(a) Short title.—This Act may be cited as the “Rebuild America Now Act”.

(b) Table of contents.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Section 326 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “certain designated activities are included within classes of action identified in regulation by the Secretary that are” and inserting “any activity is included within a class of action identified in a regulation by the Secretary that is”; and

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking “and only for types of activities specifically designated by the Secretary”; and

(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting “(including the responsibility for making conformity determinations under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.))” after “categorical exclusions”.

(a) In general.—The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(b) Regulations.—

(1) COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council on Environmental Quality established by section 202 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4342) shall—

(A) amend the regulations contained in chapter V of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), to implement this section and the amendments made by this section; and

(B) by rule, designate each State with laws and procedures that satisfy the criteria under section 301(b)(2)(A) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (as added by subsection (a)).

(2) FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Not later than 120 days after the date on which the Council on Environmental Quality amends the regulations described in paragraph (1)(A), the head of each Federal agency that has promulgated regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall amend the regulations to implement this section and the amendments made by this section.

(c) Limitations on claims under FAST Act.—Section 41007(a) of the FAST Act (42 U.S.C. 4370m–6(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking “2 years” and inserting “180 days”; and

(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking “2 years” and inserting “180 days”.

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall—

(1) consult with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Secretary of the Army to identify communities that are imminently threatened from flooding or erosion; and

(2) designate as an action categorically excluded from the requirements relating to environmental assessments or environmental impact statements for purposes of section 771.117(c) of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), and section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), any project—

(A) that is critical to the immediate safety of a threatened community identified under paragraph (1); or

(B) for the maintenance, repair, reconstruction, restoration, retrofitting, or replacement of an existing road, highway, bridge, tunnel, or other transit facility (such as a ferry dock or bus transfer station), including ancillary transportation facilities (such as pedestrian and bicycle paths and bike lanes), if the project is to be completed in the same location, and with the same preexisting design, as the existing structure.

(b) Regulations.—The Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out subsection (a) by not later than 150 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Section 1317(1) of the MAP–21 (126 Stat. 550; 129 Stat. 1402; 23 U.S.C. 109 note) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking “$5,000,000” and inserting “$10,000,000”; and

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking “15 percent” and inserting “16 percent”.

(a) Statement of policy.—It is the policy of the United States that the purpose of requiring an environmental document relating to a project is only to ensure that the process of considering the effects of the project takes place before the occurrence of any significant Federal action to carry out the project.

(b) Page limits.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—To facilitate public transparency and understanding of environmental documentation, an environmental document—

(A) shall—

(i) be sufficient to provide a reasonable consideration of the potential environmental effects and alternatives of a proposed project; and

(ii) reflect a thorough examination of the potential impacts of the project; but

(B) shall not exceed 300 pages without substantial justification.

(2) NOTICE AND COMMENT REQUIREMENTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—An agency may exceed the 300-page limit under paragraph (1)(B) if the agency provides to proponents of the applicable project a notice, and a period of not less than 30 days for comment, regarding the proposed exceedance.

(B) ELIGIBILITY TO COMMENT.—The opportunity to comment under subparagraph (A) shall not be provided to any individual or entity other than a proponent of the applicable project.

Section 101 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4331) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Permittee bill of rights.—

“(1) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States—

“(A) to use natural resources in a responsible manner to maximize value and utility, while protecting public health and welfare; and

“(B) that, therefore, in implementing a Federal permitting law, a Federal agency should, to the maximum extent practicable, seek to issue permit decisions favorably.

“(2) DEFINITION OF FEDERAL PERMITTING LAW.—In this subsection:

“(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘Federal permitting law’ means any provision of Federal law pursuant to which a Federal agency may issue a permit.

“(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘Federal permitting law’ includes—

“(i) the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.);

“(ii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);

“(iii) the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.);

“(iv) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);

“(v) the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.);

“(vi) the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);

“(vii) the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.);

“(viii) the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); and

“(ix) the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).

“(3) APPLICANT AND PERMITTEE RIGHTS.—In any communication between a permittee or an applicant for a permit and a Federal agency relating to a determination of the agency pursuant to a Federal permitting law, the following shall apply:

“(A) Any decision relating to the applicable permit or application shall be issued—

“(i) within the applicable deadline; or

“(ii) at such other reasonable time as may be agreed to by the permittee or applicant and the Federal agency.

