| 1 | 1 | | I |
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| 2 | 2 | | 118THCONGRESS |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1 |
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| 4 | 4 | | STSESSION H. R. 1577 |
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| 5 | 5 | | To amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambig- |
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| 6 | 6 | | uous provisions, reflect modern technologies, optimize interagency coordi- |
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| 7 | 7 | | nation, and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental |
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| 8 | 8 | | review process. |
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| 9 | 9 | | IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
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| 10 | 10 | | MARCH14, 2023 |
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| 11 | 11 | | Mr. G |
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| 12 | 12 | | RAVESof Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred to |
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| 13 | 13 | | the Committee on Natural Resources |
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| 14 | 14 | | A BILL |
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| 15 | 15 | | To amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 |
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| 16 | 16 | | to clarify ambiguous provisions, reflect modern tech- |
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| 17 | 17 | | nologies, optimize interagency coordination, and facilitate |
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| 18 | 18 | | a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental re- |
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| 19 | 19 | | view process. |
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| 20 | 20 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1 |
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| 21 | 21 | | tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 |
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| 23 | 23 | | This Act may be cited as the ‘‘BUILDER Act of 4 |
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| 24 | 24 | | 2023’’ or the ‘‘Building United States Infrastructure 5 |
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| 25 | 25 | | through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews Act of 6 |
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| 26 | 26 | | 2023’’. 7 |
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| 29 | 29 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 30 | 30 | | SEC. 2. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969. 1 |
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| 31 | 31 | | (a) P |
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| 32 | 32 | | ARAGRAPH(2) OFSECTION102.—Section 2 |
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| 33 | 33 | | 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 3 |
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| 34 | 34 | | (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)) is amended— 4 |
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| 35 | 35 | | (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘insure’’ 5 |
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| 36 | 36 | | and inserting ‘‘ensure’’; 6 |
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| 37 | 37 | | (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘insure’’ 7 |
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| 38 | 38 | | and inserting ‘‘ensure’’; 8 |
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| 39 | 39 | | (3) in subparagraph (C)— 9 |
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| 40 | 40 | | (A) by inserting ‘‘consistent with the provi-10 |
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| 41 | 41 | | sions of this Act and except as provided by 11 |
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| 42 | 42 | | other provisions of law,’’ before ‘‘include in 12 |
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| 43 | 43 | | every’’; 13 |
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| 44 | 44 | | (B) by striking clauses (i) through (v) and 14 |
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| 45 | 45 | | inserting the following: 15 |
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| 46 | 46 | | ‘‘(i) reasonably foreseeable environmental 16 |
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| 47 | 47 | | effects with a reasonably close causal relation-17 |
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| 48 | 48 | | ship to the proposed agency action; 18 |
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| 49 | 49 | | ‘‘(ii) any reasonably foreseeable adverse en-19 |
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| 50 | 50 | | vironmental effects which cannot be avoided 20 |
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| 51 | 51 | | should the proposal be implemented; 21 |
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| 52 | 52 | | ‘‘(iii) a reasonable number of alternatives 22 |
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| 53 | 53 | | to the proposed agency action, including an 23 |
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| 54 | 54 | | analysis of any negative environmental impacts 24 |
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| 55 | 55 | | of not implementing the proposed agency action 25 |
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| 56 | 56 | | in the case of a no action alternative, that are 26 |
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| 59 | 59 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 60 | 60 | | technically and economically feasible, are within 1 |
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| 61 | 61 | | the jurisdiction of the agency, meet the purpose 2 |
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| 62 | 62 | | and need of the proposal, and, where applicable, 3 |
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| 63 | 63 | | meet the goals of the applicant; 4 |
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| 64 | 64 | | ‘‘(iv) the relationship between local short- 5 |
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| 65 | 65 | | term uses of man’s environment and the main-6 |
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| 66 | 66 | | tenance and enhancement of long-term produc-7 |
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| 67 | 67 | | tivity; and 8 |
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| 68 | 68 | | ‘‘(v) any irreversible and irretrievable com-9 |
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| 69 | 69 | | mitments of Federal resources which would be 10 |
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| 70 | 70 | | involved in the proposed agency action should it 11 |
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| 71 | 71 | | be implemented.’’; and 12 |
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| 72 | 72 | | (C) by striking ‘‘the responsible Federal 13 |
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| 73 | 73 | | official’’ and inserting ‘‘the head of the lead 14 |
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| 74 | 74 | | agency’’; 15 |
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| 75 | 75 | | (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘Any’’ 16 |
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| 76 | 76 | | and inserting ‘‘any’’; 17 |
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| 77 | 77 | | (5) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) 18 |
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| 78 | 78 | | through (I) as subparagraphs (F) through (K), re-19 |
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| 79 | 79 | | spectively; 20 |
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| 80 | 80 | | (6) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-21 |
