March 25, 2025
Ms. Ansari introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To modernize permitting systems at the Department of the Interior, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Electronic Permitting Modernization Act
.
Sec. 2. Department of the Interior permit accessibility
(a) In general
In order to improve the overall economy, efficiency, and management of operations and activities of the Department of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Department
), reduce paperwork, and provide high-quality services and access to the public, the Secretary of the Interior shall, to the extent practicable—
(1)
design and deliver modernized electronic permitting systems to accept, process, and record applications (including plan submissions, payment activity, and other related correspondence) for permits, forms, and other paperwork required for activities regulated by the Department;
(2)
provide a centralized electronic permitting system online repository, available to the public on the Department’s website, that includes—
(A)
hyperlinks to facilitate navigation to all Department electronic permitting systems; and
(B)
with respect to permits, the contact information for the appropriate Department employees providing assistance to State, Tribal, and local governments; and
(3)
provide to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of paragraphs (1) and (2).
(b) Disclosure of Information prohibited
No information described in section 552(b) of title 5, United States Code, or protected from disclosure by another law of the United States shall be disclosed under this Act.
(c) Duplication of systems not permitted
No system shall be duplicated under this Act.
(d) Consultation
In developing the permitting systems required under section 2 of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall consult with States, local governments, Indian Tribes and other stakeholders who apply for agency permits and will use the permitting systems.
Sec. 3. Conforming amendment to ensure consistency with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
In developing the permitting systems required under section 2 of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that the Department’s electronic permitting systems are consistent with the priorities identified in section 110 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336d) with respect to any permit that requires review under that Act.