H.R. 1812
The One Federal Decision Act proposes to streamline the federal permitting and environmental review process for major projects.
SUMMARY
The One Federal Decision Act would reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process for major projects by reducing the timelines associated with environmental reviews and authorization decisions, limiting the amount of paperwork that has to be generated, and establishing processes to accelerate project delivery. The NEPA process has slowed the most impactful and important infrastructure projects, and delays to projects means delays to the environmental and economic benefits that could improve Americans’ quality of life. Reforming the federal permitting process is essential if we are to transition to a clean energy economy, and we can only build new clean energy projects and reduce carbon dioxide emissions as fast as we can permit new projects. The One Federal Decision Act will reduce bureaucratic red tape and make the permitting process more efficient, which is prudent for the stewardship of taxpayer resources and for scaling clean energy rapidly.
HISTORY
Often called the “Magna Carta” of environmental laws, the National Environmental Policy Act, also known as “NEPA,” was signed into law by President Nixon in 1970 and was one of the first laws ever written to establish a broad national framework for environmental protection. NEPA’s purpose is to ensure that Federal agencies consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts of proposed projects, and inform and involve the public in the decision making process. Unfortunately, the simple process envisioned in 1970 looks nothing like the process today. Since its inception more than 50 years ago, the NEPA process has become costly and ineffective, slowing down progress and becoming a tool to delay or kill energy projects. It has resulted in a federal permitting process that can take a project as long as 5 to 10 years to complete and cost millions of dollars. Making the permitting process more efficient is essential for two reasons: one, stewardship of taxpayer resources, and two, scaling clean energy rapidly.
SPECIFICS
The One Federal Decision Act aims to streamline the permitting process and make project reviews more efficient by:
- Establishing a government-wide goal of limiting the time required for environmental reviews and authorizations for major projects to two years;
- Requiring Federal agencies to develop a single permitting timetable for environmental review and authorization decisions;
- Requiring that all federal authorizations and project reviews rely on a single environmental document;
- Requiring agencies to make all authorization decisions for a major project within 90 days of the issuance of a record of decision; and
- Establishing a process for Federal agencies to adopt applicable categorical exclusions to the NEPA process to accelerate project delivery.
ORIGINAL SPONSORS
Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)
COSPONSORS
Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Rep. Don Young (R-AK), Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL), Rep. Randy Weber (R-FL), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Rep. Eric Crawford (R-AR), Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS), Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC)
SUPPORT
Agricultural Retailers Association, Airlines for America, American Chemistry Council, American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute, American Council for Capital Formation, American Council of Engineering Companies, American Exploration and Production Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, American Gas Association, American Highway Users Alliance, American Petroleum Institute, American Pipeline Contractors Association, American Public Gas Association, American Trucking Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Association of Oil Pipe Lines, ClearPath Action, Consumer Energy Alliance, Distribution Contractors Association, Energy Equipment & Infrastructure Alliance, Federal Forest Resource Coalition, The Fertilizer Institute, GPA Midstream Association, The Hardwood Federation, Independent Petroleum Association of America, International Association of Drilling Contractors, Laborers’ International Union of North America, National Association of Home Builders, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Realtors, National Lime Association, National Mining Association, National Ocean Industries Association, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, National Utility Contractors Association, Natural Gas Supply Association, Plastics Pipe Institute, Portland Cement Association, Power and Communication Contractors Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce