,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #deia  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,septemb] #af1         
#bjbj,mr4 ,lee introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 
:i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,environm5t & ,public     
,works  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,national 
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi to   
re=m ag5cy process requirem5ts1 & = o!r 
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,,nepa ,ag5cy ,process     
,re=m ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,ag5cy process 
re=ms "u ,,nepa  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,title ,i 
( ! ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act
 ( #aifi is am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+  
section #aje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcce7 z    
section #ajf2 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft]    
section #ajd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dccd7 !    
foll[+3  #aje4 ,ag5cy process re=ms  7a7
 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7       
,environm5tal assessm5t ,! t]m          
environm5tal assessm5t has ! mean+ giv5 
! t]m 9 section #aejh4i ( title #dj1    
,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or a       
successor regulation74  7#b7            

,environm5tal impact /atem5t ,! t]m     
environm5tal impact /atem5t means a     
detail$ /atem5t requir$ "u section      
#ajb7b77;,c74  7#c7 ,f$]al ag5cy ,! t]m 
,f$]al ag5cy includes a ,/ate t has     
assum$ responsibility "u section #cbg ( 
title #bc1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#d7   
,head ( a ,f$]al ag5cy ,! t]m head ( a  
,f$]al ag5cy includes ! gov]nor or head 
( an applicable ,/ate ag5cy ( a ,/ate t 
has assum$ responsibility "u section    
#cbg ( title #bc1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  
7#e7 ,,nepa process  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
t]m ,,nepa process means ! entirety ( e 
process1 analysis1 or o!r measure1      
includ+ an environm5tal impact /atem5t1 
requir$ to be c>ri$ out by a ,f$]al     
ag5cy "u ?is title be=e ! ag5cy         
und]takes a propos$ action4  7,b7 ,p]iod
 ,= purposes ( subp>agraph 7,a71 !      
,,nepa process-- 7i7 beg9s on ! date on 
:i* ! head ( a ,f$]al ag5cy receives an 
application = a propos$ action f a      
project sponsor2 &  7ii7 ends on ! date 
on :i* ! ,f$]al ag5cy issues1 ) respect 

to ! propos$ action-- 7,i7 a record (   
decision1 includ+1 if necess>y1 a revis$
 record ( decision2  7,,ii7 a f9d+ ( no 
significant impact2 or  7,,iii7 a       
categorical exclusion "u ?is title4     
7#f7 ,project sponsor ,! t]m project    
sponsor means a ,f$]al ag5cy or o!r     
entity1 includ+ a private or            
public-private entity1 t seeks approval 
( a propos$ action4  7b7 ,prohibitions  
,9 c>ry+ out ! ,,nepa process1 ! head ( 
a ,f$]al ag5cy may n-- 7#a7 consid] :e!r
 a propos$ action or an alt]native to ! 
propos$ action consid]$ by ! head ( !   
,f$]al ag5cy1 includ+ ! design1         
environm5tal impact1 mitigation         
measures1 or adaptation measures ( !    
propos$ action or alt]native to !       
propos$ action1 has an effect on climate
 *ange2  7#b7 ) respect to a propos$    
action or an alt]native to ! propos$    
action consid]$ by ! head ( ! ,f$]al    
ag5cy1 consid] ! effects ( ! emission ( 
gre5h\se gases on climate *ange2  7#c7  
consid] an alt]native to ! propos$      