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| 81 | 81 | | lowing: 22 |
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| 82 | 82 | | ‘‘(D) ensure the professional integrity, including 23 |
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| 83 | 83 | | scientific integrity, of the discussion and analysis in 24 |
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| 84 | 84 | | an environmental document; 25 |
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| 87 | 87 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 88 | 88 | | ‘‘(E) make use of reliable existing data and re-1 |
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| 89 | 89 | | sources in carrying out this Act;’’; 2 |
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| 90 | 90 | | (7) by amending subparagraph (G), as redesig-3 |
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| 91 | 91 | | nated, to read as follows: 4 |
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| 92 | 92 | | ‘‘(G) consistent with the provisions of this Act, 5 |
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| 93 | 93 | | study, develop, and describe technically and economi-6 |
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| 94 | 94 | | cally feasible alternatives within the jurisdiction and 7 |
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| 95 | 95 | | authority of the agency;’’; and 8 |
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| 96 | 96 | | (8) in subparagraph (H), as amended, by in-9 |
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| 97 | 97 | | serting ‘‘consistent with the provisions of this Act,’’ 10 |
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| 98 | 98 | | before ‘‘recognize’’. 11 |
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| 99 | 99 | | (b) N |
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| 100 | 100 | | EWSECTIONS.—Title I of the National Envi-12 |
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| 101 | 101 | | ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 13 |
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| 102 | 102 | | is amended by adding at the end the following: 14 |
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| 103 | 103 | | ‘‘SEC. 106. PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF LEVEL OF 15 |
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| 104 | 104 | | REVIEW. 16 |
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| 105 | 105 | | ‘‘(a) T |
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| 106 | 106 | | HRESHOLDDETERMINATIONS.—An agency is 17 |
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| 107 | 107 | | not required to prepare an environmental document with 18 |
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| 108 | 108 | | respect to a proposed agency action if— 19 |
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| 109 | 109 | | ‘‘(1) the proposed agency action is not a final 20 |
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| 110 | 110 | | agency action within the meaning of such term in 21 |
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| 111 | 111 | | chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code; 22 |
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| 112 | 112 | | ‘‘(2) the proposed agency action is covered by 23 |
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| 113 | 113 | | a categorical exclusion established by the agency, an-24 |
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| 114 | 114 | | other Federal agency, or another provision of law; 25 |
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| 117 | 117 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 118 | 118 | | ‘‘(3) the preparation of such document would 1 |
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| 119 | 119 | | clearly and fundamentally conflict with the require-2 |
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| 120 | 120 | | ments of another provision of law; 3 |
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| 121 | 121 | | ‘‘(4) the proposed agency action is, in whole or 4 |
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| 122 | 122 | | in part, a nondiscretionary action with respect to 5 |
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| 123 | 123 | | which such agency does not have authority to take 6 |
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| 124 | 124 | | environmental factors into consideration in deter-7 |
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| 125 | 125 | | mining whether to take the proposed action; 8 |
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| 126 | 126 | | ‘‘(5) the proposed agency action is a rulemaking 9 |
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| 127 | 127 | | that is subject to section 553 of title 5, United 10 |
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| 128 | 128 | | States Code; or 11 |
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| 129 | 129 | | ‘‘(6) the proposed agency action is an action for 12 |
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| 130 | 130 | | which such agency’s compliance with another stat-13 |
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| 131 | 131 | | ute’s requirements serve the same or similar func-14 |
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| 132 | 132 | | tion as the requirements of this Act with respect to 15 |
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| 133 | 133 | | such action. 16 |
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| 134 | 134 | | ‘‘(b) L |
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| 135 | 135 | | EVELS OFREVIEW.— 17 |
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| 136 | 136 | | ‘‘(1) E |
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| 137 | 137 | | NVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT .— 18 |
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| 138 | 138 | | An agency shall issue an environmental impact 19 |
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| 139 | 139 | | statement with respect to a proposed agency action 20 |
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| 140 | 140 | | that has a significant effect on the quality of the 21 |
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| 141 | 141 | | human environment. 22 |
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| 142 | 142 | | ‘‘(2) E |
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| 143 | 143 | | NVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT .—An agen-23 |
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| 144 | 144 | | cy shall prepare an environmental assessment with 24 |
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| 145 | 145 | | respect to a proposed agency action that is not likely 25 |
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| 148 | 148 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 149 | 149 | | to have a significant effect on the quality of the 1 |
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| 150 | 150 | | human environment, or if the significance of such ef-2 |
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| 151 | 151 | | fect is unknown, unless the agency finds that a cat-3 |
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| 152 | 152 | | egorical exclusion established by the agency, another 4 |
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| 153 | 153 | | Federal agency, or another provision of law applies. 5 |
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| 154 | 154 | | Such environmental assessment shall be a concise 6 |
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| 155 | 155 | | public document prepared by a Federal agency to set 7 |
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| 156 | 156 | | forth the basis of such agency’s finding of no signifi-8 |
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| 157 | 157 | | cant impact. 9 |
