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Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews Act of 2023
12/15/2023, 3:55 PM
Summary of Bill HR 1577
One key provision of the bill is the establishment of deadlines for agencies to complete environmental reviews and issue permits for infrastructure projects. This is intended to prevent unnecessary delays that can stall projects for years. The bill also includes measures to improve coordination between federal, state, and local agencies involved in the approval process.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to increase transparency and public participation in the review process. This includes requirements for agencies to provide regular updates on the status of projects and opportunities for public input. Overall, the Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews Act of 2023 aims to expedite the approval process for infrastructure projects while still ensuring that environmental considerations are taken into account. The bill has garnered bipartisan support in Congress and is seen as a step towards addressing the nation's infrastructure needs.
Congressional Summary of HR 1577
BUILDER Act of 2023 or the Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews Act of 2023
This bill places limits on the environmental review of proposed major federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and establishes deadlines and other requirements to expedite the environmental review of such actions.
Specifically, the bill limits the scope of the environmental review of major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment as specified by the bill. The bill also specifies the thresholds that trigger when agencies must issue environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for proposed agency actions, outlines when agencies are not required to prepare environmental documents for such actions, and establishes deadlines to complete such documents.
The bill also establishes a process for designating a lead federal agency as well as a joint lead agency, such as a state government, to supervise the environmental review under NEPA. The lead agency must supervise the preparation of one environmental document (e.g., environmental impact statement), which satisfies the document requirement for all involved agencies, and prepare a schedule to complete the review of the action. If the lead agency is unable to meet the deadlines, it must pay $100 per day to the applicant until the applicant approves a new deadline. A lead agency may allow a project sponsor to prepare environmental documents under specified circumstances.
Additionally, the bill limits judicial review of NEPA cases, including by establishing deadlines to file lawsuits under NEPA.
