Ask AI
Bill115th CongressFiled Feb 3, 2017Native Americans
S. 302

John P. Smith Act

Bill journey · stage 1 of 5

Just introduced

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary passed senate without amendment (Nov 29, 2017)

John P. Smith Act

(Sec. 3) This bill modifies the approval process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for tribal transportation safety projects to categorically exclude qualifying projects from requirements to conduct environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. A tribal transportation safety project is one that is eligible for assistance under the tribal transportation program and that: (1) corrects or improves a hazardous road location or feature, or (2) addresses a highway safety problem.

The Department of the Interior must: (1) review existing Federal Highway Administration categorical exclusions to determine applicability to tribal transportation program projects, and (2) identify tribal transportation safety projects that meet general categorical exclusion requirements. Interior must establish categorical exclusions for tribal projects consistent with its findings.

The bill prescribes requirements for the expedited review and approval of tribal transportation safety projects under NEPA or other federal laws.

(Sec. 4) Interior must enter into five-year programmatic agreements with Indian tribes that establish efficient administrative procedures for carrying out environmental reviews for tribal transportation program projects. An agreement may allow a tribe to determine whether a project is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or impact statement under NEPA.

What just happenedNov 30, 2017

Held at the desk.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY](R-WY)Sponsor
2 cosponsors2 R
Read on Congress.gov
2cosponsors1committees11actions15subjects
  1. Nov 30, 2017FloorH15000

    Held at the desk.

  2. Nov 30, 2017Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  3. Nov 30, 2017FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  4. Nov 29, 2017Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)

  5. Nov 29, 2017Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7490-7491; text: CR S7490-7491)

  6. Apr 6, 2017Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 33.

  7. Apr 6, 2017Committee

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-27.

    Indian Affairs Committee
  8. Apr 6, 2017Committee14000

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-27.

    Indian Affairs Committee
  9. Feb 8, 2017Committee

    Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.

    Indian Affairs Committee
  10. Feb 3, 2017IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S680-681)

    Indian Affairs Committee
  11. Feb 3, 2017IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Passed Senate without amendmentNov 29, 201782

John P. Smith Act

(Sec. 3) This bill modifies the approval process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for tribal transportation safety projects to categorically exclude qualifying projects from requirements to conduct environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. A tribal transportation safety project is one that is eligible for assistance under the tribal transportation program and that: (1) corrects or improves a hazardous road location or feature, or (2) addresses a highway safety problem.

The Department of the Interior must: (1) review existing Federal Highway Administration categorical exclusions to determine applicability to tribal transportation program projects, and (2) identify tribal transportation safety projects that meet general categorical exclusion requirements. Interior must establish categorical exclusions for tribal projects consistent with its findings.

The bill prescribes requirements for the expedited review and approval of tribal transportation safety projects under NEPA or other federal laws.

(Sec. 4) Interior must enter into five-year programmatic agreements with Indian tribes that establish efficient administrative procedures for carrying out environmental reviews for tribal transportation program projects. An agreement may allow a tribe to determine whether a project is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or impact statement under NEPA.

Reported to Senate without amendmentApr 6, 201780

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

John P. Smith Act

(Sec. 3) This bill modifies the approval process used for certain transportation projects on Indian reservations by allowing categorical exclusions from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

A "categorical exclusion" is a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and which have been found to have no such effect in procedures adopted by a federal agency in implementing environmental regulations and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

A "tribal transportation safety project" is one that is eligible for assistance under the tribal transportation program and that:

  • corrects or improves a hazardous road location or feature, or
  • addresses a highway safety problem.

The Department of the Interior shall review existing categorical exclusions for tribal transportation program projects and identify tribal transportation safety projects that meet categorical exclusion requirements.

The bill prescribes requirements for the expedited review and approval of tribal transportation safety projects under NEPA or other federal laws.

(Sec. 4) Interior shall enter into five-year programmatic agreements with Indian tribes that establish efficient administrative procedures for carrying out environmental reviews for tribal transportation projects, including whether any project is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or impact statement under NEPA.

Introduced in SenateFeb 3, 2017

John P. Smith Act

This bill modifies the approval process used for certain transportation projects on Indian reservations by allowing categorical exclusions from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

A "categorical exclusion" is a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and which have been found to have no such effect in procedures adopted by a federal agency in implementing environmental regulations and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

A "tribal transportation safety project" is one that is eligible for assistance under the tribal transportation program and that:

  • corrects or improves a hazardous road location or feature, or
  • addresses a highway safety problem.

The Department of the Interior shall review existing categorical exclusions for tribal transportation program projects and identify tribal transportation safety projects that meet categorical exclusion requirements.

The bill prescribes requirements for the expedited review and approval of tribal transportation safety projects under NEPA or other federal laws.

Interior shall enter into five-year programmatic agreements with Indian tribes that establish efficient administrative procedures for carrying out environmental reviews for tribal transportation projects, including whether any project is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or impact statement under NEPA.

John P. Smith Act — Informed