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| 158 | 158 | | ‘‘(3) S |
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| 159 | 159 | | OURCES OF INFORMATION .—In making a 10 |
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| 160 | 160 | | determination under this subsection, an agency— 11 |
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| 161 | 161 | | ‘‘(A) may make use of any reliable data 12 |
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| 162 | 162 | | source; and 13 |
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| 163 | 163 | | ‘‘(B) is not required to undertake new sci-14 |
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| 164 | 164 | | entific or technical research. 15 |
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| 165 | 165 | | ‘‘SEC. 107. TIMELY AND UNIFIED FEDERAL REVIEWS. 16 |
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| 166 | 166 | | ‘‘(a) L |
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| 167 | 167 | | EADAGENCY.— 17 |
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| 168 | 168 | | ‘‘(1) D |
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| 169 | 169 | | ESIGNATION.— 18 |
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| 170 | 170 | | ‘‘(A) I |
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| 171 | 171 | | N GENERAL.—If there are two or 19 |
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| 172 | 172 | | more involved Federal agencies, such agencies 20 |
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| 173 | 173 | | shall determine, by letter or memorandum, 21 |
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| 174 | 174 | | which agency shall be the lead agency based on 22 |
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| 175 | 175 | | consideration of the following factors: 23 |
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| 176 | 176 | | ‘‘(i) Magnitude of agency’s involve-24 |
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| 177 | 177 | | ment. 25 |
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| 180 | 180 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 181 | 181 | | ‘‘(ii) Project approval or disapproval 1 |
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| 182 | 182 | | authority. 2 |
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| 183 | 183 | | ‘‘(iii) Expertise concerning the ac-3 |
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| 184 | 184 | | tion’s environmental effects. 4 |
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| 185 | 185 | | ‘‘(iv) Duration of agency’s involve-5 |
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| 186 | 186 | | ment. 6 |
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| 187 | 187 | | ‘‘(v) Sequence of agency’s involve-7 |
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| 188 | 188 | | ment. 8 |
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| 189 | 189 | | ‘‘(B) J |
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| 190 | 190 | | OINT LEAD AGENCIES .—In making 9 |
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| 191 | 191 | | a determination under subparagraph (A), the 10 |
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| 192 | 192 | | involved Federal agencies may, in addition to a 11 |
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| 193 | 193 | | Federal agency, appoint such Federal, State, 12 |
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| 194 | 194 | | Tribal, or local agencies as joint lead agencies 13 |
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| 195 | 195 | | as the involved Federal agencies shall determine 14 |
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| 196 | 196 | | appropriate. Joint lead agencies shall jointly 15 |
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| 197 | 197 | | fulfill the role described in paragraph (2). 16 |
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| 198 | 198 | | ‘‘(C) M |
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| 199 | 199 | | INERAL PROJECTS .—This para-17 |
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| 200 | 200 | | graph shall not apply with respect to a mineral 18 |
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| 201 | 201 | | exploration or mine permit. 19 |
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| 202 | 202 | | ‘‘(2) R |
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| 203 | 203 | | OLE.—A lead agency shall, with respect 20 |
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| 204 | 204 | | to a proposed agency action— 21 |
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| 205 | 205 | | ‘‘(A) supervise the preparation of an envi-22 |
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| 206 | 206 | | ronmental document if, with respect to such 23 |
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| 207 | 207 | | proposed agency action, there is more than one 24 |
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| 208 | 208 | | involved Federal agency; 25 |
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| 211 | 211 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 212 | 212 | | ‘‘(B) request the participation of each co-1 |
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| 213 | 213 | | operating agency at the earliest practicable 2 |
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| 214 | 214 | | time; 3 |
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| 215 | 215 | | ‘‘(C) in preparing an environmental docu-4 |
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| 216 | 216 | | ment, give consideration to any analysis or pro-5 |
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| 217 | 217 | | posal created by a cooperating agency with ju-6 |
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| 218 | 218 | | risdiction by law or a cooperating agency with 7 |
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| 219 | 219 | | special expertise; 8 |
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| 220 | 220 | | ‘‘(D) develop a schedule, in consultation 9 |
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| 221 | 221 | | with each involved cooperating agency, the ap-10 |
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| 222 | 222 | | plicant, and such other entities as the lead 11 |
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| 223 | 223 | | agency determines appropriate, for completion 12 |
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| 224 | 224 | | of any environmental review, permit, or author-13 |
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| 225 | 225 | | ization required to carry out the proposed agen-14 |
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| 226 | 226 | | cy action; 15 |
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| 227 | 227 | | ‘‘(E) if the lead agency determines that a 16 |
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| 228 | 228 | | review, permit, or authorization will not be com-17 |
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| 229 | 229 | | pleted in accordance with the schedule devel-18 |
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| 230 | 230 | | oped under subparagraph (D), notify the agen-19 |
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| 231 | 231 | | cy responsible for issuing such review, permit, 20 |
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| 232 | 232 | | or authorization of the discrepancy and request 21 |
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| 233 | 233 | | that such agency take such measures as such 22 |
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| 234 | 234 | | agency determines appropriate to comply with 23 |
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| 235 | 235 | | such schedule; and 24 |
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| 238 | 238 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 239 | 239 | | ‘‘(F) meet with a cooperating agency that 1 |
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| 240 | 240 | | requests such a meeting. 2 |
