Rep. Rudy Yakym
The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 9 passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) that aims to improve transparency of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) permitting process.
The Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act, H.R. 573, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), would direct the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to publish an annual report detailing NEPA reviews, timelines, and outcomes so that policymakers have a clearer understanding of delays and impacts.
“NEPA was meant to inform decisions, not stop them,” Rep. Yakym said. “For too long it has buried critical housing, infrastructure, and energy projects in unnecessary paperwork and litigation. With the passage of our bipartisan Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act, we will finally have clear and consistent reporting on delays, lawsuits, and costs.”
The congressman added that the expected transparency provided by H.R. 573 would give Congress the tools it needs to advance meaningful permitting reform. “It is a win for American workers, our economy, and our ability to compete with China,” he said.
If enacted, H.R. 573 would combine several CEQ reports into a single annual report, as well as track other important data to better understand NEPA’s paperwork burden across the U.S. economy, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Yakym’s staff.
“The current federal permitting process for new housing, infrastructure, energy projects, and more can be unnecessarily long and confusing,” Rep. Panetta said. “It’s understandable and appreciated to see the House pass this type of common-sense legislation that takes a practical approach to ultimately improve the [CEQ’s] permitting process to be more efficient and effective without giving up on our environmental values.”
The U.S. Senate on Dec. 10 received the bill and referred it for consideration to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.