action if ! propos$ action is n         
te*nically or economically feasible to !
 project sponsor2 or  7#d7 consid] an   
alt]native to ! propos$ action t is n )9
 ! jurisdiction ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy4  7c7  
,environm5tal docum5ts  7#a7 ,,eis      
requir$ ,9 c>ry+ out ! ,,nepa process = 
a propos$ action t requires ! prep>ation
 ( an environm5tal impact /atem5t1 !    
head ( a ,f$]al ag5cy %all produce = !  
propos$ action n m ?an #a-- 7,a7        
environm5tal impact /atem5t2  7,b7 if   
necess>y1 environm5tal assessm5t2 &     
7,c7 record ( decision4  7#b7 ,,eis n   
requir$ ,9 c>ry+ out ! ,,nepa process = 
a propos$ action t does n require !     
prep>ation ( an environm5tal impact     
/atem5t1 ! head ( a ,f$]al ag5cy %all   
produce = ! propos$ action n m ?an #a-- 
7,a7 environm5tal assessm5t2 or  7,b7   
f9d+ ( no significant impact4  7d7      
,categorical exclusions  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  
,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law &      
subject to p>agraph 7#b71 ! head ( a    
,f$]al ag5cy may1 )\t fur!r approval1   

use a categorical exclusion "u ?is title
 t has be5 approv$ by-- 7,a7 7i7 ano!r  
,f$]al ag5cy2 &  7ii7 ! ,c\ncil on      
,environm5tal ,quality2 or  7,b7 an ,act
 ( ,congress4  7#b7 ,requirem5ts ,! head
 ( a ,f$]al ag5cy may use a categorical 
exclusion describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 if ! 
head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy-- 7,a7 c>efully   
reviews ! description ( ! propos$ action
 to ensure t x fits )9 ! category (     
actions describ$ 9 ! categorical        
exclusion2 &  7,b7 consid]s !           
circum/ances associat$ ) ! propos$      
action to ensure t !re are no           
extraord9>y circum/ances t w>rant !     
prep>ation ( an environm5tal assessm5t  
or an environm5tal impact /atem5t4  7#c7
 ,extraord9>y circum/ances ,if ! head ( 
a ,f$]al ag5cy det]m9es t extraord9>y   
circum/ances are pres5t ) respect to a  
propos$ action1 ! head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy 
%all-- 7,a7 consid] :e!r mitigat+       
circum/ances or o!r conditions are      
suffici5t to avoid significant effects (
 ! propos$ action2 &  7,b7 if ! head ( !

 ,f$]al ag5cy det]m9es t ^? significant 
effects c be avoid$1 apply a categorical
 exclusion to ! propos$ action4  7e7    
,reuse ( "w2 docum5ts prep>$ by qualifi$
 #crd p>ties2 unexpect$ circum/ances    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 c>ry+ out ! ,,nepa     
process = a propos$ action-- 7,a7       
subject to p>agraph 7#b71 ! head ( a    
,f$]al ag5cy %all-- 7i7 use any         
applicable f9d+s & rese>* f a prior     
,,nepa process ( any ,f$]al ag5cy2 &    
7ii7 incorporate ! f9d+s & rese>*       
describ$ 9 clause 7i7 into any          
applicable analysis "u ! ,,nepa process2
 &  7,b7 a ,f$]al ag5cy may adopt z an  
environm5tal impact /atem5t1            
environm5tal assessm5t1 or o!r          
environm5tal docum5t to a*ieve          
compliance ) ?is title-- 7i7 an         
environm5tal docum5t prep>$ "u ! law ( !
 applicable ,/ate if ! head ( ! ,f$]al  
ag5cy det]m9es t ! environm5tal laws ( !
 applicable ,/ate-- 7,i7 provide ! same 
level ( environm5tal analysis z !       
analysis requir$ "u ?is title2 &  7,,ii7

