HR 4476 | Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act
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CSAC is encouraging counties to review the HR 4476, known as the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. The SPEED Act seeks to simplify the analysis required for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents to ensure that counties are not mired down studying never-ending topics without ever reaching a conclusion.
For background, NEPA is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing and disclosing the environmental impact of all major federal actions. Originally intended to ensure an appropriate balance between protecting the environment and economic development, the NEPA process has become increasingly complex, resulting in massive NEPA documents approaching thousands of pages, protracted project timelines, and litigation.
The SPEED Act clarifies when NEPA is triggered by focusing the definition of “Major Federal Action.” Lastly, the bill establishes judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review, and the elimination of vacatur and injunction as remedies available to courts. This bill will create certainty in the permitting process and spur domestic investment in critical infrastructure, energy and conservation projects.