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| 241 | 241 | | ‘‘(3) C |
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| 242 | 242 | | OOPERATING AGENCY .—The lead agency 3 |
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| 243 | 243 | | may, with respect to a proposed agency action, des-4 |
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| 244 | 244 | | ignate any involved Federal agency or a State, Trib-5 |
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| 245 | 245 | | al, or local agency as a cooperating agency. A co-6 |
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| 246 | 246 | | operating agency may, not later than a date speci-7 |
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| 247 | 247 | | fied by the lead agency, submit comments to the 8 |
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| 248 | 248 | | lead agency. Such comments shall be limited to mat-9 |
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| 249 | 249 | | ters relating to the proposed agency action with re-10 |
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| 250 | 250 | | spect to which such agency has special expertise or 11 |
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| 251 | 251 | | jurisdiction by law with respect to an environmental 12 |
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| 252 | 252 | | issue. 13 |
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| 253 | 253 | | ‘‘(4) R |
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| 254 | 254 | | EQUEST FOR DESIGNATION .—Any Fed-14 |
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| 255 | 255 | | eral, State, Tribal, or local agency or person that is 15 |
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| 256 | 256 | | substantially affected by the lack of a designation of 16 |
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| 257 | 257 | | a lead agency with respect to a proposed agency ac-17 |
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| 258 | 258 | | tion under paragraph (1) may submit a written re-18 |
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| 259 | 259 | | quest for such a designation to an involved Federal 19 |
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| 260 | 260 | | agency. An agency that receives a request under this 20 |
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| 261 | 261 | | paragraph shall transmit such request to each in-21 |
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| 262 | 262 | | volved Federal agency and to the Council. 22 |
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| 263 | 263 | | ‘‘(5) C |
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| 264 | 264 | | OUNCIL DESIGNATION.— 23 |
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| 265 | 265 | | ‘‘(A) R |
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| 266 | 266 | | EQUEST.—Not earlier than 45 days 24 |
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| 267 | 267 | | after the date on which a request is submitted 25 |
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| 270 | 270 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 271 | 271 | | under paragraph (4), if no designation has been 1 |
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| 272 | 272 | | made under paragraph (1), a Federal, State, 2 |
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| 273 | 273 | | Tribal, or local agency or person that is sub-3 |
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| 274 | 274 | | stantially affected by the lack of a designation 4 |
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| 275 | 275 | | of a lead agency may request that the Council 5 |
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| 276 | 276 | | designate a lead agency. Such request shall con-6 |
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| 277 | 277 | | sist of— 7 |
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| 278 | 278 | | ‘‘(i) a precise description of the nature 8 |
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| 279 | 279 | | and extent of the proposed agency action; 9 |
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| 280 | 280 | | and 10 |
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| 281 | 281 | | ‘‘(ii) a detailed statement with respect 11 |
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| 282 | 282 | | to each involved Federal agency and each 12 |
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| 283 | 283 | | factor listed in paragraph (1) regarding 13 |
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| 284 | 284 | | which agency should serve as lead agency. 14 |
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| 285 | 285 | | ‘‘(B) T |
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| 286 | 286 | | RANSMISSION.—The Council shall 15 |
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| 287 | 287 | | transmit a request received under subparagraph 16 |
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| 288 | 288 | | (A) to each involved Federal agency. 17 |
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| 289 | 289 | | ‘‘(C) R |
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| 290 | 290 | | ESPONSE.—An involved Federal 18 |
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| 291 | 291 | | agency may, not later than 20 days after the 19 |
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| 292 | 292 | | date of the submission of a request under sub-20 |
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| 293 | 293 | | paragraph (A), submit to the Council a re-21 |
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| 294 | 294 | | sponse to such request. 22 |
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| 295 | 295 | | ‘‘(D) D |
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| 296 | 296 | | ESIGNATION.—Not later than 40 23 |
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| 297 | 297 | | days after the date of the submission of a re-24 |
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| 298 | 298 | | quest under subparagraph (A), the Council 25 |
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| 301 | 301 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 302 | 302 | | shall designate the lead agency with respect to 1 |
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| 303 | 303 | | the relevant proposed agency action. 2 |
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| 304 | 304 | | ‘‘(b) O |
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| 305 | 305 | | NEDOCUMENT.— 3 |
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| 306 | 306 | | ‘‘(1) D |
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| 307 | 307 | | OCUMENT.—To the extent practicable, if 4 |
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| 308 | 308 | | there are 2 or more involved Federal agencies with 5 |
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| 309 | 309 | | respect to a proposed agency action and the lead 6 |
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| 310 | 310 | | agency has determined that an environmental docu-7 |
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| 311 | 311 | | ment is required, such requirement shall be deemed 8 |
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| 312 | 312 | | satisfied with respect to all involved Federal agencies 9 |
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| 313 | 313 | | if the lead agency issues such an environmental doc-10 |
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| 314 | 314 | | ument. 11 |
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| 315 | 315 | | ‘‘(2) C |
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| 316 | 316 | | ONSIDERATION TIMING .—In developing 12 |
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| 317 | 317 | | an environmental document for a proposed agency 13 |
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| 318 | 318 | | action, no involved Federal agency shall be required 14 |