 all[ = ! opportunity ( public comm5t2  
or  7ii7 subject to p>agraph 7#c71 an   
environm5tal docum5t prep>$ by a        
qualifi$ ?ird p>ty *os5 by ! project    
sponsor1 at ! exp5se ( ! project        
sponsor1 if ! head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy--   
7,i7 provides ov]sight ( ! prep>ation ( 
! environm5tal docum5t by ! ?ird p>ty2 &
  7,,ii7 indep5d5tly evaluates !        
environm5tal docum5t = ! compliance ( ! 
environm5tal docum5t ) ?is title4  7#b7 
,requirem5t = ! reuse ( f9d+s & rese>*  
,! head ( a ,f$]al ag5cy may reuse !    
applicable f9d+s & rese>* describ$ 9    
p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 if-- 7,a7 7i7 !      
project = :i* ! head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy is
 seek+ to reuse ! f9d+s & rese>* 0 9    
close geographic proximity to ! propos$ 
action2 &  7ii7 ! head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy 
det]m9es t ! conditions "u :i* !        
applicable f9d+s & rese>* 7 issu$ h n   
sub/antially *ang$2 or  7,b7 7i7 !      
project = :i* ! head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy is
 seek+ to reuse ! f9d+s & rese>* 0 n 9  
close geographic proximity to ! propos$ 

action2 &  7ii7 ! head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy 
det]m9es t ! propos$ action has simil>  
issues or decisions z ! project4  7#c7  
,requirem5ts = creation ( environm5tal  
docum5t by qualifi$ #crd p>ties  7,a7 ,9
 g5]al ,a qualifi$ ?ird p>ty may prep>e 
an environm5tal docum5t int5d$ to be    
adopt$ by a ,f$]al ag5cy z !            
environm5tal impact /atem5t1            
environm5tal assessm5t1 or o!r          
environm5tal docum5t = a propos$ action 
"u p>agraph 7#a77;,b77ii7 if-- 7i7 !    
project sponsor submits a writt5 reque/ 
to ! head ( ! applicable ,f$]al ag5cy t 
! head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy approve !       
qualifi$ ?ird p>ty to create ! docum5t  
int5d$ to be adopt$ by a ,f$]al ag5cy z 
! environm5tal impact /atem5t1          
environm5tal assessm5t1 or o!r          
environm5tal docum5t2 &  7ii7 ! head ( !
 ,f$]al ag5cy det]m9es t-- 7,i7 ! ?ird  
p>ty is qualifi$ to prep>e ! docum5t2 & 
7,,ii7 ! ?ird p>ty has no f9ancial or   
o!r int]e/ 9 ! outcome ( ! propos$      
action4  7,b7 ,deadl9e ,! head ( a      

,f$]al ag5cy t receives a writt5 reque/ 
"u subp>agraph 7,a77i7 %all issue a     
writt5 decision approv+ or d5y+ ! reque/
 n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date on :i* 
! writt5 reque/ is receiv$4  7,c7 ,no   
prior "w ,! head ( a ,f$]al ag5cy may n 
adopt an environm5tal docum5t "u        
p>agraph 7#a77;,b77ii7 if ! qualifi$    
?ird p>ty began prep>+ ! docum5t prior  
to ! date on :i* ! head ( ! ,f$]al ag5cy
 issues ! writt5 decision "u subp>agraph
 7,b7 approv+ ! reque/4  7,d7 ,d5ials   
,if ! head ( a ,f$]al ag5cy issues a    
writt5 decision d5y+ ! reque/ "u        
subp>agraph 7,a77i71 ! head ( ! ,f$]al  
ag5cy %all submit to ! project sponsor )
 ! writt5 decision ! f9d+s t s]v$ z !   
basis ( ! d5ial4  7#d7 ,unexpect$       
circum/ances ,if1 :ile c>ry+ out a      
propos$ action aft] ! completion ( !    
,,nepa process = t propos$ action1 a    
,f$]al ag5cy or project sponsor enc\nt]s
 a new or unexpect$ circum/ance or      
condition t may require ! reevaluation (
 ! propos$ action "u ?is title1 ! head (

