Commonsense Review Act

Summary

Creates a short-lived, DOE‑chaired interagency working group to align and create NEPA categorical exclusions (CEs) for interstate electric transmission and battery energy storage projects. Each listed agency must adopt other members' CEs where appropriate and jointly propose new CEs for categories of actions that normally do not have significant environmental effects, and the group must report to Congress within 360 days before dissolving.

• Creates a DOE‑chaired interagency group to align NEPA categorical exclusions for interstate transmission and battery storage.
• Requires agencies to adopt another member’s CE if appropriate, within 360 days of enactment.
• Directs the agencies to jointly establish new CEs for categories of actions that normally do not significantly affect the environment.
• Group must report to Congress within 360 days on adopted/established CEs, reasons for non-adoption, and recommendations.
• The interagency group dissolves after it files the required report; no ongoing entity is created.
• The bill does not appropriate funds or create new funding authorities.
• Aims to speed permitting and lower procedural barriers for interstate electric transmission and battery storage projects.
• May raise environmental review and litigation concerns depending on how broadly CEs are defined and applied.