[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3585 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3585

To require the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement an 
  environmental review process for safety emergency highway projects.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 21, 2003

   Mr. Burgess (for himself, Mr. Barton of Texas, and Mr. Sessions) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement an 
  environmental review process for safety emergency highway projects.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS FOR SAFETY EMERGENCY PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall develop and implement a process for the expedited 
environmental review and approval of safety emergency highway 
construction or maintenance projects that correct or improve hazardous 
locations on a highway.
    (b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue regulations that--
            (1) allow the use of the expedited environmental review 
        process for any project correcting or improving hazardous 
        locations on a highway within the boundaries of a State where 
        the motor vehicle accident rate at that location is at least 50 
        percent higher than the statewide average for similar classes 
        of highways if the project only incudes roadway safety 
        improvements that have a high potential to reduce the number of 
        motor vehicle accidents; and
            (2) establish criteria for approving deviations from 
        procedures established in regulations issued by the Secretary 
        implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
        U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
    (c) Use by Other Federal Agencies.--Each Federal agency that--
            (1) has jurisdiction by law over environmental-related 
        issues that may be affected by a project described in 
        subsection (b) and the analysis of which would be part of any 
        environmental document required by the National Environmental 
        Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or
            (2) may be required by Federal law to independently--
                    (A) conduct an environmental-related review or 
                analysis for a project described in subsection (b);
                    (B) determine whether to issue a permit, license, 
                or approval for the project; or
                    (C) render an opinion or recommendation on the 
                environmental impact of the project,
shall issue regulations providing for the expedited processing of, and 
approval of deviations for, the project by such agency.
    (d) Involvement of Council on Environmental Quality.--A Federal 
agency approving a deviation under this section shall not be subject to 
the requirement to consult with the Council on Environmental Quality 
under section 1506.11 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations.
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