**(a) Permitting portal study** 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](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section4332/2/C&num=0&edition=prelim) 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 audienc
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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_af4c24a87e5fe468a083382e Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-42/section-4336e-e-nepa--48f82a4d17.md Pages: Not recorded – Not recorded Passage SHA-256: d9efbda553cf6fd566f05cd25b67447047656c33695cacc5d259c7b470a9bc02 Retained source evidence SHA-256: 2a340b43b149173da22f8fb125a9c71ef3a9e8332abd71c86cad933ea8ab05b0
Source location: Title 42, Chapter 55, § 4336e; chapter-055-national-environmental-policy.md
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**(a) Permitting portal study** 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](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section4332/2/C&num=0&edition=prelim) 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) Authorization of appropriations** There is authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for the Council on Environmental Quality to carry out the study directed by this section.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
§ 4336e. Definitions
In this subchapter:
(1) Categorical exclusion
The term ‘‘categorical exclusion’’ means a
category of actions that a Federal agency has
determined normally does not significantly af-
fect the quality of the human environment
within the meaning of section 4332(2)(C) of this
title.
(2) Cooperating agency
The term ‘‘cooperating agency’’ means any
Federal, State, Tribal, or local agency that
has been designated as a cooperating agency
under section 4336a(a)(3) of this title.
(3) Council
The term ‘‘Council’’ means the Council on
Environmental Quality established in sub-
chapter II.
(4) Environmental assessment
The
term
‘‘environmental
assessment’’
means an environmental assessment prepared
under section 4336(b)(2) of this title.
(5) Environmental document
The term ‘‘environmental document’’ means
an environmental impact statement, an envi-
ronmental assessment, or a finding of no sig-
nificant impact.
(6) Environmental impact statement
The term ‘‘environmental impact state-
ment’’ means a detailed written statement
that is required by section 4332(2)(C) of this
title.
(7) Finding of no significant impact
The term ‘‘finding of no significant impact’’
means a determination by a Federal agency
that a proposed agency action does not require
the issuance of an environmental impact
statement.
(8) Participating Federal agency
The term ‘‘participating Federal agency’’
means a Federal agency participating in an
environmental review or authorization of an
action.
(9) Lead agency
The term ‘‘lead agency’’ means, with respect
to a proposed agency action—
(A) the agency that proposed such action;
or
(B) if there are 2 or more involved Federal
agencies with respect to such action, the
agency designated under section 4336a(