Interactive Federal Review Act
This bill revises the environmental review process for federal-aid highway projects to encourage the use of certain digital platforms and models.
Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must encourage recipients of federal highway funding who are carrying out environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to utilize (1) interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms; and (2) high fidelity, three-dimensional digital models of infrastructure project elements, such as digital twins.
DOT must also select at least 10 federal-aid highway projects to demonstrate the use of these platforms and models in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes required under NEPA.
Further, DOT must publish technology-neutral best practice guidance to encourage sponsors of projects that receive federal funds from DOT to use these platforms and models in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes required under NEPA.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3634 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3634
To improve the environmental review process for highway projects
through the use of interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms and
digital twins, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 29, 2025
Mr. Johnson of South Dakota (for himself and Mr. Stanton) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the environmental review process for highway projects
through the use of interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms and
digital twins, and for other purposes.
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 ``Interactive Federal Review Act''.
SEC. 2. DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND DIGITAL TWINS FOR NEPA REVIEWS FOR
HIGHWAY PROJECTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered project.--The term ``covered project'' means a
highway project that received a grant under any of the
following:
(A) The nationally significant freight and highway
projects program under section 117 of title 23, United
States Code (commonly known as the ``Infrastructure for
Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program'').
(B) The national infrastructure project assistance
program under section 6701 of title 49, United States
Code (commonly known as the ``Mega grant program'').
(C) The local and regional project assistance
program under section 6702 of title 49, United States
Code (commonly known as the ``Rebuilding American
Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)
grant program'').
(D) The program for national infrastructure
investments (commonly known as the ``Rebuilding
American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity
(RAISE) grant program'' and formerly known as the
``Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development
(BUILD) grant program'').
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to expedite the environmental review process at Federal
agencies and for the general public; and
(2) to facilitate interactive public stakeholder engagement
and understanding of environmental impacts of projects under
the Federal-aid highway system.
(c) Encouraged Use of Digital Platforms and Digital Twins.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall encourage recipients
of Federal funds from the Secretary to utilize interactive,
digital, cloud-based platforms and high fidelity, 3-dimensional
digital models of infrastructure project elements, such as
digital twins, when carrying out environmental reviews under
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.) by publishing the guidance described in paragraph (2).
(2) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish technology-
neutral best practice guidance to encourage sponsors of
projects that receive Federal funds from the Secretary to use
an interactive, digital, cloud-based platform and high
fidelity, 3-dimensional digital models of infrastructure
project elements, such as digital twins, in carrying out the
environmental impact analysis and community engagement
processes required under the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(d) Use of Digital Platforms and Digital Twins in Covered
Projects.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall select not less than
10 covered projects to demonstrate the use of interactive,
digital, cloud-based platforms and high fidelity, 3-dimensional
digital models of infrastructure project elements, such as
digital twins, in carrying out the environmental impact
analysis and community engagement processes required under that
Act, which may include projects in States participating in the
surface transportation project delivery program under section
327 of title 23, United States Code.
(2) Additional projects.--In addition to the covered
projects selected by the Secretary under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall include additional projects that utilize
interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms and high fidelity,
3-dimensional digital models of infrastructure project
elements, such as digital twins, in the report under subsection
(e), on request of the sponsors of those projects.
(3) Priority.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
in selecting covered projects under a program described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (a)(1), the
Secretary shall give priority to applications for projects that
demonstrate a plan to implement an interactive, cloud-based
platform and high fidelity, 3-dimensional digital models of
infrastructure project elements, such as digital twins, to
carry out the environmental impact analysis and community
engagement processes required under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(e) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the efficacy of using interactive,
cloud-based platforms and high fidelity, 3-dimensional digital
models of infrastructure project elements, such as digital
twins, in carrying out environmental impact analysis and
community engagement requirements under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),
including--
(A) metrics that describe estimates of achieved
efficiencies, community engagement measures, and
efficiencies enjoyed across Federal agencies; and
(B) examples of digital workflows enabled.
(2) Publication of examples.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish
on the website of the Department of Transportation, and submit
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives, not less than 5 examples of an
environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, or
categorical exclusion document developed using an interactive,
digital, cloud-based platform and high fidelity, 3-dimensional
digital models of infrastructure project elements, such as
digital twins.
(f) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section affects or
interferes with the authorities or responsibilities assumed by a State
under section 327 of title 23, United States Code.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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