Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act
The Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act would require certain federal agencies that issue permits to create and maintain a dedicated permit application status page on their websites. This page would publicly display detailed information about the progress of each permit application, including the stages completed, how long each stage has taken, the current status and how long the application has been at its current stage, contact information for reviewers, the stages that must be completed before a determination is made, and an estimated timeline for a final decision. The goal is to increase transparency and accountability in federal permitting processes by giving applicants and the public clearer visibility into where an application stands and how long it’s likely to take.
Key Points
- 1Creates a mandatory permit application status webpage on the website of each “covered agency” (an agency that issues permits) and requires ongoing maintenance of that page.
- 2Defines “reviewing agency” as any agency that does not issue the permit but reviews the application or participates in any step of the permit process; information on the page must cover both the issuing and reviewing agencies’ roles.
- 3Requires specific information on the status page for each permit application: stages completed, duration of each stage (in days), current status and how long the application has been at the current stage, contact details for each reviewer, stages required before a determination, and an estimated timeline for a final determination.
- 4Uses definitions from the same statutory framework as 5 U.S.C. 551 (the Administrative Procedure Act) to interpret terms like agency and permit, ensuring consistency with existing federal law.
- 5Aims to improve transparency and accountability, but could impose additional administrative duties and ongoing data maintenance for agencies.