 ! ,f$]al ag5cy ) responsibility = c>ry+
 out ! ,,nepa process = ! propos$ action
 %all-- 7,a7 consid] :e!r mitigat+ ! new
 or unexpect$ circum/ance or condition  
is suffici5t to avoid significant       
effects t may result f ! circum/ance or 
condition2 &  7,b7 if ! head ( ! ,f$]al 
ag5cy det]m9es "u subp>agraph 7,a7 t !  
significant effects t result f !        
circum/ance or condition c be avoid$1   
mitigate ! circum/ance or condition )\t 
c>ry+ out ! ,,nepa process aga94  7f7   
,multi-,ag5cy projects  7#a7 ,def9itions
 ,9 ?is subsection3 7,a7 ,coop]at+ ag5cy
 ,! t]m coop]at+ ag5cy means a ,f$]al   
ag5cy involv$ 9 a propos$ action t-- 7i7
 is n ! lead ag5cy2 &  7ii7 has !       
jurisdiction or special exp]tise su* t !
 ,f$]al ag5cy ne$s to be consult$-- 7,i7
 to use a categorical exclusion2 or     
7,,ii7 to prep>e an environm5tal        
assessm5t or environm5tal impact        
/atem5t1 z applicable4  7,b7 ,lead ag5cy
 ,! t]m lead ag5cy means ! ,f$]al ag5cy 
select$ "u p>agraph 7#b77;,a74  7#b7    

,ag5cy designation  7,a7 ,lead ag5cy ,9 
c>ry+ out ! ,,nepa process = a propos$  
action t requires au?orization f        
multiple ,f$]al ag5cies1 ! heads ( !    
applicable ,f$]al ag5cies %all det]m9e !
 lead ag5cy = ! propos$ action4  7,b7   
,invitation ,! head ( ! lead ag5cy may  
invite any relevant ,/ate1 local1 or    
,tribal ag5cy ) ,f$]al au?orization     
decision responsibility to be a coop]at+
 ag5cy4  7#c7 ,responsibilities ( lead  
ag5cy ,! lead ag5cy = a propos$ action  
%all-- 7,a7 z soon z practicable & 9    
consultation ) ! coop]at+ ag5cies1      
det]m9e :e!r a propos$ action requires !
 prep>ation ( an environm5tal impact    
/atem5t2 &  7,b7 if ! head ( ! lead     
ag5cy det]m9es "u subp>agraph 7,a7 t an 
environm5tal impact /atem5t is          
necess>y-- 7i7 be responsible =         
coord9at+ ! prep>ation ( an environm5tal
 impact /atem5t2  7ii7 provide coop]at+ 
ag5cies ) an opportunity to review &    
contribute to ! prep>ation ( !          
environm5tal impact /atem5t &           

environm5tal assessm5t1 z applicable1 ( 
! propos$ action1 except t ! coop]at+   
ag5cy %all limit comm5ts to issues )9 ! 
special exp]tise or jurisdiction ( !    
coop]at+ ag5cy2 &  7iii7 subject to     
subsection 7b71 z soon z practicable & 9
 consultation ) ! coop]at+ ag5cies1     
det]m9e ! range ( alt]natives to be     
consid]$ = ! propos$ action4  7#d7      
,environm5tal docum5ts ,9 c>ry+ out !   
,,nepa process = a propos$ action1 !    
lead ag5cy %all prep>e n m ?an #a ( ea* 
type ( docum5t describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 
or 7#b7 ( subsection 7c71 z applicable--
 7,a7 9 consultation ) coop]at+ ag5cies2
 &  7,b7 = all applicable ,f$]al        
ag5cies4  7#e7 ,prohibitions  7,a7 ,9   
g5]al ,a coop]at+ ag5cy may n evaluate  
an alt]native to ! propos$ action t has 
n be5 det]m9$ to be )9 ! range (        
alt]natives consid]$ "u p>agraph        
7#c77;,b77iii74  7,b7 ,omission ,if a   
coop]at+ ag5cy submits to ! lead ag5cy  
an evaluation ( an alt]native t does n  
meet ! requirem5ts ( subsection 7b71 !  

