NEPA Accountability and Oversight Act of 2020

To amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to impose time limits on the completion of certain required actions under the Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the NEPA Accountability and Oversight Act of 2020 2. National Environmental Policy Act timelines Title I of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is amended— (1) by redesignating section 105 ( 42 U.S.C. 4335 (2) by inserting after section 104 ( 42 U.S.C. 4334 105. Applicable timelines (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Environmental impact statement The term environmental impact statement (2) Federal agency The term Federal agency (3) Head of a Federal agency The term head of a Federal agency (4) NEPA process (A) In general The term NEPA process (B) Period For purposes of subparagraph (A), the NEPA process— (i) begins on the date on which the head of a Federal agency receives an application for a proposed action from a project sponsor; and (ii) ends on the date on which the Federal agency issues, with respect to the proposed action— (I) a record of decision, including, if necessary, a revised record of decision; (II) a finding of no significant impact; or (III) a categorical exclusion under this title. (5) Project sponsor The term project sponsor (b) Applicable timelines (1) NEPA process (A) In general The head of a Federal agency shall complete the NEPA process for a proposed action of the Federal agency, as described in subsection (a)(4)(B)(ii), not later than 2 years after the date described in subsection (a)(4)(B)(i). (B) Environmental documents Within the period described in subparagraph (A), not later than 1 year after the date described in subsection (a)(4)(B)(i), the head of the Federal agency shall, with respect to the proposed action— (i) issue— (I) a finding that a categorical exclusion applies to the proposed action; or (II) a finding of no significant impact; or (ii) publish a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement in the Federal Register. (C) Environmental impact statement If the head of a Federal agency publishes a notice of intent described in subparagraph (B)(ii), within the period described in subparagraph (A) and not later than 1 year after the date on which the head of the Federal agency publishes the notice of intent, the head of the Federal agency shall complete the environmental impact statement and, if necessary, any supplemental environmental impact statement for the proposed action. (2) Authorizations and permits (A) In general Not later than 90 days after the date described in subsection (a)(4)(B)(ii), the head of a Federal agency shall issue— (i) any necessary permit or authorization to carry out the proposed action; or (ii) a denial of the permit or authorization necessary to carry out the proposed action. (B) Effect of failure to issue authorization or permit If a permit or authorization described in subparagraph (A) is not issued or denied within the period described in that subparagraph, the permit or authorization shall be considered to be approved. (C) Denial of permit or authorization (i) In general If a permit or authorization described in subparagraph (A) is denied, the head of the Federal agency shall describe to the project sponsor— (I) the basis of the denial; and (II) recommendations for the project sponsor with respect to how to address the reasons for the denial. (ii) Recommended changes If the project sponsor carries out the recommendations of the head of the Federal agency under clause (i)(II) and notifies the head of the Federal agency that the recommendations have been carried out, the head of the Federal agency— (I) shall decide whether to issue the permit or authorization described in subparagraph (A) not later than 90 days after the date on which the project sponsor submitted the notification; and (II) shall not carry out the NEPA process with respect to the proposed action again. .

Summary: NEPA Accountability and Oversight Act of 2020 This bills establishes deadlines for federal agencies to complete reviews of the environmental effects of proposed major federal actions.