“(B) Each permittee and permit applicant shall have the right—

“(i) to assistance and prompt response in seeking from the Federal agency information regarding the regulatory and permit process;

“(ii) to request and receive—

“(I) a clear projected schedule of fees for the review and completion of the permit process; and

“(II) a clear, concise statement of the reasoning for a determination by the agency to reject a permit application;

“(iii) to know the exact deficiencies in a rejected application; and

“(iv) to a transparent and unbiased decision based on the submitted application and applicable Federal permitting law and regulatory requirements.”.

Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7609(a)) is amended by striking “any (1) legislation proposed by any Federal department or agency, (2) newly authorized Federal projects for construction and any major Federal agency action (other than a project for construction) to which section 102(2)(C) of Public Law 91–190 applies, and (3) proposed regulations” and inserting “any legislation proposed by a Federal department or agency or proposed regulations”.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) AGENCY ACTION.—The term “agency action” has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.

(2) ENERGY-RELATED CAUSE OF ACTION.—The term “energy-related cause of action” means a cause of action that—

(A) is filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(B) seeks judicial review of a final agency action to issue a permit, license, or other form of agency permission allowing—

(i) an individual or entity to conduct on Indian land or public land activities involving the exploration, development, production, or transportation of oil, gas, coal, shale gas, oil shale, geothermal resources, wind or solar resources, underground coal gasification, biomass, or the generation of electricity; or

(ii) an Indian tribe, or any organization of two or more entities at least one of which is an Indian tribe, to conduct activities involving the exploration, development, production, or transportation of oil, gas, coal, shale gas, oil shale, geothermal resources, wind or solar resources, underground coal gasification, biomass, or the generation of electricity, regardless of the location at which those activities are carried out.

(3) INDIAN LAND.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term “Indian land” has the meaning given the term in section 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3501).

(B) INCLUSION.—The term “Indian land” includes land owned by a Native Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).

(4) PUBLIC LAND.—The term “public land” has the meaning given the term “public lands” in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).

(b) Deadline for filing.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—An energy-related cause of action shall be filed by not later than 60 days after the date of publication of the applicable final agency action.

(2) PROHIBITION.—An energy-related cause of action that is not filed within the time period described in paragraph (1) shall be barred.

(c) District court venue and deadline.—An energy-related cause of action shall be—

(1) brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit; and

(2) resolved—

(A) as expeditiously as practicable; and

(B) in any event, not later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the energy-related cause of action is filed.

(d) Appellate review.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—An interlocutory order or final judgment, decree, or order of the district court in an energy-related cause of action may be reviewed by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

(2) REQUIREMENT.—The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia shall resolve an appeal of an energy-related cause of action—

(A) as expeditiously as practicable; and

(B) in any event, not later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the applicable interlocutory order or final judgment, decree, or order of the district court was issued.

(e) Limitation on certain payments.—Notwithstanding section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, no award may be made under section 504 of title 5, United States Code, or section 2412 of title 28, United States Code, and no amounts may be obligated or expended from the Claims and Judgment Fund of the Treasury to pay any fees or other expenses under those sections, to any person or party in an energy-related cause of action.

(f) Legal fees.—

(1) DEFINITION OF ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.—In this subsection:

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term “ultimately prevail” means a final, enforceable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in favor of a party on at least 1 energy-related cause of action that is an underlying rationale for the preliminary injunction, administrative stay, or other relief requested by the party.

(B) EXCLUSION.—The term “ultimately prevail” does not include any situation in which the relevant final agency action is modified or amended by the issuing agency, unless the modification or amendment is required pursuant to—

(i) a final, enforceable judgment of the court; or

(ii) a court-ordered consent decree.

(2) AWARD.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—In any energy-related cause of action in which the plaintiff does not ultimately prevail, the court shall award to the defendant (including any intervenor-defendants), other than the United States, fees and other expenses incurred by that defendant in connection with the energy-related cause of action, unless the court finds that—

(i) the position of the plaintiff was substantially justified, in accordance with subparagraph (B); or

(ii) special circumstances make such an award unjust.

(B) SUBSTANTIALLY JUSTIFIED DETERMINATION.—Whether the position of the plaintiff was substantially justified for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i) shall be determined on the basis of the administrative record, as a whole, relating to the energy-related cause of action for which fees and other expenses are sought.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) AGENCY; AGENCY ACTION.—The terms “agency” and “agency action” have the meanings given those terms under section 551 of title 5, United States Code.

(2) COVERED CIVIL ACTION.—The term “covered civil action” means a civil action—

(A) seeking to compel agency action;

(B) alleging that the agency is unlawfully withholding or unreasonably delaying an agency action relating to a regulatory action that would affect the rights of—

(i) private persons other than the person bringing the action; or

(ii) a State, local, or tribal government; and

(C) brought under—

(i) chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code; or

(ii) any other statute authorizing such an action.

(3) COVERED CONSENT DECREE.—The term “covered consent decree” means—

(A) a consent decree entered into in a covered civil action; and

(B) any other consent decree that requires agency action relating to a regulatory action that affects the rights of—

(i) private persons other than the person bringing the action; or

(ii) a State, local, or tribal government.

(4) COVERED CONSENT DECREE OR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.—The term “covered consent decree or settlement agreement” means a covered consent decree and a covered settlement agreement.

(5) COVERED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.—The term “covered settlement agreement” means—

(A) a settlement agreement entered into in a covered civil action; and

(B) any other settlement agreement that requires agency action relating to a regulatory action that affects the rights of—

(i) private persons other than the person bringing the action; or

(ii) a State, local, or tribal government.

(b) Consent decree and settlement reform.—

(1) PLEADINGS AND PRELIMINARY MATTERS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—In any covered civil action, the agency against which the covered civil action is brought shall publish the notice of intent to sue and the complaint in a readily accessible manner, including by making the notice of intent to sue and the complaint available in the Federal Register or online not later than 15 days after receiving service of the notice of intent to sue or complaint, respectively.

(B) ENTRY OF A COVERED CONSENT DECREE OR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.—A party may not make a motion for entry of a covered consent decree or to dismiss a civil action pursuant to a covered settlement agreement until after the end of proceedings in accordance with subparagraph (A) and paragraph (2)(B)(i).

(2) PUBLICATION OF AND COMMENT ON COVERED CONSENT DECREES OR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days before the date on which a covered consent decree or settlement agreement is filed with a court, the agency seeking to enter the covered consent decree or settlement agreement shall publish in the Federal Register and online the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement.

(B) PUBLIC COMMENT.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—An agency seeking to enter a covered consent decree or settlement agreement shall accept public comment during the period described in subparagraph (A) on any issue relating to the matters alleged in the complaint in the applicable civil action or addressed or affected by the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement.

(ii) SUBMISSIONS TO COURT.—When moving that the court enter a proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement or for dismissal pursuant to a proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement, an agency shall inform the court of the statutory basis for the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement and its terms.

(3) REVIEW BY COURT.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—A court shall review the statutory basis for the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement and its terms de novo.

(B) REVIEW OF DEADLINES.—

(i) PROPOSED COVERED CONSENT DECREES.—For a proposed covered consent decree, a court shall not approve the covered consent decree unless the proposed covered consent decree allows sufficient time and incorporates adequate procedures for the agency to comply with chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, and other applicable statutes that govern rulemaking and, unless contrary to the public interest, the provisions of any Executive order that governs rulemaking.

(ii) PROPOSED COVERED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS.—For a proposed covered settlement agreement, a court shall ensure that the covered settlement agreement allows sufficient time and incorporates adequate procedures for the agency to comply with chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, and other applicable statutes that govern rulemaking and, unless contrary to the public interest, the provisions of any Executive order that governs rulemaking.

Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) is amended—

(1) in subsection (d)—

(A) by striking “(d) Applications for certificates” and inserting the following:

“(d) Application requirements.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—An application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) USE OF AERIAL SURVEY DATA TO SATISFY PRELIMINARY REQUIREMENTS.—A natural-gas company that submits to the Commission an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this section to construct an interstate natural gas pipeline—

“(A) with respect to any preliminary requirement for that certification, may use aerial survey data to satisfy the preliminary requirement; but

“(B) with respect to each applicable nonpreliminary survey requirement for approval of the certification, shall achieve compliance with the requirement through such other means as the Commission may require.”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(i) Regulatory approval of natural gas pipeline projects.—

“(1) DEFINITION OF PREFILED PROJECT.—In this subsection, the term ‘prefiled project’ means a project for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a natural gas pipeline with respect to which a prefiling docket number has been assigned by the Commission pursuant to a prefiling process established by the Commission for the purpose of facilitating the formal application process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.

“(2) DETERMINATION ON APPLICATIONS.—The Commission shall approve or deny an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a prefiled project by not later than 1 year after the date of receipt of a completed application that is ready to be processed, as determined by the Commission by regulation.

“(3) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the head of the Federal department or agency responsible for issuing any license, permit, or other approval required under Federal law in connection with a prefiled project for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity is sought under this Act shall approve or deny the license, permit, or other approval by not later than 90 days after the date on which the Commission issues a final environmental document relating to the project.

“(B) EXTENSION.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may extend an applicable deadline under subparagraph (A) by not longer than an additional 30 days, if the head of the affected Federal department or agency demonstrates that—

“(I) the process of determining whether to approve or deny the applicable license, permit, or other approval cannot be completed by the applicable deadline; and

“(II) the department or agency therefore will be compelled to deny the license, permit, or approval.

“(ii) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—In providing an extension under this subparagraph, the Commission may offer to the affected Federal department or agency such technical assistance as is necessary to address any condition preventing the completion of the review of the application for the license, permit, or other approval.

“(C) FAILURE TO ACT.—If a Federal department or agency described in subparagraph (A) fails to approve or deny a license, permit, or other approval by the deadline under subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable—

“(i) the license, permit, or approval shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the expiration of the deadline; and

“(ii) the Commission shall incorporate into the terms of the license, permit, or approval any conditions proffered by the Federal department or agency that the Commission does not determine to be inconsistent with any relevant environmental document.”.

Section 100902(a)(1)(A) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by striking “and lines for the generation and distribution of electrical power” and inserting “lines for the generation and distribution of electrical power, and natural gas or petroleum product pipelines”.

Section 176 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7506) is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)(1)—

(A) by striking the undesignated matter following clause (iii) of subparagraph (B); and

(B) in the fourth sentence, by striking “Conformity to an implementation plan means—” and inserting the following:

“(a) Definition of conform.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the term ‘conform’, with respect to the status of an activity, project, program, or plan as determined under an applicable implementation plan, means that the activity, project, program, or plan—”;

(2) in subsection (a) (as so redesignated)—

(A) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)—

(i) by striking “(A) conformity to” and inserting the following:

“(A) achieves compliance with”; and

(ii) by striking “(B) that such activities will” and inserting the following:

“(B) will”;

(B) by moving the subsection (as so amended) to appear at the beginning of the section; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) DETERMINATION ESTIMATES.—For purposes of paragraph (1), a determination regarding the conformity of an activity, project, program, or plan shall be based on the most recent estimates of the emissions of the activity, project, program, or plan, which shall be determined based on the most recent applicable population, employment, travel, and congestion estimates (as determined by the metropolitan planning organization or other agency authorized to make those estimates).”;

(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively;

(4) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)—

(A) by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through “No department” in the first sentence and inserting the following:

“(b) Requirement of conformity for Federal assistance.—

“(1) LIMITATIONS.—

“(A) FEDERAL AGENCIES.—No department”;

(B) in paragraph (1)(A) (as so redesignated)—

(i) in the first sentence, by striking “it has” and inserting “the implementation plan has”;

(ii) in the third sentence, by striking “The assurance of conformity to such an implementation plan” and inserting the following:

“(C) RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSURANCE.—The assurance of conformity to an implementation plan approved or promulgated under section 110”; and

(iii) in the second sentence, by striking “No metropolitan” and inserting the following:

“(B) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS.—No metropolitan”;

(C) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking “of paragraph (1)(B)” and inserting “described in subsection (a)(1)(B)”;

(ii) in subparagraph (C)—

(I) in clause (i), by striking “(i) such a project” and inserting the following:

“(II) (aa) the project”;

(II) in clause (ii), by striking “(ii) the design” and inserting the following:

“(bb) the design”;

(III) in clause (iii), by striking “(iii) the design” and inserting the following:

“(cc) the design”; and

(IV) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “only if it meets either the requirements of subparagraph (D) or the following requirements” and inserting the following: ““only if—

“(I) the transportation project achieves compliance with all applicable requirements of clause (iv); or”;

(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking “subparagraph (C)” and inserting “clause (iii)”;

(iv) in subparagraph (E)—

(I) in clause (ii), by striking “clause (i)” and inserting “subclause (I)”; and

(II) by redesignating clauses (i) through (iii) as subclauses (I) through (III), respectively, and indenting the subclauses appropriately;

(v) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), respectively, and indenting the clauses appropriately; and

(vi) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated)—

(I) in the third sentence, by striking “In particular—” and inserting the following:

“(C) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—The additional requirements referred to in subparagraph (B)(i)(II) are that—”;

(II) in the second sentence—

(aa) by striking “been found to conform to any applicable implementation plan in effect under this Act.” and inserting the following: ““been determined—

“(I) to conform to an applicable implementation plan in effect under this Act (as determined in accordance with paragraph (4)(B)); and

“(II) to achieve compliance with all applicable additional requirements described in subparagraph (C).”; and

(bb) by striking “No Federal” and inserting the following:

“(B) CONFORMITY REQUIRED.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), no Federal”;

(III) in the first sentence, by striking “(2) Any” and inserting the following:

“(2) TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Each”; and

(IV) in subparagraph (B) (as designated by subclause (II)(bb)), by adding at the end the following:

“(ii) APPLICABILITY.—The requirement described in clause (i) shall not apply—

“(I) to a transportation plan, program, or project carried out in an area designated under this Act as a marginal nonattainment or attainment-maintenance area; and

“(II) in an area that is not an area described in subclause (I), until the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Administrator approves the motor vehicle emissions budget contained in the State implementation plan applicable to the relevant transportation plan, program, or project.”;

(D) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in subparagraph (A)—

(I) in clause (i), by adding “and” after the semicolon at the end; and

(II) by striking clause (iii); and

(ii) in subparagraph (B)—

(I) in clause (i), by striking “enactment; and” and all that follows through the end of the undesignated matter following clause (ii) and inserting “enactment.”; and

(II) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “projects—” and all that follows through “come from” in clause (i) and inserting “projects are carried out under”;

(E) in paragraph (4)—

(i) in subparagraph (B)—

(I) by striking “The Administrator” and inserting the following:

“(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), the Administrator”; and

(II) by adding at the end the following:

“(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—The criteria and procedures promulgated pursuant to clause (i) shall—

“(I) be based on the most recently issued national ambient air quality standard for each applicable criteria pollutant; and

“(II) establish that conformity in the case of transportation plans, programs, and projects shall not be required—

“(aa) in any area designated under this Act as a marginal nonattainment or attainment-maintenance area; and

“(bb) with respect to any area that is not an area described in item (aa), until the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Administrator approves the motor vehicle emissions budget contained in the State implementation plan applicable to the relevant transportation plan, program, or project.”;

(ii) in subparagraph (D)—

(I) in clause (ii)—

(aa) in subclause (II), by striking “paragraph (2)(E)” and inserting “paragraph (2)(C)(v)”; and

(bb) by indenting subclauses (I) and (II) appropriately;

(II) by indenting clauses (i) through (iii) appropriately; and

(III) by striking “(D) The” and inserting the following:

“(D) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—The”; and

(iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking “(F) Compliance” and inserting the following:

“(F) TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECTS.—Compliance”;

(F) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6);

(G) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively;

(H) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by striking “Each” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(II), each”;

(I) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), by striking “If” and inserting the following:

“(A) DEFINITION OF LAPSE.—In this paragraph, the term ‘lapse’, with respect to a conformity determination for a transportation plan or transportation improvement program, means that—

“(i) the conformity determination has expired; and

“(ii) as a result of that expiration, no currently conforming transportation plan or transportation improvement program exists.

“(B) LAPSES.—If”; and

(J) by striking paragraph (10); and

(5) in subsection (c) (as redesignated by paragraph (3))—

(A) in the second sentence, by striking “This paragraph extends to, but is not limited to,” and inserting the following:

“(2) APPLICABILITY.—The authority described in paragraph (1) includes any”; and

(B) by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through “Federal Government” and inserting the following:

“(c) Priority.—

“(1) REQUIREMENT.—Each Federal department, agency, and instrumentality”.

The Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration shall jointly enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall—

(1) conduct a study relating to transportation air quality conformity to evaluate the effectiveness of the conformity requirements under section 176 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7506) (as amended by section 401); and

(2) provide to the Administrators recommendations for transportation conformity policy, including suggested legislative and regulatory changes relating to transportation planning and air quality.

