H.R. 2783: Infrastructure Project Acceleration Act

This bill, titled the Infrastructure Project Acceleration Act, aims to expedite the approval processes for certain large-scale manufacturing projects in the United States. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Definition of Priority Manufacturing Project

The bill defines a "priority manufacturing project" as any construction or expansion of a manufacturing facility that:

• Costs at least $1 billion.
• Requires one or more federal approvals.

Findings

Congress identifies several reasons for the bill:

• Timely completion of these projects is perceived to strengthen the U.S. economy and enhance its manufacturing capabilities.
• Such projects are expected to bolster technological competitiveness and reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing.
• They will support critical sectors like defense, healthcare, and communications, while also fostering economic growth and job creation.

Exemptions from Permitting Requirements

The bill proposes that priority manufacturing projects will not be required to obtain permits that are usually required under:

• Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
• Sections 7, 9, or 10 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Environmental Review Process

The bill amends the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to clarify that certain projects can be reviewed under state or tribal environmental laws if those laws provide equivalent environmental protections. This means that if a state or tribal agency has done sufficient consideration of environmental effects and informed the public about its decision-making, it can fulfill the requirements of NEPA.

Judicial Review Restrictions

The bill limits judicial review of approvals for these manufacturing projects by stating:

• No court can review actions or inactions of federal or state agencies that approve the construction or expansion of a priority manufacturing project.
• However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will have jurisdiction over claims challenging the validity of this section or asserting that an approval exceeds the authority granted by this bill.

Overall Purpose

The overarching goal of this bill is to streamline the approval process for significant manufacturing projects within the U.S. to encourage development, economic growth, and job creation while limiting environmental review and permitting requirements.

Relevant Companies

• TSLA - Tesla, Inc.: The company may expand its manufacturing capacity for electric vehicles and battery systems, potentially benefitting from expedited approval processes.
• GM - General Motors Company: As GM pursues new manufacturing facilities for electric vehicles, it may benefit from the faster permitting outlined in the bill.
• F - Ford Motor Company: Ford's expansions in manufacturing for electric and other advanced vehicles could be expedited under this legislation.