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I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 3767
To require the Council on Environmental Quality to submit to Congress
a report on the potential for online and digital technologies to address
delays in reviews and improve public accessibility and transparency under
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 31, 2023
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana (for himself and Ms. HOYLE of Oregon) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To require the Council on Environmental Quality to submit
to Congress a report on the potential for online and
digital technologies to address delays in reviews and im-
prove public accessibility and transparency under the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. E–NEPA.
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(a) PERMITTING PORTAL STUDY.—The Council on
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Environmental Quality shall conduct a study and submit
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a report to Congress within 1 year of the enactment of
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•HR 3767 IH
this Act on the potential for online and digital technologies
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to address delays in reviews and improve public accessi-
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bility and transparency under section 102(2)(C) of the
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National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
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4332(2)(C)) including, but not limited to, a unified per-
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mitting portal that would—
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(1) allow applicants to—
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(A) submit required documents or mate-
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rials for their project in one unified portal;
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(B) upload and collaborate with the appli-
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cable agencies to edit documents in real-time,
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as required;
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(C) upload and display visual features such
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as video, animation, geographic information
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system
displays,
and
three-dimensional
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renderings; and
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(D) track the progress of individual appli-
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cations;
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(2) include a cloud based, digital tool for more
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complex reviews that would enhance interagency co-
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ordination in consultation by—
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(A) centralizing, across all necessary agen-
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cies, the data, visuals, and documents, including
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but not limited to geographic information sys-
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tem displays, other visual renderings, and com-
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•HR 3767 IH
pleted reports and analyses necessary for re-
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views;
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(B) streamlining communications between
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all necessary agencies and the applicant;
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(C) allowing for comments and responses
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by and to all necessary agencies in one unified
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portal;
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(D) generating analytical reports to aid in
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organizing and cataloguing public comments;
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and
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(E) be accessible on mobile devices;
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(3) boost transparency in agency processes and
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present information suitable for a lay audience, in-
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cluding but not limited to—
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(A) scientific data and analysis; and
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(B)
anticipated
agency
process
and
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timeline; and
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(4) include examples describing how at least
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five permits would be reviewed and processed
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through this portal.
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(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
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authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for the Council
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on Environmental Quality to carry out the study directed
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by this section.
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Æ
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