Bill > HR573

This bill requires federal agencies to submit an annual report to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) about the impact of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a law that mandates environmental reviews for major federal projects. The reports must detail legal actions related to NEPA compliance, including the number of civil lawsuits, their outcomes, plaintiffs, and courts involved. Agencies must also report on environmental impact statements (EIS), providing detailed information such as page count, preparation costs, and timelines for project reviews. The reports must cover 15 specific sectors, including aviation, energy production, transportation, and others. The CEQ will then publish these reports on its website and submit them to congressional committees, making the data publicly available. Each report will track trends over time and specifically compare data from before and after the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. The goal is to provide transparency about the environmental review process, its complexity, and its potential effects on project development across various industries. By mandating these comprehensive annual reports, the bill aims to create a more systematic understanding of how NEPA is implemented and its practical implications for federal projects.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/573/all-info