H.R. 6163: Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act

This bill, entitled the "Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act," aims to amend the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The primary purpose is to allow federal agencies to use previously completed environmental assessments and environmental impact statements to meet NEPA requirements for new major federal actions. Here's a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Key Provisions

• Programmatic Environmental Documents: The bill modifies the terminology used in NEPA to clarify the types of documents that can be relied upon for compliance.
• Reliance on Previous Assessments: Federal agencies can rely on existing environmental assessments or environmental impact statements if:
  • The new major federal action is substantially the same as a previously analyzed action.
  • The environmental effects of the new action are similar to those previously assessed.
• Modification of Previous Documents: If a new major federal action differs significantly from a previously analyzed action, the lead agency can modify existing environmental documents to meet NEPA requirements. These modifications must then be made publicly available as new assessments.

Implications

The intention behind this bill is to streamline the regulatory process for federal actions that require environmental review. By allowing agencies to use previous analyses, it could potentially reduce the time and resources spent on creating new assessments for actions that do not significantly differ from past projects. The emphasis will be on ensuring that the assessments adequately address the environmental impacts while allowing for more efficient project approvals.

Relevant Companies

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