ePermit Act

This bill would require the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to establish digital data standards and prototype tools for environmental reviews conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act. Federal agencies would be required to implement these standards and functional requirements to enable automated data sharing and the creation of a unified interagency data system. The proposal includes the development of a common cloud-based authorization portal and mandates a pilot program for these shared services to be overseen by the CEQ.

This bill primarily affects federal agencies responsible for conducting environmental reviews or issuing authorizations under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is specifically tasked with developing data standards, building prototype tools, and overseeing a unified interagency data system. Additionally, federal agencies involved in these processes must implement new functional requirements for data sharing and utilize a common digital, cloud-based authorization portal.

• Establishment of environmental review data standards. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is required to develop, publish, and update data standards for collecting and curating information related to environmental reviews.
• Development of digital tools and agency guidance. The CEQ must design and test prototype tools for environmental reviews and provide guidance to agencies on implementing data standards and functional requirements, such as automated data sharing.
• Implementation of a unified interagency data system. Federal agencies and the CEQ must work to develop a cloud-based authorization portal and interconnected systems to facilitate shared services for environmental reviews and authorizations.
• Pilot program and implementation timeline. The bill mandates a pilot program for shared environmental review services within one year and sets a target date of December 1, 2027, for the full implementation of the unified interagency data system.

The Council on Environmental Quality must oversee a pilot of shared services for environmental reviews within one year of the bill's enactment. To the maximum extent practicable, the unified interagency data system must be developed and implemented by December 1, 2027.

This bill establishes requirements for digitizing environmental reviews conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). It directs the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and relevant federal agencies to implement new data standards and functional requirements for environmental authorizations.

The bill aims to modernize and streamline environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 by establishing requirements for digitizing the process. This includes creating unified data standards, developing a shared interagency data system, and implementing a digital, cloud-based authorization portal to facilitate automated data sharing among federal agencies.