Today, the Council on Environmental Quality issued a proposed rule to modernize the federal environmental review process. Under the proposal, environmental reviews would routinely be completed in two years. If finalized, the proposed rule would comprehensively update the National Environmental Policy Act regulations, which were issued over 40 years ago.

Although many Americans may not be familiar with NEPA, it affects their daily lives. It requires federal agencies to consider the potential environmental consequences of certain proposed actions, such as issuing federal permits or other approvals or providing funding for infrastructure, land management activities, and environmental restoration projects.