,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cbgh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #bj1 #bjbe,ms4 ,lummis 7for herself and ,mr4 ,kelly7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,transportation to develop a centralized1 web-based platform for managing1 submitting1 and tracking documents and processes relating to compliance with the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,streamlining ,modeling for ,advanced1 ,rapid ,transportation ,infrastructure ,act of #bjbe or the ,,smart ,infrastructure ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 ,federal permitting processes for infrastructure projects are often delayed due to inefficient coordination1 imperfect communication of complex information1 manual data handling1 and lack of transparency2 7#b7 #b-;dimensional paper- and ,,pdf-based project designs impede the effective communication of complex1 integrated engineering-based project information to government agencies1 project stakeholders1 laypersons1 and local communities1 causing delays in permitting and project delivery2 7#c7 digital twin technology enables real-time1 high quality1 high resolution1 data-driven modeling of infrastructure projects that improves planning1 environmental review1 and stakeholder collaboration2 7#d7 digital twin technology is widely available on the commercial market from a variety of vendors2 7#e7 digital twins of infrastructure projects include and preserve detailed information about the project1 acting as a single source of truth for all participants in the development of the project1 which improves quality1 reduces project risk1 and accelerates delivery2 7#f7 technological progress in the planning1 permitting1 design1 construction1 delivery1 operation1 and management of infrastructure is best achieved when design models are developed and transmitted in interoperable1 digital1 high-fidelity1 #c-;dimensional formats2 7#g7 an electronic ,,nepa portal can centralize permitting data1 streamline reviews1 reduce environmental review timelines1 and enhance public access to environmental documents2 and 7#h7 modernizing permitting processes will accelerate critical infrastructure development1 support economic growth1 and ensure environmental protections4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,covered infrastructure project ,the term covered infrastructure project means any infrastructure project under ,title #di for which the ,department of ,transportation is the lead agency4 7#c7 ,digital twin ,the term digital twin1 with respect to an infrastructure project or infrastructure asset1 means a high-fidelity1 digital model of the infrastructure project or infrastructure asset that-- 7,a7 integrates real-time data from design1 construction1 operation1 maintenance1 and environmental factors to simulate the performance and impacts of the infrastructure project or infrastructure asset2 and 7,b7 is used to ensure greater accuracy1 efficiency1 and seamless integration of elements throughout the infrastructure project or infrastructure asset lifecycle4 7#d7 ,eligible project ,the term eligible project means a covered infrastructure project for which each of the following are used3 7,a7 #a or more digital twins4 7,b7 ,the e-,,nepa portal developed under section #e7;a74 7#e7 e-,,nepa document ,the term e-,,nepa document means an electronic environmental document or other ,,nepa-related document1 including a permitting document1 that is developed1 submitted1 reviewed1 or tracked through the use of an e-,,nepa portal4 7#f7 e-,,nepa portal ,the term e-,,nepa portal means a centralized1 web-based platform-- 7,a7 for managing1 submitting1 and tracking documents and processes relating to ,,nepa compliance2 and 7,b7 through which e-,,nepa documents are developed with interactive1 digital technologies and systems to streamline-- 7i7 document development2 and 7ii7 communications between project sponsors1 government agencies1 and community stakeholders with respect to the documents and processes required under ,,nepa4 7#g7 ,environmental document ,the term environmental document has the meaning given the term in section #aaa of ,,nepa 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dccf;e74 7#h7 ,infrastructure ,the term infrastructure means physical infrastructure4 7#i7 ,lead agency ,the term lead agency has the meaning given the term in section #aaa of ,,nepa 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dccf;e74 7#aj7 ,,nepa ,the term ,,nepa means the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474 7#aa7 ,open application programming interface ,the term open application programming interface mean an open source1 machine-readable specification format that facilitates the integration of different systems from a variety of vendors1 allowing the free exchange of data between engineering software tools1 and enabling clear documentation and communication1 without users needing access to the source code4 7#ab7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 #d4 ,digital twin implementation in permitting 7a7 ,guidelines for