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| 319 | 319 | | to consider any information that becomes available 15 |
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| 320 | 320 | | after the sooner of, as applicable— 16 |
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| 321 | 321 | | ‘‘(A) receipt of a complete application with 17 |
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| 322 | 322 | | respect to such proposed agency action; or 18 |
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| 323 | 323 | | ‘‘(B) publication of a notice of intent or 19 |
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| 324 | 324 | | decision to prepare an environmental impact 20 |
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| 325 | 325 | | statement for such proposed agency action. 21 |
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| 326 | 326 | | ‘‘(3) S |
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| 327 | 327 | | COPE OF REVIEW.—In developing an en-22 |
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| 328 | 328 | | vironmental document for a proposed agency action, 23 |
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| 329 | 329 | | the lead agency and any other involved Federal 24 |
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| 332 | 332 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 333 | 333 | | agencies shall only consider the effects of the pro-1 |
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| 334 | 334 | | posed agency action that— 2 |
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| 335 | 335 | | ‘‘(A) occur on Federal land; or 3 |
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| 336 | 336 | | ‘‘(B) are subject to Federal control and re-4 |
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| 337 | 337 | | sponsibility. 5 |
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| 338 | 338 | | ‘‘(c) R |
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| 339 | 339 | | EQUEST FORPUBLICCOMMENT.—Each notice 6 |
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| 340 | 340 | | of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 7 |
|---|
| 341 | 341 | | under section 102 shall include a request for public com-8 |
|---|
| 342 | 342 | | ment on alternatives or impacts and on relevant informa-9 |
|---|
| 343 | 343 | | tion, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposed 10 |
|---|
| 344 | 344 | | agency action. 11 |
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| 345 | 345 | | ‘‘(d) S |
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| 346 | 346 | | TATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND NEED.—Each 12 |
|---|
| 347 | 347 | | environmental impact statement shall include a statement 13 |
|---|
| 348 | 348 | | of purpose and need that briefly summarizes the under-14 |
|---|
| 349 | 349 | | lying purpose and need for the proposed agency action. 15 |
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| 350 | 350 | | ‘‘(e) E |
|---|
| 351 | 351 | | STIMATEDTOTALCOST.—The cover sheet for 16 |
|---|
| 352 | 352 | | each environmental impact statement shall include a state-17 |
|---|
| 353 | 353 | | ment of the estimated total cost of preparing such environ-18 |
|---|
| 354 | 354 | | mental impact statement, including the costs of agency 19 |
|---|
| 355 | 355 | | full-time equivalent personnel hours, contractor costs, and 20 |
|---|
| 356 | 356 | | other direct costs. 21 |
|---|
| 357 | 357 | | ‘‘(f) P |
|---|
| 358 | 358 | | AGELIMITS.— 22 |
|---|
| 359 | 359 | | ‘‘(1) E |
|---|
| 360 | 360 | | NVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS .— 23 |
|---|
| 361 | 361 | | ‘‘(A) I |
|---|
| 362 | 362 | | N GENERAL.—Except as provided in 24 |
|---|
| 363 | 363 | | subparagraph (B), an environmental impact 25 |
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| 366 | 366 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 367 | 367 | | statement shall not exceed 150 pages, not in-1 |
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| 368 | 368 | | cluding any citations or appendices. 2 |
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| 369 | 369 | | ‘‘(B) E |
|---|
| 370 | 370 | | XTRAORDINARY COMPLEXITY .—An 3 |
|---|
| 371 | 371 | | environmental impact statement for a proposed 4 |
|---|
| 372 | 372 | | agency action of extraordinary complexity shall 5 |
|---|
| 373 | 373 | | not exceed 300 pages, not including any cita-6 |
|---|
| 374 | 374 | | tions or appendices. 7 |
|---|
| 375 | 375 | | ‘‘(2) E |
|---|
| 376 | 376 | | NVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS .—An en-8 |
|---|
| 377 | 377 | | vironmental assessment shall not exceed 75 pages, 9 |
|---|
| 378 | 378 | | not including any citations or appendices. 10 |
|---|
| 379 | 379 | | ‘‘(g) S |
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| 380 | 380 | | PONSORPREPARATION.—A lead agency shall 11 |
|---|
| 381 | 381 | | allow a project sponsor to prepare an environmental as-12 |
|---|
| 382 | 382 | | sessment or an environmental impact statement upon re-13 |
|---|
| 383 | 383 | | quest of the project sponsor. Such agency may provide 14 |
|---|
| 384 | 384 | | such sponsor with appropriate guidance and assist in the 15 |
|---|
| 385 | 385 | | preparation. The lead agency shall independently evaluate 16 |
|---|
| 386 | 386 | | the environmental document and shall take responsibility 17 |
|---|
| 387 | 387 | | for the contents upon adoption. 18 |
|---|
| 388 | 388 | | ‘‘(h) D |
|---|
| 389 | 389 | | EADLINES.— 19 |
|---|
| 390 | 390 | | ‘‘(1) I |
|---|
| 391 | 391 | | N GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-20 |
|---|
| 392 | 392 | | graph (2), with respect to a proposed agency action, 21 |
|---|
| 393 | 393 | | a lead agency shall complete, as applicable— 22 |
|---|
| 394 | 394 | | ‘‘(A) the environmental impact statement 23 |
|---|
| 395 | 395 | | not later than the date that is 2 years after the 24 |
|---|
| 396 | 396 | | sooner of, as applicable— 25 |
|---|
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| 398 | 398 | | kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 14 |
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| 399 | 399 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 400 | 400 | | ‘‘(i) the date on which such agency 1 |
|---|
| 401 | 401 | | determines that section 102(2)(C) requires 2 |
|---|
| 402 | 402 | | the issuance of an environmental impact 3 |
|---|
| 403 | 403 | | statement with respect to such action; 4 |
|---|
| 404 | 404 | | ‘‘(ii) the date on which such agency 5 |
|---|
| 405 | 405 | | notifies the applicant that the application 6 |
|---|
| 406 | 406 | | to establish a right-of-way for such action 7 |
|---|
| 407 | 407 | | is complete; and 8 |
|---|
| 408 | 408 | | ‘‘(iii) the date on which such agency 9 |
|---|
| 409 | 409 | | issues a notice of intent to prepare the en-10 |
|---|
| 410 | 410 | | vironmental impact statement for such ac-11 |
|---|
| 411 | 411 | | tion; and 12 |
|---|
| 412 | 412 | | ‘‘(B) the environmental assessment not 13 |
|---|
| 413 | 413 | | later than the date that is 1 year after the 14 |
|---|
| 414 | 414 | | sooner of, as applicable— 15 |
|---|
| 415 | 415 | | ‘‘(i) the date on which such agency 16 |
|---|
| 416 | 416 | | determines that section 106(b)(2) requires 17 |
|---|
| 417 | 417 | | the preparation of an environmental as-18 |
|---|
| 418 | 418 | | sessment with respect to such action; 19 |
|---|
| 419 | 419 | | ‘‘(ii) the date on which such agency 20 |
|---|
| 420 | 420 | | notifies the applicant that the application 21 |
|---|
| 421 | 421 | | to establish a right-of-way for such action 22 |
|---|
| 422 | 422 | | is complete; and 23 |
|---|
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| 424 | 424 | | kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 15 |
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| 425 | 425 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 426 | 426 | | ‘‘(iii) the date on which such agency 1 |
|---|
| 427 | 427 | | issues a notice of intent to prepare the en-2 |
|---|
| 428 | 428 | | vironmental assessment for such action. 3 |
|---|
