,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #hccc  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #bb1        
#bjbj,mr4 ,graves ( ,l\isiana 7=        
himself1 ,mr4 ,mc,carthy1 ,mr4 ,scalise1
 ,mr4 ,wald51 ,mr4 ,bi%op ( ,utah1 ,mr4 
,graves ( ,miss\ri1 ,mr4 ,lucas1 ,ms4   
,grang]1 ,mr4 ,cole1 ,mr4 ,com]1 ,mr4   
,"y1 ,ms4 ,*5ey1 ,mr4 ,lamborn1 ,mr4    
,johnson ( ,l\isiana1 ,mr4 ,/aub]1 ,mr4 
,curtis1 ,mr4 ,gos>1 ,mr4 ,kev9 ,h]n (  
,oklahoma1 ,mr4 ,cook1 ,mr4             
,mc,clintock1 ,mr4 ,we/]man1 ,mr4       
,rodney ,davis ( ,ill9ois1 ,mr4 ,ne:\se1
 ,mr4 ,c>t] ( ,georgia1 ,mrs4 ,radewag51
 ,mr4 ,ful*]1 & ,mr4 ,hice ( ,georgia7  
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,natural ,res\rces  ,a 
,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,national            
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi to   
cl>ify ambigu\s provisions1 align ! ,act
 ) relevant case law1 reflect mod]n     
te*nologies1 optimize int]ag5cy         
coord9ation1 & facilitate a m effici5t1 
effective1 & timely environm5tal review 

process4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may 
be cit$ z ! ,,build] ,act ( #bjbj or !  
,build+ ,unit$ ,/ates ,infra/ructure    
?r\gh ,limit$ ,delays & ,effici5t       
,reviews ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,national   
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi  7a7 
,p>agraph 7#b7 ( section #ajb ,section  
#ajb7b7 ( ! ,national ,environm5tal     
,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#dccb7b77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subp>agraph 
7,a71 by /rik+ insure & ins]t+ ensure2  
7#b7 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 by /rik+ insure
 & ins]t+ ensure2  7#c7 9 subp>agraph   
7,c7-- 7,a7 by ins]t+ consi/5t ) !      
provisions ( ?is ,act & except z provid$
 by o!r provisions ( law1 be=e include 9
 e2  7,b7 by /rik+ clauses 7i7 ?r\gh 7v7
 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7i7 reasonably     
=eseeable environm5tal effects ) a      
reasonably close causal relation%ip to !
 propos$ ag5cy action2  7ii7 any        
reasonably =eseeable adv]se environm5tal
 effects :i* _c be avoid$ %\ld !        
proposal be implem5t$2  7iii7 a         
reasonable numb] ( alt]natives to !     

propos$ ag5cy action t are te*nically & 
economically feasible1 are )9 !         
jurisdiction ( ! ag5cy1 meet ! purpose &
 ne$ ( ! propos$ ag5cy action1 &1 :]e   
applicable1 meet ! goals ( ! applicant2 
7iv7 ! relation%ip betwe5 local %ort-t]m
 uses ( man's environm5t & ! ma9t5ance &
 enhancem5t ( long-t]m productivity2 &  
7v7 any irrev]sible & irretrievable     
commitm5ts ( ,f$]al res\rces :i* w\ld be
 involv$ 9 ! propos$ ag5cy action %\ld x
 be implem5t$4  2 &  7,c7 by /rik+ !    
responsible ,f$]al (ficial & ins]t+ !   
head ( ! lead ag5cy2  7#d7 9 subp>agraph
 7,d71 by /rik+ ,any & ins]t+ any2  7#e7
 by r$esignat+ subp>agraphs 7,d7 ?r\gh  
7,i7 z subp>agraphs 7,f7 ?r\gh 7,k71    
respectively2  7#f7 by ins]t+ aft]      
subp>agraph 7,c7 ! foll[+3  7,d7 ensure 
! pr(essional integrity1 includ+        
sci5tific integrity1 ( ! discussion &   
analysis 9 an environm5tal docum5t2     
7,e7 make use ( reliable exi/+ data &   
res\rces 9 c>ry+ out ?is ,act2  2  7#g7 
9 subp>agraph 7,g71 z am5d$1 by ins]t+  

