Bill · S. 1191· Senate(119-S-1191)
Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act
- Introduced
- 3/27/2025
- Last activity
- 3/27/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Sponsored by
- John Curtis
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Studying NEPA's Impact on Projects Act" aims to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It requires the Council on Environmental Quality to publish an annual report regarding environmental reviews and legal actions. This report must include details on causes of action based on alleged non-compliance, including the agencies and plaintiffs involved. Additionally, the report must track the length and costs of environmental impact statements and assessments. It also requires tracking timelines for completing these documents and a list of categorical exclusions. Finally, the report must provide data disaggregated by project type and various covered sectors.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency through Data Availability: The Council must publish the annual report on its website and submit it to specific Senate and House committees, including the underlying data and citations so the public can locate court proceeding records (Section 2, subsection b and d).
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Tracking of Legal Outcomes: The report will identify the status and outcome of causes of action, such as whether a major Federal action was reversed, if a lead agency was allowed to move forward, or if a settlement was reached (Section 2, subsection b, paragraph 1, subparagraph D).
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Insight into Project Timelines and Costs: The report will provide data on the total cost to prepare environmental impact statements and assessments, as well as specific timelines from project application to the notice to proceed (Section 2, subsection b, paragraphs 3 and 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Administrative Burden of Reporting: The Council is required to collect and report extensive details, including personnel hour costs, contractor costs, and specific timelines for every major Federal action commenced during the covered year (Section 2, subsection b, paragraphs 3 and 4).
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Increased Information Requirements for Agencies: Federal agencies will be subject to detailed reporting on their actions, including the number of categorical exclusions they have established, adopted, or revised (Section 2, subsection b, paragraph 5).
- 12/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/27/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia