Streamlining NEPA for Coal Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to quickly list current and potential “categorical exclusions” under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that could help increase coal production and exports. A “categorical exclusion” means certain activities can skip a full environmental review because they’re considered to have limited impact. The department must provide this list within 30 days after the law takes effect, so other federal agencies can rely on these exclusions more often to move coal-related projects along.

In short, it aims to speed up approvals for coal activities by identifying where environmental reviews can be shortened or skipped, within NEPA’s rules.

• Who is affected: The Interior Department; other federal agencies that review coal projects; coal producers and exporters; communities near coal facilities.
• What changes: Interior must compile and share a list of NEPA exclusions that could be used more to support coal projects.
• When: Within 30 days after the law is enacted.