lead ag5cy %all omit ! alt]native f !   
environm5tal impact /atem5t4  7g7       
,reports  7#a7 ,,nepa data  7,a7 ,9     
g5]al ,! head ( ea* ,f$]al ag5cy t      
c>ries out ! ,,nepa process %all c>ry   
out a process to track1 & annually      
submit to ,congress a report conta9+1 ! 
in=mation describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b74  
7,b7 ,in=mation describ$ ,! in=mation   
ref]r$ to 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 is1 )      
respect to ! ,f$]al ag5cy issu+ ! report
 "u t subp>agraph-- 7i7 ! numb] (       
propos$ actions = :i* a categorical     
exclusion 0 issu$ dur+ ! report+ p]iod2 
7ii7 ! l5g? ( "t ! ,f$]al ag5cy took to 
issue ! categorical exclusions describ$ 
9 clause 7i72  7iii7 ! numb] ( propos$  
actions p5d+ on ! date on :i* ! report  
is submitt$ = :i* ! issuance ( a        
categorical exclusion is p5d+2  7iv7 !  
numb] ( propos$ actions = :i* an        
environm5tal assessm5t 0 issu$ dur+ !   
report+ p]iod2  7v7 ! l5g? ( "t ! ,f$]al
 ag5cy took to complete ea* environm5tal
 assessm5t describ$ 9 clause 7iv72  7vi7

 ! numb] ( propos$ actions p5d+ on !    
date on :i* ! report is submitt$ = :i*  
an environm5tal assessm5t is be+ draft$2
  7vii7 ! numb] ( propos$ actions = :i* 
an environm5tal impact /atem5t 0 issu$  
dur+ ! report+ p]iod2  7viii7 ! l5g? (  
"t ! ,f$]al ag5cy took to complete ea*  
environm5tal impact /atem5t describ$ 9  
clause 7vii72 &  7ix7 ! numb] ( propos$ 
actions p5d+ on ! date on :i* ! report  
is submitt$ = :i* an environm5tal impact
 /atem5t is be+ draft$4  7#b7 ,,nepa    
co/s  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye>  
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is subsection1
 ! ,*air ( ! ,c\ncil on ,environm5tal   
,quality & ! ,director ( ! ,(fice (     
,managem5t & ,budget %all jo9tly develop
 a me?odology to assess ! compreh5sive  
co/s ( ! ,,nepa process4  7,b7          
,requirem5ts ,! head ( ea* ,f$]al ag5cy 
t c>ries out ! ,,nepa process %all-- 7i7
 adopt ! me?odology develop$ "u         
subp>agraph 7,a72 &  7ii7 use !         
me?odology develop$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 
to annually submit to ,congress a report

 describ+-- 7,i7 ! compreh5sive co/ ( ! 
,,nepa process = ea* propos$ action t 0 
c>ri$ out )9 ! report+ p]iod2 &  7,,ii7 
= a propos$ action = :i* ! head ( !     
,f$]al ag5cy is /ill complet+ ! ,,nepa  
process at ! "t ! report is submitt$--  
7aa7 ! am\nt ( money exp5d$ to date to  
c>ry out ! ,,nepa process = ! propos$   
action2 &  7bb7 an e/imate ( ! rema9+   
co/s be=e ! ,,nepa process = ! propos$  
action is complete4  4  7b7 ,prohibition
 on guidance ,no ,f$]al ag5cy1 includ+ !
 ,c\ncil on ,environm5tal ,quality1 may 
reissue ! f9al guidance ( ! ,c\ncil on  
,environm5tal ,quality entitl$ ,f9al    
,guidance = ,f$]al ,dep>tm5ts & ,ag5cies
 on ,consid]ation ( ,gre5h\se ,gas      
,emissions & ! ,effects ( ,climate      
,*ange 9 ,national ,environm5tal ,policy
 ,act ,reviews 7#ha ,f$4 ,reg4 #eahff   
7,augu/ #e1 #bjaf77 or sub/antially     
simil> guidance unless au?oriz$ by an   
,act ( ,congress4