To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress an updated report on the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality.
Impact
The implications of HB 8156 are significant as it seeks to reassess how the CEQ operates within the framework of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The bill requires an in-depth evaluation of whether the CEQ is meeting its responsibilities effectively, which could lead to reforms in its operations or even a shift in its assigned functions. Additionally, it raises the possibility of transferring certain responsibilities to other federal agencies if deemed more efficient, potentially altering the landscape of environmental oversight and policy enforcement.
Summary
House Bill 8156 mandates the Comptroller General of the United States to provide Congress with an updated report on the roles, responsibilities, and practices of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The bill stipulates that the report should be submitted within 120 days after enactment, ensuring timely oversight of the CEQ's functions. This updated evaluation aims to reflect the current effectiveness of the CEQ in shaping national environmental policy based on its historical performance outlined in a report from 1981.
Contention
One of the notable points of contention surrounding HB 8156 pertains to its focus on the Lower Snake River dams and their environmental impacts. The bill mandates that the updated report includes analyses of the Council's role in specific litigation related to these dams. Stakeholders may debate the adequacy of the CEQ's current practices, which could result in calls for stronger environmental protections or adjustments based on new scientific findings regarding the dams' effects on local ecosystems and wildlife.
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Council on Environmental Quality relating to "National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2".
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Council on Environmental Quality relating to "National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2".
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter".
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Statutory Updates to the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program".
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.
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter".