S. 5653, Environmental Deregulation via Permitting Acceleration. Quorum's AI analysis reads it as a net cost — and names who bears it.
S. 5653 · Net cost
What it does
This bill restructures federal environmental review procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), establishing strict timelines for permit decisions (1 year for environmental assessments, 2 years for environmental impact statements), creating a new Chief Environmental Review and Permitting Officer (CERPO) position in each major federal agency, and empowering the Council on Environmental Quality Chairman to resolve interagency disputes and enforce compliance.
The analysis names energy development companies (oil, gas, renewables) — and 4 more groups — among the beneficiaries.
The cost
The 'savings provision' in Section 2(c) explicitly states NEPA 'mandates [no] particular outcome,' gutting the statute's environmental protection purpose and converting it to a procedural-only requirement with no enforceable environmental standard.
Transparency scores 35%. The analysis flags 1 rider and a critical warning level.
Who is behind it
Filed by Shelley Capito. Cosponsored by Martin Heinrich, Mike Lee and Sheldon Whitehouse.
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