1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Interactive Federal Review Act”.
Interactive Federal Review Act
A BILL
To improve the environmental review process for Federal-aid highway projects through the use of interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms, and for other purposes.
2. Digital platforms for NEPA reviews for highway projects
In general— In order to expedite the environmental review process at Federal agencies and for the general public, and to facilitate interactive public stakeholder engagement and understanding of environmental impacts of projects under the Federal-aid highway system, the Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall—
encourage recipients of Federal highway funding to utilize interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms when carrying out environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) by publishing the guidance described in subsection (b)(1); and
select not less than 10 Federal-aid highway projects to demonstrate the use of interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes required under that Act, which may include projects in States participating in the surface transportation project delivery program under section 327 of title 23, United States Code.
Administration—
Guidance— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish technology-neutral best practice guidance to encourage sponsors of projects that receive Federal funds from the Secretary to use an interactive, digital, cloud-based platform in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Reports—
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the efficacy of using interactive, cloud-based platforms in carrying out environmental impact analysis and community engagement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), including—
metrics that describe estimates of achieved efficiencies, community engagement measures, and efficiencies enjoyed across Federal agencies; and
examples of digital workflows enabled.
Publication of examples— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish on the website of the Department of Transportation, and submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, not less than 5 examples of an environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, or categorical exclusion document developed using an interactive, digital, cloud-based platform.