H.R. 8247

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8247 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8247

To establish an interagency group on categorical exclusions, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 13, 2026

Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish an interagency group on categorical exclusions, 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 ``Commonsense Review Act''.

SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY GROUP ON CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS.

(a) Establishment.--There is established an interagency group that 
shall work toward interagency alignment on categorical exclusions.
(b) Membership.--The interagency group established by subsection 
(a) shall consist of--
(1) the Secretary of Energy;
(2) the Secretary of the Interior;
(3) each member of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission; and
(4) the Secretary of Agriculture.
(c) Chair.--The Secretary of Energy shall serve as the chair of the 
interagency group established by subsection (a).
(d) Duties.--Not later than 360 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, each member of the interagency group established by 
subsection (a) shall--
(1) pursuant to section 109 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336c), adopt any categorical 
exclusion with respect to which--
(A) the member identifies the categorical exclusion 
under paragraph (1) of such section as listed in the 
NEPA procedures of another member of such interagency 
group; and
(B) the member ensures the adoption of such 
categorical exclusion to a category of actions is 
appropriate through consultation under paragraph (2) of 
such section; and
(2) jointly with another member of such interagency group, 
establish a new categorical exclusion for any category of 
actions relating to the interstate transmission of electric 
energy or to a battery energy storage project that such members 
determine normally does not significantly affect the quality of 
the human environment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) 
of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)).
(e) Report.--Not later than 360 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the interagency group established by subsection (a) shall 
submit to Congress a report on--
(1) any categorical exclusion that a member of the 
interagency group adopted or established pursuant to this 
section;
(2) if any member of the interagency group did not adopt or 
establish a categorical exclusion pursuant to this section, the 
reason why the member did not take such action; and
(3) any recommendations to Congress on--
(A) future areas for interagency collaboration on 
categorical exclusions; and
(B) any need for a statutory categorical exclusion.
(f) Sunset.--The interagency group established by subsection (a) 
shall dissolve after submission of the report under subsection (e).
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