| 429 | 429 | | ‘‘(2) D |
|---|
| 430 | 430 | | ELAY.—A lead agency that determines it 4 |
|---|
| 431 | 431 | | is not able to meet the deadline described in para-5 |
|---|
| 432 | 432 | | graph (1) may extend such deadline with the ap-6 |
|---|
| 433 | 433 | | proval of the applicant. If the applicant approves 7 |
|---|
| 434 | 434 | | such an extension, the lead agency shall establish a 8 |
|---|
| 435 | 435 | | new deadline that provides only so much additional 9 |
|---|
| 436 | 436 | | time as is necessary to complete such environmental 10 |
|---|
| 437 | 437 | | impact statement or environmental assessment. 11 |
|---|
| 438 | 438 | | ‘‘(3) E |
|---|
| 439 | 439 | | XPENDITURES FOR DELAY .—If a lead 12 |
|---|
| 440 | 440 | | agency is unable to meet the deadline described in 13 |
|---|
| 441 | 441 | | paragraph (1) or extended under paragraph (2), the 14 |
|---|
| 442 | 442 | | lead agency must pay $100 per day, to the extent 15 |
|---|
| 443 | 443 | | funding is provided in advance in an appropriations 16 |
|---|
| 444 | 444 | | Act, out of the office of the head of the department 17 |
|---|
| 445 | 445 | | of the lead agency to the applicant starting on the 18 |
|---|
| 446 | 446 | | first day immediately following the deadline de-19 |
|---|
| 447 | 447 | | scribed in paragraph (1) or extended under para-20 |
|---|
| 448 | 448 | | graph (2) up until the date that an applicant ap-21 |
|---|
| 449 | 449 | | proves a new deadline. This paragraph does not 22 |
|---|
| 450 | 450 | | apply when the lead agency misses a deadline solely 23 |
|---|
| 451 | 451 | | due to delays caused by litigation. 24 |
|---|
| 452 | 452 | | ‘‘(i) R |
|---|
| 453 | 453 | | EPORT.— 25 |
|---|
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| 456 | 456 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 457 | 457 | | ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of each lead 1 |
|---|
| 458 | 458 | | agency shall annually submit to the Committee on 2 |
|---|
| 459 | 459 | | Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 3 |
|---|
| 460 | 460 | | and the Committee on Environment and Public 4 |
|---|
| 461 | 461 | | Works of the Senate a report that— 5 |
|---|
| 462 | 462 | | ‘‘(A) identifies any environmental assess-6 |
|---|
| 463 | 463 | | ment and environmental impact statement that 7 |
|---|
| 464 | 464 | | such lead agency did not complete by the dead-8 |
|---|
| 465 | 465 | | line described in subsection (h); and 9 |
|---|
| 466 | 466 | | ‘‘(B) provides an explanation for any fail-10 |
|---|
| 467 | 467 | | ure to meet such deadline. 11 |
|---|
| 468 | 468 | | ‘‘(2) I |
|---|
| 469 | 469 | | NCLUSIONS.—Each report submitted 12 |
|---|
| 470 | 470 | | under paragraph (1) shall identify, as applicable— 13 |
|---|
| 471 | 471 | | ‘‘(A) the office, bureau, division, unit, or 14 |
|---|
| 472 | 472 | | other entity within the Federal agency respon-15 |
|---|
| 473 | 473 | | sible for each such environmental assessment 16 |
|---|
| 474 | 474 | | and environmental impact statement; 17 |
|---|
| 475 | 475 | | ‘‘(B) the date on which— 18 |
|---|
| 476 | 476 | | ‘‘(i) such lead agency notified the ap-19 |
|---|
| 477 | 477 | | plicant that the application to establish a 20 |
|---|
| 478 | 478 | | right-of-way for the major Federal action 21 |
|---|
| 479 | 479 | | is complete; 22 |
|---|
| 480 | 480 | | ‘‘(ii) such lead agency began the 23 |
|---|
| 481 | 481 | | scoping for the major Federal action; or 24 |
|---|
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| 483 | 483 | | kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 17 |
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| 484 | 484 | | •HR 1577 IH |
|---|
| 485 | 485 | | ‘‘(iii) such lead agency issued a notice 1 |
|---|
| 486 | 486 | | of intent to prepare the environmental as-2 |
|---|
| 487 | 487 | | sessment or environmental impact state-3 |
|---|
| 488 | 488 | | ment for the major Federal action; and 4 |
|---|
| 489 | 489 | | ‘‘(C) when such environmental assessment 5 |
|---|
| 490 | 490 | | and environmental impact statement is expected 6 |
|---|
| 491 | 491 | | to be complete. 7 |
|---|
| 492 | 492 | | ‘‘SEC. 108. JUDICIAL REVIEW. 8 |
|---|
| 493 | 493 | | ‘‘(a) L |
|---|
| 494 | 494 | | IMITATIONS ON CLAIMS.—Notwithstanding 9 |
|---|
| 495 | 495 | | any other provision of law, a claim arising under Federal 10 |
|---|
| 496 | 496 | | law seeking judicial review of compliance with this Act, 11 |
|---|
| 497 | 497 | | of a determination made under this Act, or of Federal ac-12 |
|---|
| 498 | 498 | | tion resulting from a determination made under this Act, 13 |
|---|
| 499 | 499 | | shall be barred unless— 14 |
|---|
| 500 | 500 | | ‘‘(1) in the case of a claim pertaining to a pro-15 |
|---|
| 501 | 501 | | posed agency action for which— 16 |
|---|
| 502 | 502 | | ‘‘(A) an environmental document was pre-17 |
|---|
| 503 | 503 | | pared and an opportunity for comment was pro-18 |
|---|
| 504 | 504 | | vided; 19 |
|---|
| 505 | 505 | | ‘‘(B) the claim is filed by a party that par-20 |
|---|
| 506 | 506 | | ticipated in the administrative proceedings re-21 |
|---|
| 507 | 507 | | garding such environmental document; and 22 |
|---|
| 508 | 508 | | ‘‘(C) the claim— 23 |
|---|
| 509 | 509 | | ‘‘(i) is filed by a party that submitted 24 |
|---|
| 510 | 510 | | a comment during the public comment pe-25 |
|---|
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| 512 | 512 | | kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 18 |
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| 513 | 513 | | •HR 1577 IH |
|---|
| 514 | 514 | | riod for such administrative proceedings 1 |
|---|
| 515 | 515 | | and such comment was sufficiently detailed 2 |
|---|
| 516 | 516 | | to put the lead agency on notice of the 3 |
|---|
| 517 | 517 | | issue upon which the party seeks judicial 4 |
|---|
| 518 | 518 | | review; and 5 |
|---|
| 519 | 519 | | ‘‘(ii) is related to such comment; 6 |
|---|
| 520 | 520 | | ‘‘(2) except as provided in subsection (b), such 7 |
|---|
| 521 | 521 | | claim is filed not later than 120 days after the date 8 |
|---|
| 522 | 522 | | of publication of a notice in the Federal Register of 9 |
|---|
| 523 | 523 | | agency intent to carry out the proposed agency ac-10 |
|---|
| 524 | 524 | | tion; 11 |
|---|
| 525 | 525 | | ‘‘(3) such claim is filed after the issuance of a 12 |
|---|
| 526 | 526 | | record of decision or other final agency action with 13 |
|---|
| 527 | 527 | | respect to the relevant proposed agency action; 14 |
|---|
| 528 | 528 | | ‘‘(4) such claim does not challenge the estab-15 |
|---|
| 529 | 529 | | lishment or use of a categorical exclusion under sec-16 |
|---|
| 530 | 530 | | tion 102; and 17 |
|---|
| 531 | 531 | | ‘‘(5) such claim concerns— 18 |
|---|
| 532 | 532 | | ‘‘(A) an alternative included in the envi-19 |
|---|
| 533 | 533 | | ronmental document; or 20 |
|---|
| 534 | 534 | | ‘‘(B) an environmental effect considered in 21 |
|---|
| 535 | 535 | | the environmental document. 22 |
|---|
| 536 | 536 | | ‘‘(b) S |
|---|
| 537 | 537 | | UPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 23 |
|---|
| 538 | 538 | | S |
|---|
| 539 | 539 | | TATEMENT.— 24 |
|---|
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| 541 | 541 | | kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 19 |
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| 542 | 542 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 543 | 543 | | ‘‘(1) SEPARATE FINAL AGENCY ACTION .—The 1 |
|---|
| 544 | 544 | | issuance of a Federal action resulting from a final 2 |
|---|
| 545 | 545 | | supplemental environmental impact statement shall 3 |
|---|
| 546 | 546 | | be considered a final agency action for the purposes 4 |
|---|
| 547 | 547 | | of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, separate 5 |
|---|
| 548 | 548 | | from the issuance of any previous environmental im-6 |
|---|
| 549 | 549 | | pact statement with respect to the same proposed 7 |
|---|
| 550 | 550 | | agency action. 8 |
|---|
| 551 | 551 | | ‘‘(2) D |
|---|
| 552 | 552 | | EADLINE FOR FILING A CLAIM .—A claim 9 |
