RED Tape Act
This bill removes the requirement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review and publicly comment on other federal agencies' major construction projects and proposed regulations. Under current law, the EPA evaluates actions like highway building, energy projects, and new federal rules for environmental and health risks, and can escalate harmful proposals to the White House. This change eliminates that independent EPA review process, leaving environmental assessments solely to the agency managing or permitting each project.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Federal agencies undertaking construction, major actions, or rulemakingSec. 2 removes the requirement that federal agency construction projects, major actions, and proposed regulations undergo EPA environmental review, written public comment, and potential referral to the Council on Environmental Quality.
Who opposes it
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Sec. 2 strips the EPA's statutory authority and mandate to review, publicly comment on, and refer to the Council on Environmental Quality the environmental impacts of federal construction projects, major agency actions, and proposed federal regulations.
- Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)Sec. 2(2) eliminates CEQ's role in receiving and reviewing EPA referrals regarding environmentally unsatisfactory federal construction projects, major agency actions, and proposed regulations.
The provisions, in plain language.
Removes the requirement for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review, publicly comment on, and refer to the Council on Environmental Quality the environmental impacts of federal construction projects, major federal actions, and other agencies' proposed regulations, limiting this review and referral process strictly to proposed federal legislation.