§4336d — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

Summary

The Council on Environmental Quality must study and report to Congress within 1 year after the law is passed on how online and digital tools could speed up reviews and make them more open under section 4332(2)(C). The study should explore a single online permitting portal that lets applicants submit all needed documents in one place, edit and work with agencies in real time, show visuals like video, maps, and 3D models, and track application status. It should also look at a cloud-based tool to centralize data and reports across agencies, improve agency-applicant communication, let agencies and the public comment in one spot, produce reports that organize public comments, work on mobile devices, explain technical data in plain language, show expected timelines, and give examples for at least five permits. The law allows $500,000 to pay for the study.

Title 42, §4336d

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Council on Environmental Quality shall conduct a study and submit a report to Congress within 1 year of the enactment of this Act 11 See References in Text note below. on the potential for online and digital technologies to address delays in reviews and improve public accessibility and transparency under section 4332(2)(C) of this title including, but not limited to, a unified permitting portal that would—

(1)allow applicants to—

(A)submit required documents or materials for their project in one unified portal;

(B)upload and collaborate with the applicable 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 applications;

(2)include a cloud based, digital tool for more complex reviews that would enhance interagency coordination in consultation by—

(A)centralizing, across all necessary agencies, the data, visuals, and documents, including but not limited to geographic information system displays, other visual renderings, and completed reports and analyses necessary for reviews;

(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 22 So in original. Probably should be “being”. accessible on mobile devices;

(3)boost transparency in agency processes and present information suitable for a lay audience, including 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)There is authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for the Council on Environmental Quality to carry out the study directed by this section.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The enactment of this Act, referred to in subsec. (a), probably means the enactment of Pub. L. 118–5, which added this section to title I of Pub. L. 91–190 and was approved June 3, 2023.

§4336d E-NEPA

Summary

Title 42, §4336d

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Citations & Metadata