adoption of digital twin technology 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,council on ,environmental ,quality and relevant ,federal agencies1 shall establish guidelines for integrating digital twin technology into the permitting process for covered infrastructure projects4 7#b7 ,requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,the guidelines established under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7i7 standards for creating and maintaining digital twins to model project impacts1 including environmental1 economic1 and operational factors2 7ii7 requirements for interoperability with existing ,federal permitting systems2 and 7iii7 protocols for real-time data integration from environmental sensors1 geographic information systems1 and stakeholder inputs4 7,b7 ,open application programming interfaces ,the standards described in subparagraph 7,a77i7 shall include recommendations that digital twins be developed with open application programming interfaces4 7b7 ,pilot program 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program to test digital twin applications in not less than #aj covered infrastructure projects across diverse sectors4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the pilot program established under paragraph 7#a7 shall evaluate-- 7,a7 the extent of any-- 7i7 reductions in permitting timelines2 7ii7 improvements in environmental impact assessments2 7iii7 cost savings2 and 7iv7 stakeholder collaboration outcomes2 and 7,b7 the importance of early public stakeholder engagement4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report on the findings of the pilot program4 #e4 ,establishment of e-,,nepa portal 7a7 ,development 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,council on ,environmental ,quality1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 and the ,secretary of ,commerce1 shall develop an e-,,nepa portal for covered infrastructure projects4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the e-,,nepa portal developed under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 serve as a centralized platform for submitting1 reviewing1 and tracking e-,,nepa documents2 7,b7 integrate with digital twin models to provide real-time visualization of the impacts of covered infrastructure projects2 7,c7 provide public access to-- 7i7 nonsensitive e-,,nepa documents2 and 7ii7 comment periods2 and 7,d7 include secure data storage compliant with ,federal cybersecurity standards4 7b7 ,agency coordination 7#a7 ,requirement ,beginning not later than ,january #a1 #bjbh1 all ,federal agencies involved in an environmental review under ,,nepa for a covered infrastructure project shall use the e-,,nepa portal developed under subsection 7a7 for all permitting relating to that covered infrastructure project4 7#b7 ,role of the ,secretary ,for each covered infrastructure project for which the e-,,nepa portal developed under subsection 7a7 is used1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 oversee portal-based coordination2 and 7,b7 ensure compliance with statutory deadlines4 7c7 ,public interface ,the e-,,nepa portal developed under subsection 7a7 shall include a public interface allowing stakeholders and members of the public1 including communities-- 7#a7 to access1 for covered infrastructure projects-- 7,a7 project timelines2 7,b7 nonsensitive e-,,nepa documents2 and 7,c7 information relating to the status of permitting for the covered infrastructure project2 and 7#b7 to submit comments on a digital platform or website during ,,nepa public comment periods4 #f4 ,accelerated permitting timelines 7a7 ,streamlined ,reviews 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall use all available existing authorities to reduce ,,nepa environmental review timelines for eligible projects by not less than #be percent compared to existing averages4 7#b7 ,implementation ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall promulgate guidance or regulations1 as necessary1 to implement the requirements of paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,interagency coordination 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall use the e-,,nepa portal developed under section #e7;a7 to coordinate with other ,federal1 ,state1 and local agencies to accelerate reviews for covered infrastructure projects4 7#b7 ,single environmental document ,a single environmental document shall be used across agencies for each covered infrastructure project4 #g4 ,annual report ,the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress an annual report that describes-- 7#a7 any progress made with respect to-- 7,a7 the integration of digital twin technology into the permitting process for covered infrastructure projects2 and 7,b7 the development and use of an e-,,nepa portal for covered infrastructure projects2 7#b7 any reductions in permitting timelines and costs for covered infrastructure projects2 and 7#c7 any environmental1 public stakeholder1 or community outcomes from the use of digital twins or the e-,,nepa portal developed under section #e7;a74