|---|
| 553 | 553 | | seeking judicial review of a Federal action resulting 10 |
|---|
| 554 | 554 | | from a final supplemental environmental review 11 |
|---|
| 555 | 555 | | issued under section 102(2)(C) shall be barred un-12 |
|---|
| 556 | 556 | | less— 13 |
|---|
| 557 | 557 | | ‘‘(A) such claim is filed within 120 days of 14 |
|---|
| 558 | 558 | | the date on which a notice of the Federal agen-15 |
|---|
| 559 | 559 | | cy action resulting from a final supplemental 16 |
|---|
| 560 | 560 | | environmental impact statement is issued; and 17 |
|---|
| 561 | 561 | | ‘‘(B) such claim is based on information 18 |
|---|
| 562 | 562 | | contained in such supplemental environmental 19 |
|---|
| 563 | 563 | | impact statement that was not contained in a 20 |
|---|
| 564 | 564 | | previous environmental document pertaining to 21 |
|---|
| 565 | 565 | | the same proposed agency action. 22 |
|---|
| 566 | 566 | | ‘‘(c) P |
|---|
| 567 | 567 | | ROHIBITION ON INJUNCTIVERELIEF.—Not-23 |
|---|
| 568 | 568 | | withstanding any other provision of law, a violation of this 24 |
|---|
| 569 | 569 | | Act shall not constitute the basis for injunctive relief. 25 |
|---|
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| 572 | 572 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 573 | 573 | | ‘‘(d) RULE OFCONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-1 |
|---|
| 574 | 574 | | tion shall be construed to create a right of judicial review 2 |
|---|
| 575 | 575 | | or place any limit on filing a claim with respect to the 3 |
|---|
| 576 | 576 | | violation of the terms of a permit, license, or approval. 4 |
|---|
| 577 | 577 | | ‘‘(e) R |
|---|
| 578 | 578 | | EMAND.—Notwithstanding any other provision 5 |
|---|
| 579 | 579 | | of law, no proposed agency action for which an environ-6 |
|---|
| 580 | 580 | | mental document is required shall be vacated or otherwise 7 |
|---|
| 581 | 581 | | limited, delayed, or enjoined unless a court concludes al-8 |
|---|
| 582 | 582 | | lowing such proposed action will pose a risk of an immi-9 |
|---|
| 583 | 583 | | nent and substantial environmental harm and there is no 10 |
|---|
| 584 | 584 | | other equitable remedy available as a matter of law. 11 |
|---|
| 585 | 585 | | ‘‘SEC. 109. DEFINITIONS. 12 |
|---|
| 586 | 586 | | ‘‘In this title: 13 |
|---|
| 587 | 587 | | ‘‘(1) C |
|---|
| 588 | 588 | | ATEGORICAL EXCLUSION .—The term 14 |
|---|
| 589 | 589 | | ‘categorical exclusion’ means a category of actions 15 |
|---|
| 590 | 590 | | that a Federal agency has determined normally does 16 |
|---|
| 591 | 591 | | not significantly affect the quality of the human en-17 |
|---|
| 592 | 592 | | vironment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C). 18 |
|---|
| 593 | 593 | | ‘‘(2) C |
|---|
| 594 | 594 | | OOPERATING AGENCY .—The term ‘co-19 |
|---|
| 595 | 595 | | operating agency’ means any Federal, State, Tribal, 20 |
|---|
| 596 | 596 | | or local agency that has been designated as a co-21 |
|---|
| 597 | 597 | | operating agency under section 107(a)(3). 22 |
|---|
| 598 | 598 | | ‘‘(3) C |
|---|
| 599 | 599 | | OUNCIL.—The term ‘Council’ means the 23 |
|---|
| 600 | 600 | | Council on Environmental Quality established in 24 |
|---|
| 601 | 601 | | title II. 25 |
|---|
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| 604 | 604 | | •HR 1577 IH |
|---|
| 605 | 605 | | ‘‘(4) ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT .—The 1 |
|---|
| 606 | 606 | | term ‘environmental assessment’ means an environ-2 |
|---|
| 607 | 607 | | mental assessment prepared under section 3 |
|---|
| 608 | 608 | | 106(b)(2). 4 |
|---|
| 609 | 609 | | ‘‘(5) E |
|---|
| 610 | 610 | | NVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT .—The term 5 |
|---|
| 611 | 611 | | ‘environmental document’ means an environmental 6 |
|---|
| 612 | 612 | | impact statement, an environmental assessment, or 7 |
|---|
| 613 | 613 | | a finding of no significant impact. 8 |
|---|
| 614 | 614 | | ‘‘(6) E |
|---|
| 615 | 615 | | NVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT .— 9 |
|---|
| 616 | 616 | | The term ‘environmental impact statement’ means a 10 |
|---|
| 617 | 617 | | detailed written statement that is required by section 11 |
|---|
| 618 | 618 | | 102(2)(C). 12 |
|---|
| 619 | 619 | | ‘‘(7) F |
|---|
| 620 | 620 | | INDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT .— 13 |
|---|
| 621 | 621 | | The term ‘finding of no significant impact’ means a 14 |
|---|
| 622 | 622 | | determination by a Federal agency that a proposed 15 |
|---|
| 623 | 623 | | agency action does not require the issuance of an en-16 |
|---|
| 624 | 624 | | vironmental impact statement. 17 |
|---|
| 625 | 625 | | ‘‘(8) I |
|---|
| 626 | 626 | | NVOLVED FEDERAL AGENCY .—The term 18 |
|---|
| 627 | 627 | | ‘involved Federal agency’ means an agency that, 19 |
|---|
| 628 | 628 | | with respect to a proposed agency action— 20 |
|---|
| 629 | 629 | | ‘‘(A) proposed such action; or 21 |
|---|
| 630 | 630 | | ‘‘(B) is involved in such action because 22 |
|---|
| 631 | 631 | | such action is directly related, through func-23 |
|---|
| 632 | 632 | | tional interdependence or geographic proximity, 24 |
|---|
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| 635 | 635 | | •HR 1577 IH |
|---|
| 636 | 636 | | to an action such agency has taken or has pro-1 |
|---|
| 637 | 637 | | posed to take. 2 |
|---|
| 638 | 638 | | ‘‘(9) L |
|---|
| 639 | 639 | | EAD AGENCY.— 3 |
|---|
| 640 | 640 | | ‘‘(A) I |
|---|
| 641 | 641 | | N GENERAL.—Except as provided in 4 |
|---|
| 642 | 642 | | subparagraph (B), the term ‘lead agency’ 5 |
|---|
| 643 | 643 | | means, with respect to a proposed agency ac-6 |
|---|
| 644 | 644 | | tion— 7 |
|---|
| 645 | 645 | | ‘‘(i) the agency that proposed such ac-8 |
|---|
| 646 | 646 | | tion; or 9 |
|---|
| 647 | 647 | | ‘‘(ii) if there are 2 or more involved 10 |
|---|
| 648 | 648 | | Federal agencies with respect to such ac-11 |
|---|
| 649 | 649 | | tion, the agency designated under section 12 |
|---|
| 650 | 650 | | 107(a)(1). 13 |
|---|
| 651 | 651 | | ‘‘(B) S |
|---|
| 652 | 652 | | PECIFICATION FOR MINERAL EX -14 |
|---|
| 653 | 653 | | PLORATION OR MINE PERMITS .—With respect 15 |
|---|
| 654 | 654 | | to a proposed mineral exploration or mine per-16 |
|---|
| 655 | 655 | | mit, the term ‘lead agency’ has the meaning 17 |
|---|
| 656 | 656 | | given such term in section 40206(a) of the In-18 |
|---|
| 657 | 657 | | frastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 19 |
|---|
| 658 | 658 | | ‘‘(10) M |
|---|
| 659 | 659 | | AJOR FEDERAL ACTION .— 20 |
|---|
| 660 | 660 | | ‘‘(A) I |
|---|
| 661 | 661 | | N GENERAL.—The term ‘major Fed-21 |
|---|
| 662 | 662 | | eral action’ means an action that the agency 22 |
|---|
| 663 | 663 | | carrying out such action determines is subject 23 |
|---|
| 664 | 664 | | to substantial Federal control and responsi-24 |
|---|
| 665 | 665 | | bility. 25 |
|---|
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| 668 | 668 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 669 | 669 | | ‘‘(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘major Fed-1 |
|---|
| 670 | 670 | | eral action’ does not include— 2 |
|---|
| 671 | 671 | | ‘‘(i) a non-Federal action— 3 |
|---|
| 672 | 672 | | ‘‘(I) with no or minimal Federal 4 |
|---|
| 673 | 673 | | funding; 5 |
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| 674 | 674 | | ‘‘(II) with no or minimal Federal 6 |
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| 675 | 675 | | involvement where a Federal agency 7 |
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| 676 | 676 | | cannot control the outcome of the 8 |
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| 677 | 677 | | project; or 9 |
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| 678 | 678 | | ‘‘(III) that does not include Fed-10 |
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| 679 | 679 | | eral land; 11 |
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| 680 | 680 | | ‘‘(ii) funding assistance solely in the 12 |
