I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3767 
To require the Council on Environmental Quality to submit to Congress 
a report on the potential for online and digital technologies to address 
delays in reviews and improve public accessibility and transparency under 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 31, 2023 
Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana (for himself and Ms. HOYLE of Oregon) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To require the Council on Environmental Quality to submit 
to Congress a report on the potential for online and 
digital technologies to address delays in reviews and im-
prove public accessibility and transparency under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. E–NEPA. 
(a) PERMITTING PORTAL STUDY.—The Council on 
Environmental Quality shall conduct a study and submit 
a report to Congress within 1 year of the enactment of 
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this Act on the potential for online and digital technologies 
to address delays in reviews and improve public accessi-
bility and transparency under section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)) including, but not limited to, a unified per-
mitting portal that would— 
(1) allow applicants to— 
(A) submit required documents or mate-
rials for their project in one unified portal; 
(B) upload and collaborate with the appli-
cable agencies to edit documents in real-time, 
as required; 
(C) upload and display visual features such 
as video, animation, geographic information 
system 
displays, 
and 
three-dimensional 
renderings; and 
(D) track the progress of individual appli-
cations; 
(2) include a cloud based, digital tool for more 
complex reviews that would enhance interagency co-
ordination in consultation by— 
(A) centralizing, across all necessary agen-
cies, the data, visuals, and documents, including 
but not limited to geographic information sys-
tem displays, other visual renderings, and com-
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pleted reports and analyses necessary for re-
views; 
(B) streamlining communications between 
all necessary agencies and the applicant; 
(C) allowing for comments and responses 
by and to all necessary agencies in one unified 
portal; 
(D) generating analytical reports to aid in 
organizing and cataloguing public comments; 
and 
(E) be accessible on mobile devices; 
(3) boost transparency in agency processes and 
present information suitable for a lay audience, in-
cluding but not limited to— 
(A) scientific data and analysis; and 
(B) 
anticipated 
agency 
process 
and 
timeline; and 
(4) include examples describing how at least 
five permits would be reviewed and processed 
through this portal. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for the Council 
on Environmental Quality to carry out the study directed 
by this section. 
Æ 
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