Section 106(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(3) NO FEDERAL APPROVAL FOR CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations), no approval of the Secretary shall be required under this section for any project described in subparagraph (B), subject to the condition that the project shall be carried out in accordance with all other applicable requirements under this title and title 49.

“(B) DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS.—A project referred to in subparagraph (A) is any project—

“(i) carried out under—

“(I) a stewardship and oversight agreement; or

“(II) any other agreement under this section; and

“(ii) relating to—

“(I) the standard specifications of the applicable State transportation department;

“(II) the pavement design policy of the State transportation department;

“(III) any value engineering policies or procedures of the State transportation department;

“(IV) liquidated damage rates;

“(V) a quality assurance program of the State transportation department; or

“(VI) such other matter as the Secretary, in consultation with State transportation departments, determines to be appropriate.”.

Section 106(c)(4) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A)—

(A) by striking “shall not assign any responsibilities to a State for projects” and inserting “may assign to a State responsibility for a project in the State that”; and

(B) by inserting “, subject to the requirement that the project shall be carried out in accordance with all applicable requirements of an agreement between the Secretary and the State under this section” before the period at the end; and

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking “The Secretary may define the high risk categories under this subparagraph on” and inserting the following: “For purposes of subparagraph (A), the Secretary—

“(A) shall establish high risk categories in collaboration with State transportation departments; and

“(B) may define the categories on”.

Section 108 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking “may make” and inserting “shall make”;

(2) in subsection (b), by striking “(b) Federal” and inserting the following:

“(b) Maximum participation.—Federal”;

(3) in subsection (c)(3)—

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “State demonstrates to the Secretary and the Secretary finds” and inserting “State ensures”;

(B) in subparagraph (F)—

(i) by inserting “of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)” after “Policy Act”;

(ii) by striking “this Act” and inserting “the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–240; 105 Stat. 1914)”; and

(iii) by inserting “of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)” after “Species Act”; and

(C) in subparagraph (G), by striking “the Secretary” and inserting “the State”; and

(4) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by striking “a State” each place it appears and inserting “the State”; and

(ii) by striking “The Secretary may” and inserting “On receipt of a request from a State, the Secretary shall”;

(B) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “, with concurrence by the Secretary,”; and

(C) in paragraph (7)—

(i) by striking “If” and inserting the following:

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), if”; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following:

“(B) EXTENSION.—On receipt of a request from a State, the Secretary shall delay the effective date of the offset against the apportionment of the State described in subparagraph (A) for such period as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, in accordance with applicable law (including regulations).”.

Section 111 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in the fourth sentence—

(i) by striking “Nothing” and inserting the following:

“(4) EFFECT OF SECTION.—Nothing”;

(ii) by striking “Interstate System (1) if such establishment (A) was” and inserting the following: “Interstate System, if—

“(A) the establishment—

“(i) was”;

(iii) by striking “1960, (B) is owned by a State, and (C) is” and inserting the following: “1960;

“(ii) is owned by a State; and

“(iii) is”; and

(iv) by striking “otherwise, and (2) if all” and inserting the following: “otherwise; and

“(B) all”;

(B) in the third sentence, by striking “Such agreements may, however,” and inserting the following:

“(3) USE OF AIRSPACE.—An agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) may”;

(C) in the second sentence, by striking “Such agreements shall also contain a clause providing” and inserting the following:

“(2) AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE STATIONS.—An agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) shall include a requirement”;

(D) by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through “All agreements between the Secretary and the” in the first sentence and inserting the following:

“(a) Requirements for agreements.—

“(1) POINTS OF ACCESS AND EXIT.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each agreement between the Secretary and a”; and

(E) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated), by adding at the end the following:

“(B) TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY TO STATES.—On receipt of a request from a State transportation department, the Secretary shall transfer to the State transportation department the sole authority to approve the addition of a point of access to, or exit from, an applicable project on the Interstate System on approval by the State transportation department of a justification report under subsection (e).”; and

(2) in subsection (e), by striking “Secretary may permit a State transportation department to approve the report” and inserting “Secretary, on receipt of a request from an affected State transportation department, shall transfer to the State transportation department in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(B) the sole authority to approve the addition of the applicable point of access to, or exit from, a relevant project on the Interstate System on approval by the State transportation department of the report”.