Who It Affects

The Secretary of the Interior (for public lands decisions), the Secretary of Agriculture (for National Forest System Lands decisions) and federal agencies that propose major projects on these lands.

Key Provisions

• The Secretaries can use previously completed environmental assessments and environmental impact statements (detailed studies of how projects affect the environment) to meet the review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (a federal law requiring environmental review before major projects proceed) (Sec. 2(a)) • The Secretaries can only use old environmental reviews if they determine that the new proposed action is substantially the same as a previously analyzed action or alternative in an earlier environmental assessment or impact statement (Sec. 2(a)(1)) • The Secretaries can only use old environmental reviews if they determine that the effects of the proposed action are substantially the same as the effects analyzed in the existing environmental assessments or impact statements (Sec. 2(a)(2))

What Changes

If this bill becomes law, federal agencies can move forward with projects more quickly by relying on environmental reviews that are already completed, rather than conducting entirely new reviews for similar projects.

Important Definitions

Secretary concerned means the Secretary of the Interior for public lands and the Secretary of Agriculture for National Forest System Lands (Sec. 2(b)).

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1430 To direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to use certain previously completed environmental assessments and envi- ronmental impact statements to satisfy the review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 7, 2023 Mr. VALADAO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agri- culture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic- tion of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to use certain previously completed envi- ronmental assessments and environmental impact state- ments to satisfy the review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other pur- poses. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Determination of 4 NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 Mar 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1430.IH H1430 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1430 IH SEC. 2. DETERMINATION OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL 1 POLICY ACT ADEQUACY. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall use 3 previously completed environmental assessments and envi- 4 ronmental impact statements to satisfy the requirements 5 of section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act 6 of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332) with respect to any major Fed- 7 eral action if such Secretary determines that— 8 (1) the new proposed action is substantially the 9 same as a previously analyzed proposed action or al- 10 ternative analyzed in a previous environmental as- 11 sessment or environmental impact statement; and 12 (2) the effects of the proposed action are sub- 13 stantially the same as the effects analyzed in such 14 existing environmental assessments or environmental 15 impact statements. 16 (b) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—In this section, the 17 term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means— 18 (1) with respect to public lands, the Secretary 19 of the Interior; and 20 (2) with respect to National Forest System 21 Lands, the Secretary of Agriculture. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 Mar 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1430.IH H1430 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.