Bill > S4590

This bill, the NEPA Agency Process Accountability Act of 2020, aims to reform the agency process requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. Key provisions include: 1) Defining key terms like "environmental assessment," "environmental impact statement," and "NEPA process." 2) Prohibiting agencies from considering alternatives that are not technically or economically feasible to the project sponsor, or outside the agency's jurisdiction. 3) Limiting the number of environmental documents required for a proposed action, such as only allowing one environmental impact statement and one record of decision. 4) Allowing agencies to use categorical exclusions approved by another federal agency or Congress, and providing guidance on when extraordinary circumstances warrant additional environmental analysis. 5) Allowing agencies to adopt prior environmental findings, research, and documents prepared by qualified third parties, with certain requirements. 6) Establishing procedures for multi-agency projects, including designating a lead agency and limiting cooperating agencies' evaluations. 7) Requiring agencies to annually report data on NEPA processes, and the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Management and Budget to develop a methodology to assess NEPA's comprehensive costs.