consi/5t ) ! provisions ( ?is ,act1 be=e
 /udy12 &  7#h7 9 subp>agraph 7,h71 z   
am5d$1 by ins]t+ consi/5t ) ! provisions
 ( ?is ,act be=e recognize4  7b7 ,new   
sections ,title ,i ( ! ,national        
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 is am5d$ by    
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #ajf4 ,proc$ure
 = det]m9ation ( level ( review  7a7    
,?re%old det]m9ations ,an ag5cy is n    
requir$ to prep>e an environm5tal       
docum5t ) respect to a propos$ ag5cy    
action if-- 7#a7 su* action is n a f9al 
ag5cy action )9 ! mean+ ( su* t]m 9     
*apt] #e ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates      
,code2  7#b7 su* propos$ ag5cy action is
 cov]$ by a categorical exclusion       
e/abli%$ by a ,f$]al ag5cy2  7#c7 !     
prep>ation ( su* docum5t w\ld cle>ly &  
fundam5tally conflict ) ! requirem5ts ( 
ano!r provision ( law2  7#d7 ! propos$  
ag5cy action is1 9 :ole or 9 "p1 a      
nondiscretion>y action ) respect to :i* 
su* ag5cy does n h au?ority to take     
environm5tal factors into consid]ation 9

 det]m9+ :e!r to take ! propos$ action2 
or  7#e7 ! propos$ ag5cy action is an   
action = :i* su* ag5cy's compliance )   
ano!r /atute's requirem5ts s]ve ! same  
function z ! requirem5ts ( ?is ,act )   
respect to su* action4  7b7 ,levels (   
review  7#a7 ,environm5tal impact       
/atem5t ,an ag5cy %all issue an         
environm5tal impact /atem5t ) respect to
 a propos$ ag5cy action t has a         
significant effect on ! quality ( !     
human environm5t4  7#b7 ,environm5tal   
assessm5t ,an ag5cy %all issue an       
environm5tal assessm5t ) respect to a   
propos$ ag5cy action t is n likely to h 
a significant effect on ! quality ( !   
human environm5t1 or if ! significance (
 su* effect is unkn[n4 ,su* environm5tal
 assessm5t %all be a concise public     
docum5t prep>$ by a ,f$]al ag5cy to     
provide notice to ! public = ! basis (  
su* ag5cy's f9d+ ( no significant       
impact4  7#c7 ,s\rces ( in=mation ,9    
mak+ a det]m9ation "u ?is subsection1 an
 ag5cy-- 7,a7 may make use ( any        

reliable data s\rce2 &  7,b7 is n       
requir$ to und]take new sci5tific or    
te*nical rese>*4  #ajg4 ,timely & unifi$
 ,f$]al reviews  7a7 ,lead ag5cy  7#a7  
,designation ,if !re are two or m       
involv$ ,f$]al ag5cies1 su* ag5cies %all
 det]m9e1 by lett] or memor&um1 :i*     
ag5cy %all be ! lead ag5cy bas$ on      
consid]ation ( ! foll[+ factors3 7,a7   
,magnitude ( ag5cy's involvem5t4  7,b7  
,project approval or disapproval        
au?ority4  7,c7 ,exp]tise conc]n+ !     
action's environm5tal effects4  7,d7    
,duration ( ag5cy's involvem5t4  7,e7   
,sequ5ce ( ag5cy's involvem5t4  7#b7    
,jo9t lead ag5cies ,9 mak+ a det]m9ation
 "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! involv$ ,f$]al     
ag5cies may1 9 addition to a ,f$]al     
ag5cy1 appo9t su* ,f$]al1 ,/ate1        
,tribal1 or local ag5cies z jo9t lead   
ag5cies z ! involv$ ,f$]al ag5cies %all 
det]m9e appropriate4 ,jo9t lead ag5cies 
%all jo9tly fulfill ! role describ$ 9   
p>agraph 7#c74  7#c7 ,role ,a lead ag5cy
 %all1 ) respect to a propos$ ag5cy     

action-- 7,a7 sup]vise ! prep>ation ( an
 environm5tal docum5t if1 ) respect to  
su* propos$ ag5cy action1 !re is m ?an  
"o involv$ ,f$]al ag5cy2  7,b7 reque/ ! 
p>ticipation ( ea* coop]at+ ag5cy2  7,c7
 9 prep>+ an environm5tal docum5t1 give 
consid]ation to any analysis or proposal
 creat$ by a coop]at+ ag5cy )           
jurisdiction by law or special exp]tise2
  7,d7 develop a s*$ule1 9 consultation 
) ea* involv$ coop]at+ ag5cy & su* o!r  
entities z ! lead ag5cy det]m9es        
appropriate1 = completion ( any         
environm5tal review1 p]mit1 or          
au?orization requir$ to c>ry out !      
propos$ ag5cy action2  7,e7 if ! lead   
ag5cy det]m9es t a review1 p]mit1 or    
au?orization w n be complet$ 9          
accordance ) ! s*$ule develop$ "u       
subp>agraph 7,d71 notify ! ag5cy        
responsible = issu+ su* review1 p]mit1  
or au?orization ( ! discrepancy & reque/
 t su* ag5cy take su* measures z su*    
ag5cy det]m9es appropriate to comply )  
su* s*$ule2 &  7,f7 meet ) a coop]at+   

