,i  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #hghd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,june #ah1 #bjbd,ms4  
,maloy 7= h]self1 ,mrs4                 
,*avez-,de,remer1 ,mr4 ,ne:\se1 ,mrs4   
,peltola1 ,mr4 ,la,turner1 ,mr4 ,pflug]1
 ,mr4 ,fong1 ,mr4 ,curtis1 ,mr4 ,gos>1  
,mr4 ,/aub]1 ,mr4 ,arr+ton1 ,mr4 ,moore 
( ,utah1 ,mrs4 ,fis*ba*1 & ,mr4 ,z9ke7  
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,ov]sight &            
,acc\ntability  ,a ,,bill  ,to require  
ea* ag5cy to evaluate ! p]mitt+ sy/em ( 
! ag5cy1 to consid] :e!r a p]mit by rule
 c\ld replace t sy/em1 & = o!r purposes4
  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ 
z ! ,full ,responsibility & ,exp$it$    
,en=cem5t ,act or ! ,,free ,act4  #b4   
,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7    
,ag5cies ne> unanim\sly op]ate "u a     
p]mitt+ sy/em t gives ag5cies broad     
discretion & requires ! ,gov]nm5t to    
review ea* p]mitt+ application4  7#b7   
,ag5cies ne> unanim\sly op]ate "u a     
p]mitt+ sy/em t ei!r does n h "t        

con/ra9ts1 or has "t con/ra9ts t ag5cies
 d n foll[4  7#c7 ,! comb9ation ( broad 
discretion & ! lack ( "t con/ra9ts (t5  
results 9 a t$i\s1 "t consum+1 & (t5    
exp5sive p]mitt+ sy/em = ! ,gov]nm5t &  
applicants4 ,moreov]1 ag5cies w         
sometimes use _! discretion & ! "t      
consum+ nature ( p]mitt+ to /all or     
disc\rage p]mit issuance4  7#d7 ,!re is 
a compell+ int]e/ 9 avoid+ unnecess>y   
delay & exp5se 9 ,f$]al p]mitt+4  7#e7  
,p]mit by rule is a process t seeks to  
ov]come ag5cy delay & ! cumb]some co/ ( 
ag5cy review to ,gov]nm5t & private     
int]e/s4  7#f7 ,p]mit by rule is a      
process ( p]mitt+ t includes specific   
writt5 /&>ds = obta9+ a p]mit1 a simple 
requirem5t = an applicant to c]tify     
compliance ) ea* ( ! /&>ds1 & a /reaml9$
 approval ( a maximum ( #cj days t only 
all[s ! ,gov]nm5t to v]ify t all        
conditions are met4 ,! ,gov]nm5t reta9s 
! "r & responsibility to audit & en=ce  
compliance ) p]mitt+ requirem5ts4       
,focus+ ^u p]mittees :o are violat+ !   

law or /&>ds r ?an gatekeep+ w make     
p]mitt+ m effici5t :ile all[+ an ag5cy  
to protect ! compell+ int]e/s = :i*     
p]mitt+ sy/ems are int5d$4  #c4 ,p]mit  
by rule  7a7 ,report to ,congress       
requir$ ,n lat] ?an #bdj days aft] !    
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is section1 ! head 
( ea* ag5cy %all submit to ,congress a  
report on ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,an evaluation 
( ea* p]mit ( ! ag5cy4  7#b7 ,a li/ &   
description ( ea* p]mit issu$ by !      
ag5cy4  7#c7 ,! requirem5ts = obta9+ ea*
 su* p]mit4  7#d7 ,a specific           
description ( ea* /ep ! ag5cy foll[s to 
review a p]mit application1 includ+ a   
li/ ( ! job title ( ea* employee ( !    
ag5cy involv$ 9 ! sy/em & a %ort job    
description = ea* su* title4  7#e7 ,an  
e/imate ( ! "t ! ag5cy typically        
requires to review an application t     
beg9s on ! date on :i* an application is
 submitt$ & ends on ! date on :i* a     
successful application is grant$4  7#f7 
,a description ( ea* action tak5 = a    
case 9 :i* an application is f\nd to n  

