[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2319 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2319
To improve the environmental review process for highway projects
through the use of interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 13, 2023
Ms. Lummis (for herself and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the environmental review process for highway projects
through the use of interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Interactive Federal Review Act''.
SEC. 2. DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR NEPA REVIEWS FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a
highway project that received a grant under any of the
following:
(A) The nationally significant freight and highway
projects program under section 117 of title 23, United
States Code (commonly known as the ``Infrastructure for
Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program'').
(B) The national infrastructure project assistance
program under section 6701 of title 49, United States
Code (commonly known as the ``Mega grant program'').
(C) The local and regional project assistance
program under section 6702 of title 49, United States
Code (commonly known as the ``Rebuilding American
Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)
grant program'').
(D) The program for national infrastructure
investments (commonly known as the ``Rebuilding
American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity
(RAISE) grant program'' and formerly known as the
``Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development
(BUILD) grant program'').
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to expedite the environmental review process at Federal
agencies and for the general public; and
(2) to facilitate interactive public stakeholder engagement
and understanding of environmental impacts of projects under
the Federal-aid highway system.
(c) Encouraged Use of Digital Platforms.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall encourage recipients
of Federal funds from the Secretary to utilize interactive,
digital, cloud-based platforms when carrying out environmental
reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) by publishing the guidance described in
paragraph (2).
(2) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish technology-
neutral best practice guidance to encourage sponsors of
projects that receive Federal funds from the Secretary to use
an interactive, digital, cloud-based platform in carrying out
the environmental impact analysis and community engagement
processes required under the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(d) Use of Digital Platforms in Covered Projects.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall select not less than
10 covered projects to demonstrate the use of interactive,
digital, cloud-based platforms in carrying out the
environmental impact analysis and community engagement
processes required under that Act, which may include projects
in States participating in the surface transportation project
delivery program under section 327 of title 23, United States
Code.
(2) Additional projects.--In addition to the covered
projects selected by the Secretary under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall include additional projects that utilize
interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms in the report under
subsection (e), on request of the sponsors of those projects.
(3) Priority.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
in selecting covered projects under a program described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (a)(1), the
Secretary shall give priority to applications for projects that
demonstrate a plan to implement an interactive, cloud-based
platform to carry out the environmental impact analysis and
community engagement processes required under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(e) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the efficacy of using interactive,
cloud-based platforms in carrying out environmental impact
analysis and community engagement requirements under the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), including--
(A) metrics that describe estimates of achieved
efficiencies, community engagement measures, and
efficiencies enjoyed across Federal agencies; and
(B) examples of digital workflows enabled.
(2) Publication of examples.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish
on the website of the Department of Transportation, and submit
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives, not less than 5 examples of an
environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, or
categorical exclusion document developed using an interactive,
digital, cloud-based platform.
(f) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section affects or
interferes with the authorities or responsibilities assumed by a State
under section 327 of title 23, United States Code.
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