ag5cy t reque/s su* a meet+4  7#d7      
,coop]at+ ag5cy ,! lead ag5cy may1 )    
respect to a propos$ ag5cy action1      
designate any involv$ ,f$]al ag5cy or a 
,/ate1 ,tribal1 or local ag5cy z a      
coop]at+ ag5cy4 ,a coop]at+ ag5cy may1 n
 lat] ?an a date specifi$ by ! lead     
ag5cy1 submit comm5ts to ! lead ag5cy4  
,su* comm5ts %all be limit$ to matt]s   
relat+ to ! propos$ ag5cy action )      
respect to :i* su* ag5cy has special    
exp]tise or jurisdiction by law )       
respect to an environm5tal issue4  7#e7 
,reque/ = designation ,any ,f$]al1      
,/ate1 ,tribal1 or local ag5cy or p]son 
t is sub/antially affect$ by ! lack ( a 
designation ( a lead ag5cy ) respect to 
a propos$ ag5cy action "u p>agraph 7#a7 
may submit a writt5 reque/ = su* a      
designation to an involv$ ,f$]al ag5cy4 
,an ag5cy t receives a reque/ "u ?is    
p>agraph %all transmit su* reque/ to ea*
 involv$ ,f$]al ag5cy & to ! ,c\ncil4   
7#f7 ,c\ncil designation  7,a7 ,reque/  
,n e>li] ?an #de days aft] ! date on :i*

 a reque/ is submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#e71 
if no designation has be5 made "u       
p>agraph 7#a71 a ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 ,tribal1
 or local ag5cy or p]son t is           
sub/antially affect$ by ! lack ( a      
designation ( a lead ag5cy may reque/ t 
! ,c\ncil designate a lead ag5cy4 ,su*  
reque/ %all consi/ (-- 7i7 a precise    
description ( ! nature & ext5t ( !      
propos$ ag5cy action2 &  7ii7 a detail$ 
/atem5t ) respect to ea* involv$ ,f$]al 
ag5cy & ea* factor li/$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 
reg>d+ :i* ag5cy %\ld s]ve z lead ag5cy4
  7,b7 ,transmission ,! ,c\ncil %all    
transmit a reque/ receiv$ "u subp>agraph
 7,a7 to ea* involv$ ,f$]al ag5cy4  7,c7
 ,response ,an involv$ ,f$]al ag5cy may1
 n lat] ?an #bj days aft] ! date ( !    
submission ( a reque/ "u subp>agraph    
7,a71 submit to ! ,c\ncil a response to 
su* reque/4  7,d7 ,designation ,n lat]  
?an #dj days aft] ! date ( ! submission 
( a reque/ "u subp>agraph 7,a71 !       
,c\ncil %all designate ! lead ag5cy )   
respect to ! relevant propos$ ag5cy     

action4  7b7 ,"o docum5t ,to ! ext5t    
practicable1 if !re are #b or m involv$ 
,f$]al ag5cies ) respect to a propos$   
ag5cy action & ! lead ag5cy has det]m9$ 
t section #ajb7b77;,c7 requires !       
issuance ( an environm5tal docum5t1 su* 
requirem5t %all be deem$ satisfi$ )     
respect to all involv$ ,f$]al ag5cies if
 ! lead ag5cy issues su* an environm5tal
 docum5t4  7c7 ,reque/ = public comm5t  
,ea* notice ( int5t to prep>e an        
environm5tal impact /atem5t "u section  
#ajb %all include a reque/ = public     
comm5t on pot5tial alt]natives or       
impacts & on relevant in=mation1 /udies1
 or analyses ) respect to ! propos$     
ag5cy action4  7d7 ,/atem5t ( purpose & 
ne$ ,ea* environm5tal impact /atem5t    
%all include a /atem5t ( purpose & ne$ t
 briefly summ>izes ! und]ly+ purpose &  
ne$ = ! propos$ ag5cy action4  7e7      
,e/imat$ total co/ ,! cov] %eet = ea*   
environm5tal impact /atem5t %all include
 a /atem5t ( ! e/imat$ total co/ (      
prep>+ su* environm5tal impact /atem5t1 