meet ! necess>y requirem5ts to be grant$
 a p]mit4  7#g7 ,a li/ ( prim>y int]e/s 
t ea* p]mit is int5d$ to protect4  7#h7 
,an individual det]m9ation = ea* su*    
p]mit t describes :e!r a p]mit by rule  
c\ld replace ! p]mitt+ sy/em4  7#i7 ,an 
id5tification ( ea* p]mit issu$ by !    
ag5cy t c\ld use a p]mit by rule4  7#aj7
 ,an id5tification ( ea* p]mit = :i* !  
head ( ! ag5cy has det]m9$ ! ag5cy c\ld 
n reasonably use a p]mit by rule1       
includ+ a description ) p>ticul>ity &   
detail ! reasons :y p]mit by rule c\ld n
 be reasonably us$ = ea* su* p]mit4     
7#aa7 ,an id5tification ( any *all5ges !
 head ( ! ag5cy anticipates 9 a         
transition to a p]mit by rule4  7b7     
,p]mit by rule  7#a7 ,automatic approval
 ( p]mits ,n lat] ?an #ab mon?s aft] !  
date on :i* ! report is submitt$        
pursuant to subsection 7a71 ! head ( ea*
 ag5cy %all e/abli% a p]mit by rule     
application process t does ! foll[+3    
7,a7 ,specifi$ 9 writ+ ea* requirem5t & 
sub/antive /&>d t mu/ be met by an      

applicant to file "u a p]mit by rule4   
7,b7 ,all[s an applicant to submit an   
application t conta9s only ea* requir$  
c]tification = ea* requirem5t or        
sub/antive /&>d e/abli%$ "u subp>agraph 
7,a74  7,c7 ,deems an application = a   
p]mit grant$ if-- 7i7 ! application     
conta9s ea* c]tification describ$ 9     
subp>agraph 7,b72 &  7ii7 a p]iod ( #cj 
days aft] ! date on :i* ! complet$      
application 0 submitt$ has expir$4  7#b7
 ,correction ( application ,! head ( an 
ag5cy may contact an applicant if any   
c]tification is miss+ f an application  
submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,d5ial 
( application & en=cem5t  7,a7 ,reason =
 d5ial ,! head ( an ag5cy may only d5y  
an application submitt$ "u a p]mit by   
rule if ! head ( ! ag5cy id5tifies a    
requirem5t or sub/antive /&>d describ$ 9
 p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 t 0 n met & /ates ) 
p>ticul>ity ! facts & reason+ = su*     
d5ial4  7,b7 ,audit & en=cem5t  7i7     
,audit ,! head ( an ag5cy may audit an  
application & v]ify compliance )        

sub/antive /&>ds1 :i* may include       
reasonable reque/s = docum5tation4  7ii7
 ,en=cem5t ,! head ( an ag5cy may d5y an
 application submitt$ "u a p]mit by rule
 at any "t or halt p]mitt$ action if !  
head ( ! ag5cy f9ds t a sub/antive /&>d 
is n be+ met4  7,c7 ,direct appeal ,an  
applicant ^: application = a p]mit by   
rule is d5i$ or ^: action "u a p]mit    
issu$ "u a p]mit by rule is halt$ may   
appeal su* d5ial or halt+ 9 an          
appropriate ,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt4 
7,d7 ,reasonable int]pretation (        
sub/antive /&>ds ,9 an appeal "u        
subp>agraph 7,c71 ! c\rt %all consid] an
 applicant t _h a reasonable            
int]pretation ( a sub/antive /&>d1 &    
made a good fai? ef=t to comply ) su*   
/&>d pursuant to su* reasonable         
int]pretation1 to h met su* /&>d4  7,e7 
,burd5 ( pro( ,9 an appeal "u           
subp>agraph 7,c71 ! ag5cy %all be> !    
burd5 ( pro( to %[ t an applicant's     
int]pretation 0 n reasonable & t _! ef=t
 to comply 0 n 9 good fai?4  7,f7       

