[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S2356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THOMAS (for himself and Mr. Craig):
  S. 372. A bill to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
to require that Federal agencies consult with State agencies and county 
and local governments on environmental impact statements; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``State and 
Local Government Participation Act of 2003'' which would amend the 
National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA. This bill is designed to 
guarantee that Federal agencies identify State, county and local 
governments as cooperating agencies when fulfilling their environmental 
planning responsibilities under NEPA.
  NEPA was designed to ensure that the environmental impacts of a 
proposed Federal action are considered and minimized by the federal 
agency taking that action. It was supposed to provide for adequate 
public participation in the decision making process on these Federal 
activities and document an agency's final conclusions with respect to 
the proposed action.
  Although this sounds simple and quite reasonable, NEPA has become a 
real problem in Wyoming and many States throughout the Nation. A 
statute that was supposed to provide for additional public input in the 
federal land management process has instead become an unworkable and 
cumbersome law. Instead of clarifying and expediting the public 
planning process on Federal lands. NEPA now serves to delay action and 
shut-out local governments that depend on the proper use of these 
Federal lands for their existence.
  The ``State and Local Government Participation Act'' is designed to 
provide for greater input from State and local governments in the NEPA 
process. This measure would simply guarantee that State, county and 
local agencies be identified as cooperating entities when preparing 
land management plans under NEPA. Although the law already provides for 
voluntary inclusion of state and local entities in the planning 
process, too often, the federal agencies choose to ignore local 
governments when preparing planning documents under NEPA. 
Unfortunately, many Federal agencies have become so engrossed in 
examining every environmental aspect of a proposed action on Federal 
land, they have forgotten to consult with the folks who actually live 
near and depend on these areas for their economic survival.
  States and local communities must be consulted and included when 
proposed actions are being taken on Federal lands in their State. Too 
often, Federal land managers are more concerned about the comments of 
environmental organizations located in Washington, DC or New York City 
than the people who actually live in the State where the proposed 
action will take place. This is wrong. The concerns, comments and input 
of state and local communities are vital for the proper management of 
federal lands in the West. The ``State and Local Government 
Participation Act of 2003'' will begin to address this troubling 
problem and guarantee that local folks will be involved in proposed 
decision that will affect their lives.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 372

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``State and Local Government 
     Participation Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. CONSULTATION WITH STATE AGENCIES AND COUNTY AND LOCAL 
                   GOVERNMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS.

       Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
     of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)) is amended in the first 
     sentence of the matter following clause (v) by striking ``any 
     Federal agency which has'' and inserting ``each Federal 
     agency, State agency, county government, and local government 
     that has''.
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