includ+ ! co/s ( ag5cy full-"t equival5t
 p]sonnel h\rs1 contractor co/s1 & o!r  
direct co/s4  7f7 ,sponsor prep>ation ,a
 lead ag5cy may all[ a project sponsor  
to prep>e an environm5tal assessm5t or  
an environm5tal impact /atem5t1 if su*  
ag5cy provides su* sponsor ) appropriate
 guidance & assi/s 9 ! prep>ation4 ,!   
lead ag5cy %all indep5d5tly evaluate !  
environm5tal docum5t & %all take        
responsibility = ! cont5ts ^u adoption4 
7g7 ,deadl9es  7#a7 ,issuance (         
environm5tal impact /atem5t ,except z   
provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 ) respect to a 
propos$ ag5cy action1 a lead ag5cy %all 
complete-- 7,a7 ! environm5tal impact   
/atem5t n lat] ?an ! date t is #b ye>s  
aft] ! date on :i* su* ag5cy det]m9es t 
section #ajb7b77;,c7 requires ! issuance
 ( an environm5tal impact /atem5t )     
respect to su* action2 or  7,b7 !       
environm5tal assessm5t n lat] ?an ! date
 t is #a ye> aft] ! date on :i* su*     
ag5cy det]m9es t su* #ajb7b77;,c7       
requires ! issuance ( an environm5tal   

assessm5t ) respect to su* action4  7#b7
 ,delay ,a lead ag5cy t det]m9es x is n 
able to meet ! deadl9e describ$ 9       
p>agraph 7#a7 may approve a delay ( su* 
deadl9e 9 writ+ & e/abli% a new timel9e 
t provides only s mu* additional "t z is
 necess>y to complete su* environm5tal  
impact /atem5t or environm5tal          
assessm5t4  #ajh4 ,judicial review  7a7 
,limitations on claims ,not)/&+ any o!r 
provision ( law1 a claim aris+ "u ,f$]al
 law seek+ judicial review ( compliance 
) ?is ,act1 ( a det]m9ation made "u ?is 
,act1 or ( ,f$]al action result+ f a    
det]m9ation made "u ?is ,act1 %all be   
b>r$ unless-- 7#a7 9 ! case ( a claim   
p]ta9+ to a propos$ ag5cy action = :i*--
 7,a7 an environm5tal docum5t 0 prep>$ &
 an opportunity = comm5t 0 provid$2     
7,b7 ! claim is fil$ by a p>ty t        
p>ticipat$ 9 ! adm9i/rative proce$+s    
reg>d+ su* environm5tal docum5t2 or     
7,c7 ! claim is fil$ by a p>ty t        
submitt$ a comm5t dur+ ! public comm5t  
p]iod = su* adm9i/rative proce$+s & su* 

comm5t 0 suffici5tly detail$ to put !   
lead ag5cy on notice ( ! issue ^u :i* ! 
p>ty seeks judicial review2  7#b7 except
 z provid$ 9 subsection 7b71 su* claim  
is fil$ n lat] ?an #abj days aft] ! date
 ( publication ( a notice 9 ! ,f$]al    
,regi/] ( ag5cy int5t to c>ry out !     
propos$ ag5cy action2  7#c7 su* claim is
 fil$ aft] ! issuance ( a record (      
decision or o!r f9al ag5cy action )     
respect to ! relevant propos$ ag5cy     
action2 &  7#d7 su* claim does n *all5ge
 ! e/abli%m5t ( a categorical exclusion 
"u section #ajb4  7b7 ,supplem5tal      
environm5tal impact /atem5t  7#a7       
,sep>ate f9al ag5cy action ,! issuance (
 a supplem5tal environm5tal impact      
/atem5t %all be consid]$ a f9al ag5cy   
action = ! purposes ( *apt] #e ( title  
#e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 sep>ate f !    
issuance ( any previ\s environm5tal     
impact /atem5t ) respect to ! same      
propos$ ag5cy action4  7#b7 ,deadl9e =  
fil+ a claim ,a claim seek+ judicial    
review ( a supplem5tal environm5tal     

review issu$ "u section #ajb7b77;,c7    
%all be b>r$ unless-- 7,a7 su* claim is 
fil$ )9 #abj days ( ! date on :i* su*   
supplem5tal environm5tal impact /atem5t 
is issu$2 &  7,b7 su* claim is bas$ on  
in=mation conta9$ 9 su* supplem5tal     
environm5tal impact /atem5t t 0 n       
conta9$ 9 a previ\s environm5tal docum5t
 p]ta9+ to ! same propos$ ag5cy action4 
7c7 ,prohibition on injunctive relief   
,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 a     
violation ( ?is ,act %all n con/itute ! 
basis = injunctive relief4  7d7 ,rule ( 
con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is subsection %all 
be con/ru$ to create a "r ( judicial    
review or place any limit on fil+ a     
claim ) respect to ! violation ( ! t]ms 
( a p]mit1 lic5se1 or approval4  #aji4  
,def9itions ,9 ?is title3 7#a7          
,categorical exclusion ,! t]m           
categorical exclusion means a category (
 actions t a ,f$]al ag5cy has det]m9$   
normally does n significantly affect !  
quality ( ! human environm5t )9 ! mean+ 
( section #ajb7b77;,c74  7#b7 ,coop]at+ 