,int]pretation ,a c\rt %all int]pret an 
ag5cy rule = a p]mit by rule 9 a mann] t
 favors ! applicant if ! applicant made 
a good fai? ef=t to comply ) !          
requirem5ts ( ! p]mit by rule4  7,g7    
,attorney fees2 p]mit grant$ ,if ! c\rt 
f9ds = ! applicant "u ?is p>agraph1 !   
ag5cy %all pay ! attorney fees ( !      
applicant & ! p]mit %all is deem$       
grant$4  7c7 ,p]mit by rule requir$     
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an ! date on :i* 
! report is submitt$ pursuant to        
subsection 7a71 ! head ( ea* ag5cy %all 
issue a p]mit by rule = any p]mit       
id5tifi$ 9 subsection 7a77#i74  7#b7    
,qualify+ applicants ,n lat] ?an #ij    
days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
section1 ! head ( ea* ag5cy %all provide
 a p]mit by rule option = any applicant 
= a p]mit t fits )9 ! description ( !   
activities t are approv$ = p]mit by     
rule4  7d7 ,re/rictions on ag5cy        
settlem5t agreem5ts ,! head ( an ag5cy  
may n ent] into a settlem5t agreem5t )  
an applicant "u subsection 7b7 9 :i* !  

ag5cy agrees to n en=ce ?is ,act1 any   
regulation promulgat$ "u ?is ,act1 or   
any p]mitt+ requirem5t = a p]mit by rule
 e/abli%$ "u ?is ,act aga9/ su*         
applicant4  7e7 ,congressional ,ov]sight
 ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !  
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! head ( ea* ag5cy 
%all submit to ,congress a report on !  
progress ( ! ag5cy 9 transition+ to &   
implem5t+ ea* p]mit = :i* p]mit by rule 
is implem5t$ "u ?is ,act4  7f7          
,ma9t5ance ( previ\s p]mitt+ sy/em  7#a7
 ,concurr5t use ( previ\s p]mitt+ sy/em 
,if ! head ( ag5cy det]m9es t ! p]mitt+ 
sy/em 9 effect be=e ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is ,act provides value t ! p]mit by  
rule does n1 & a p]mit by rule is       
o!rwise viable1 ! head ( ! ag5cy may (f]
 bo? ! p]mitt+ sy/em & ! p]mit by rule1 
& ! applicant may *oose :i* to use1 if !
 head ( ! ag5cy includes ! value su*    
p]mitt+ sy/em has t a p]mit by rule does
 n 9 ! report requir$ pursuant to       
subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,pref]5ce = p]mit 
by rule ,if an ag5cy det]m9es t p]mit by

 rule is viable1 yet wi%es to ma9ta9    
only "o p]mitt+ sy/em1 ! ag5cy %all     
*oose p]mit by rule4  7#c7 ,previ\s     
p]mitt+ sy/em in/ead ( p]mit by rule ,! 
head ( an ag5cy may cont9ue to use a    
p]mitt+ sy/em in/ead ( a p]mit by rule  
if ! head ( ! ag5cy includes 9 ! report 
describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 ! reasons a   
p]mit by rule is n viable4  7g7         
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,ag5cy2
 rule ,! t]ms ag5cy & rule h ! mean+    
giv5 ^? t]ms 9 section #eea ( title #e1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#b7 ,complet$    
application ,! t]m complet$ application 
means an application submitt$ "u        
subsection 7b7 t conta9s an application 
) c]tifications t ! applicant meets ea* 
requirem5t & sub/antive /&>d e/abli%$ "u
 subsection 7b77#a77;,a74  7#c7 ,p]mit  
by rule ,! t]m p]mit by rule means !    
p]mitt+ process describ$ "u subsection  
7b74  7#d7 ,sub/antive /&>d ,! t]m      
sub/antive /&>d means all qualities1    
/atuses1 actions1 b5*m>ks1 measurem5ts1 
or o!r writt5 descriptions t w\ld       

qualify a p>ty to p]=m ! p]mitt$ action4