Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act | ChamberLight
Bills · HR 573
PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 573Environmental assessment, monitoring, researchCongressional oversight
Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act
INTRO JAN 21· LAST ACTION DEC 10
READING
6MIN
COSPONSORS
6
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
One chamber only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 4 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
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This bill matters because it will create a central, publicly accessible database detailing the practical impact of a major environmental law, NEPA, on federal projects. For years, there have been debates about whether NEPA causes unnecessary delays and costs for infrastructure and other development projects. This bill aims to provide concrete data to inform those discussions.
If this bill becomes law, voters and policymakers will have a clearer understanding of how long environmental reviews take, what they cost, and how often they lead to lawsuits, broken down by different types of projects. This data could be used to support arguments for reforming NEPA to make it more efficient, or to demonstrate the effectiveness and necessity of the current review process. Without this bill, such comprehensive, standardized data would not be consistently collected or easily accessible, leaving debates about NEPA's impact largely based on anecdotal evidence or partial studies.
KEY PROVISIONS
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PROVISION 01
Requires federal 'lead agencies' to submit annual reports to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) detailing lawsuits related to NEPA, including the parties involved, alleged basis, status, and outcome of each case.
This provides a transparent record of legal challenges against federal projects, showing where and why NEPA compliance is being contested.
PROVISION 02
Mandates reporting on the length (page count) and estimated cost of preparing Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), including personnel, contractor, and other direct costs.
This provision offers insights into the resource intensity and financial burden associated with environmental reviews.
PROVISION 03
Requires reporting on the timelines for completing EISs, tracking key dates from project application to final decision and notice to proceed.
This directly addresses concerns about project delays by providing concrete data on how long environmental reviews actually take.
PROVISION 04
Requires the CEQ to annually publish all submitted reports and their underlying data on its website, and to submit them to relevant Congressional committees.
This ensures the collected data is accessible to the public and policymakers, promoting transparency and informed decision-making.
This bill matters because it will create a central, publicly accessible database detailing the practical impact of a major environmental law, NEPA, on federal projects. For years, there have been debates about whether NEPA causes unnecessary delays and costs for infrastructure and other development projects. This bill aims to provide concrete data to inform those discussions.
If this bill becomes law, voters and policymakers will have a clearer understanding of how long environmental reviews take, what they cost, and how often they lead to lawsuits, broken down by different types of projects. This data could be used to support arguments for reforming NEPA to make it more efficient, or to demonstrate the effectiveness and necessity of the current review process. Without this bill, such comprehensive, standardized data would not be consistently collected or easily accessible, leaving debates about NEPA's impact largely based on anecdotal evidence or partial studies.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Requires federal 'lead agencies' to submit annual reports to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) detailing lawsuits related to NEPA, including the parties involved, alleged basis, status, and outcome of each case.
This provides a transparent record of legal challenges against federal projects, showing where and why NEPA compliance is being contested.
med
Mandates reporting on the length (page count) and estimated cost of preparing Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), including personnel, contractor, and other direct costs.
This provision offers insights into the resource intensity and financial burden associated with environmental reviews.
high
Requires reporting on the timelines for completing EISs, tracking key dates from project application to final decision and notice to proceed.
This directly addresses concerns about project delays by providing concrete data on how long environmental reviews actually take.
high
Requires the CEQ to annually publish all submitted reports and their underlying data on its website, and to submit them to relevant Congressional committees.
This ensures the collected data is accessible to the public and policymakers, promoting transparency and informed decision-making.
Lead agencies must submit their first annual report to the Council on Environmental Quality.
Annually after July 1, 2026
Lead agencies must submit annual reports to the Council on Environmental Quality thereafter.
Through 2028
Reports on EIS length and cost must disaggregate data from before and after the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
Through 2033
Reports on EIS completion timelines must disaggregate data from before and after the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
GLOSSARY
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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
A foundational U.S. environmental law that requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impacts of major actions before they undertake them.
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
A federal agency within the Executive Office of the President that oversees NEPA implementation and advises the President on environmental policy.
Lead agency
The federal agency primarily responsible for overseeing a specific project or action that requires an environmental review under NEPA.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
A detailed written report required by NEPA for major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, outlining potential impacts and alternatives.
Civil action
A lawsuit brought in court by one party against another, seeking to enforce a right or address a wrong, often involving money or specific actions rather than criminal penalties.
Record of Decision (ROD)
A document prepared by a federal agency at the conclusion of the NEPA process, formally stating the agency's decision on a proposed action and identifying the environmentally preferable alternative(s).
ACTION TIMELINE
14 EVENTS
DEC 10, 25
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
INTROREFERRAL
DEC 9, 25
Mr. Crank moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
FLOOR
DEC 9, 25
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5086-5088)
FLOOR
DEC 9, 25
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 573.
Specific industries or areas of development, such as aviation, broadband, energy production, or transportation, for which data will be reported separately.
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
A law passed in 2023 that included provisions related to government spending and the debt ceiling, and also made some changes to the NEPA review process.
