ePermit Act

The ePermit Act proposes a comprehensive modernization of U.S. environmental reviews and authorizations by moving them onto interactive, digital, and cloud-based platforms. The bill would require federal agencies to establish shared data standards and a unified interagency data system, develop prototype tools (including an applicant portal and automated workflows), and create a centralized authorization portal that tracks real-time status, timelines, and data across agencies. It emphasizes transparency, efficiency, and public access to non-sensitive information, while preserving NEPA and other statutory protections. The effort includes phased timelines (pilot shared services within a year; a unified system by 2027) and a dedicated, though modest, funding authorization for implementation and ongoing modernization. If enacted, the act could reduce duplicative reviews, speed up project approvals, improve coordination among federal, state, and local entities, and provide Congress and the public with better oversight and visibility into environmental decisions. It also places emphasis on data interoperability, cybersecurity, and accessibility, with safeguards to avoid unlawfully restricting activities on federal lands and to protect sensitive information.