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| 681 | 681 | | form of general revenue sharing funds 13 |
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| 682 | 682 | | which do not provide Federal agency com-14 |
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| 683 | 683 | | pliance or enforcement responsibility over 15 |
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| 684 | 684 | | the subsequent use of such funds; 16 |
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| 685 | 685 | | ‘‘(iii) loans, loan guarantees, or other 17 |
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| 686 | 686 | | forms of financial assistance where a Fed-18 |
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| 687 | 687 | | eral agency does not exercise sufficient 19 |
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| 688 | 688 | | control and responsibility over the effect of 20 |
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| 689 | 689 | | the action; 21 |
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| 690 | 690 | | ‘‘(iv) farm ownership and operating 22 |
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| 691 | 691 | | loan guarantees by the Farm Service 23 |
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| 692 | 692 | | Agency pursuant to sections 305 and 311 24 |
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| 693 | 693 | | through 319 of the Consolidated Farmers 25 |
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| 696 | 696 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 697 | 697 | | Home Administration Act of 1961 (7 1 |
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| 698 | 698 | | U.S.C. 1925 and 1941 through 1949); 2 |
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| 699 | 699 | | ‘‘(v) business loan guarantees pro-3 |
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| 700 | 700 | | vided by the Small Business Administra-4 |
|---|
| 701 | 701 | | tion pursuant to section 7(a) or (b) and of 5 |
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| 702 | 702 | | the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 6 |
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| 703 | 703 | | 636(a)), or title V of the Small Business 7 |
|---|
| 704 | 704 | | Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 695 et 8 |
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| 705 | 705 | | seq.); 9 |
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| 706 | 706 | | ‘‘(vi) bringing judicial or administra-10 |
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| 707 | 707 | | tive civil or criminal enforcement actions; 11 |
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| 708 | 708 | | or 12 |
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| 709 | 709 | | ‘‘(vii) extraterritorial activities or deci-13 |
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| 710 | 710 | | sions, which means agency activities or de-14 |
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| 711 | 711 | | cisions with effects located entirely outside 15 |
|---|
| 712 | 712 | | of the jurisdiction of the United States. 16 |
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| 713 | 713 | | ‘‘(C) A |
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| 714 | 714 | | DDITIONAL EXCLUSIONS .—An agen-17 |
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| 715 | 715 | | cy action may not be determined to be a major 18 |
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| 716 | 716 | | Federal action on the basis of— 19 |
|---|
| 717 | 717 | | ‘‘(i) an interstate effect of the action 20 |
|---|
| 718 | 718 | | or related project; or 21 |
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| 719 | 719 | | ‘‘(ii) the provision of Federal funds 22 |
|---|
| 720 | 720 | | for the action or related project. 23 |
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| 721 | 721 | | ‘‘(11) M |
|---|
| 722 | 722 | | INERAL EXPLORATION OR MINE PER -24 |
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| 723 | 723 | | MIT.—The term ‘mineral exploration or mine permit’ 25 |
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| 725 | 725 | | kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 25 |
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| 726 | 726 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 727 | 727 | | has the meaning given such term in section 1 |
|---|
| 728 | 728 | | 40206(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 2 |
|---|
| 729 | 729 | | Act. 3 |
|---|
| 730 | 730 | | ‘‘(12) P |
|---|
| 731 | 731 | | ROPOSAL.—The term ‘proposal’ means 4 |
|---|
| 732 | 732 | | a proposed action at a stage when an agency has a 5 |
|---|
| 733 | 733 | | goal, is actively preparing to make a decision on one 6 |
|---|
| 734 | 734 | | or more alternative means of accomplishing that 7 |
|---|
| 735 | 735 | | goal, and can meaningfully evaluate its effects. 8 |
|---|
| 736 | 736 | | ‘‘(13) R |
|---|
| 737 | 737 | | EASONABLY FORESEEABLE .—The term 9 |
|---|
| 738 | 738 | | ‘reasonably foreseeable’ means likely to occur— 10 |
|---|
| 739 | 739 | | ‘‘(A) not later than 10 years after the lead 11 |
|---|
| 740 | 740 | | agency begins preparing the environmental doc-12 |
|---|
| 741 | 741 | | ument; and 13 |
|---|
| 742 | 742 | | ‘‘(B) in an area directly affected by the 14 |
|---|
| 743 | 743 | | proposed agency action such that an individual 15 |
|---|
| 744 | 744 | | of ordinary prudence would take such occur-16 |
|---|
| 745 | 745 | | rence into account in reaching a decision. 17 |
|---|
| 746 | 746 | | ‘‘(14) S |
|---|
| 747 | 747 | | PECIAL EXPERTISE.—The term ‘special 18 |
|---|
| 748 | 748 | | expertise’ means statutory responsibility, agency 19 |
|---|
| 749 | 749 | | mission, or related program experience.’’. 20 |
|---|
| 750 | 750 | | SEC. 3. E–NEPA. 21 |
|---|
| 751 | 751 | | (a) P |
|---|
| 752 | 752 | | ERMITTINGPORTALSTUDY.—The Council on 22 |
|---|
| 753 | 753 | | Environmental Quality shall conduct a study and submit 23 |
|---|
| 754 | 754 | | a report to Congress within 1 year of the enactment of 24 |
|---|
| 755 | 755 | | this Act on the potential to create an online permitting 25 |
|---|
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| 757 | 757 | | kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 26 |
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| 758 | 758 | | •HR 1577 IH |
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| 759 | 759 | | portal for permits that require review under section 1 |
|---|
| 760 | 760 | | 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 2 |
|---|
| 761 | 761 | | 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) that would— 3 |
|---|
| 762 | 762 | | (1) allow applicants to— 4 |
|---|
| 763 | 763 | | (A) submit required documents or mate-5 |
|---|
| 764 | 764 | | rials for their application in one unified portal; 6 |
|---|
| 765 | 765 | | (B) upload additional documents as re-7 |
|---|
| 766 | 766 | | quired by the applicable agency; and 8 |
|---|
| 767 | 767 | | (C) track the progress of individual appli-9 |
|---|
| 768 | 768 | | cations; 10 |
|---|
| 769 | 769 | | (2) enhance interagency coordination in con-11 |
|---|
| 770 | 770 | | sultation by— 12 |
|---|
| 771 | 771 | | (A) allowing for comments in one unified 13 |
|---|
| 772 | 772 | | portal; 14 |
|---|
| 773 | 773 | | (B) centralizing data necessary for reviews; 15 |
|---|
| 774 | 774 | | and 16 |
|---|
| 775 | 775 | | (C) streamlining communications between 17 |
|---|
| 776 | 776 | | other agencies and the applicant; and 18 |
|---|
| 777 | 777 | | (3) boost transparency in agency decision-19 |
|---|
| 778 | 778 | | making. 20 |
|---|
| 779 | 779 | | (b) A |
|---|
| 780 | 780 | | UTHORIZATION OFAPPROPRIATIONS.—There is 21 |
|---|
| 781 | 781 | | authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for the Council 22 |
|---|
| 782 | 782 | | on Environmental Quality to carry out the study directed 23 |
|---|
| 783 | 783 | | by this section. 24 |
|---|
| 784 | 784 | | Æ |
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