H.R.4135 - To encourage States to participate with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s online dashboard for certain covered projects. (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.4135 encourages states to participate in the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council's (FPISC) online dashboard for covered projects, specifically those requiring permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The bill aims to streamline the environmental review and authorization process by promoting state involvement in the FPISC's online platform.
This participation is encouraged to the maximum extent practicable, aligning state and federal efforts in project permitting. The goal is to improve coordination and efficiency in environmental reviews for covered projects.
The bill references specific sections of the FAST Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, providing a framework for state participation in the federal permitting process.
Expected Effects
The bill's likely effect is increased state participation in the federal permitting process for covered projects. This could lead to faster and more coordinated environmental reviews.
Increased efficiency in permitting could reduce project delays and associated costs. It may also foster better communication and collaboration between state and federal agencies.
However, the impact depends on the extent to which states choose to participate and the effectiveness of the FPISC's online dashboard.
Potential Benefits
- Streamlined Permitting: Encourages faster environmental reviews and authorizations.
- Improved Coordination: Fosters better collaboration between state and federal agencies.
- Reduced Project Delays: Minimizes delays and associated costs for covered projects.
- Enhanced Transparency: Promotes transparency through the use of an online dashboard.
- Economic Development: Facilitates economic development by expediting project approvals.
Potential Disadvantages
- Voluntary Participation: State participation is voluntary, potentially limiting the bill's effectiveness.
- Resource Constraints: States may face resource constraints in participating fully in the online dashboard.
- Potential for Inconsistency: Varying levels of state participation could lead to inconsistencies in the permitting process.
- Federal Overreach Concerns: Some states may view this as an attempt by the federal government to influence state permitting decisions.
- Dashboard Effectiveness: The effectiveness of the online dashboard depends on its design and usability.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution, particularly Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to regulate commerce among the several states. By encouraging states to participate in a streamlined permitting process for projects that may affect interstate commerce, the bill can be seen as an exercise of this power. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
However, some may argue that encouraging state participation in a federal program could potentially raise issues related to federalism and the balance of power between the federal government and the states. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, and states may resist federal efforts to influence their permitting processes.
Since the bill only encourages participation, and does not mandate it, the alignment with the constitution is strong.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).