ag5cy ,! t]m coop]at+ ag5cy means any   
,f$]al1 ,/ate1 ,tribal1 or local ag5cy t
 has be5 designat$ z a coop]at+ ag5cy "u
 section #ajg7;a77#d74  7#c7 ,c\ncil ,! 
t]m ,c\ncil means ! ,c\ncil on          
,environm5tal ,quality e/abli%$ 9 title 
,,ii4  7#d7 ,environm5tal assessm5t ,!  
t]m environm5tal assessm5t means an     
environm5tal assessm5t prep>$ "u section
 #ajf7;b77#b74  7#e7 ,environm5tal      
docum5t ,! t]m environm5tal docum5t     
means an environm5tal impact /atem5t1 an
 environm5tal assessm5t1 or a f9d+ ( no 
significant impact4  7#f7 ,environm5tal 
impact /atem5t ,! t]m environm5tal      
impact /atem5t means a detail$ writt5   
/atem5t t is requir$ by section         
#ajb7b77;,c7 ( ?is ,act4  7#g7 ,f9d+ (  
no significant impact ,! t]m f9d+ ( no  
significant impact means a det]m9ation  
by a ,f$]al ag5cy t a propos$ ag5cy     
action does n require ! issuance ( an   
environm5tal impact /atem5t4  7#h7      
,involv$ ,f$]al ag5cy ,! t]m involv$    
,f$]al ag5cy means an ag5cy t1 ) respect

 to a propos$ ag5cy action-- 7,a7       
propos$ su* action2 or  7,b7 is involv$ 
9 su* action because su* action is      
directly relat$1 ?r\gh functional       
int]dep5d5ce or geographic proximity1 9 
an action su* ag5cy has tak5 or has     
propos$ to take4  7#i7 ,lead ag5cy ,!   
t]m lead ag5cy means1 ) respect to a    
propos$ ag5cy action-- 7,a7 ! ag5cy t   
propos$ su* action2 or  7,b7 if !re are 
#b or m involv$ ,f$]al ag5cies ) respect
 to su* action1 ! ag5cy designat$ "u    
section #ajg7;a74  7#aj7 ,major ,f$]al  
action  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m major      
,f$]al action means an action t ! ag5cy 
c>ry+ out su* action det]m9es is subject
 to ,f$]al control & responsibility4    
7,b7 ,exclusion ,! t]m major ,f$]al     
action does n include-- 7i7 a non-,f$]al
 action ) m9imal ,f$]al fund+ or m9imal 
,f$]al involvem5t :]e a ,f$]al ag5cy _c 
control ! outcome ( ! project2  7ii7    
fund+ assi/ance solely 9 ! =m ( g5]al   
rev5ue %>+ funds ) no ,f$]al ag5cy      
control ov] ! subsequ5t use ( su* funds2

  7iii7 loans1 loan gu>antees1 or o!r   
=ms ( f9ancial assi/ance :]e a ,f$]al   
ag5cy does n ex]cise suffici5t control &
 responsibility ov] ! effect ( ! action2
  7iv7 f>m own]%ip & op]at+ loan        
gu>antees by ! ,f>m ,s]vice ,ag5cy      
pursuant to sections #cje & #caa ?r\gh  
#cai ( ! ,consolidat$ ,f>m]s ,home      
,adm9i/ration ,act ( #aifa 7#g ,u4,s4,c4
 #aibe & #aida ?r\gh #aidi72  7v7       
bus9ess loan gu>antees provid$ by !     
,small ,bus9ess ,adm9i/ration pursuant  
to section #g7;a7 or 7b7 & ( ! ,small   
,bus9ess ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcf7;a771 
or title ,v ( ! ,small ,bus9ess         
,inve/m5t ,act ( #aieh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4   
#fie et seq472 or  7vi7 br++ judicial or
 adm9i/rative civil or crim9al en=cem5t 
actions4  7#aa7 ,reasonably =eseeable ,!
 t]m reasonably =eseeable means         
suffici5tly likely to occur su* t an    
individual ( ord9>y prud5ce w\ld take   
su* occurr5ce into acc\nt 9 rea*+ a     
decision4  4