Interactive Federal Review Act

This bill would require the Department of Transportation to encourage the use of interactive cloud-based platforms and three-dimensional digital models, such as digital twins, during the environmental review process for federal-aid highway projects. The department would be tasked with selecting at least 10 projects to demonstrate how these technologies can be used for environmental impact analysis and community engagement. Additionally, the bill proposes the publication of best practice guidance to assist project sponsors in adopting these digital tools.

This bill affects the Department of Transportation (DOT), which is required to select demonstration projects and issue best practice guidance regarding digital environmental review platforms. Recipients of federal highway funding and project sponsors are also affected, as they are encouraged to utilize interactive cloud-based platforms and three-dimensional digital models for environmental impact analyses and community engagement. Additionally, the bill impacts participants in at least 10 selected federal-aid highway projects chosen to demonstrate these new digital review technologies.

• Promotion of digital platforms for environmental reviews. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is required to encourage federal highway funding recipients to use interactive, cloud-based platforms and high-fidelity 3D digital models, such as digital twins, when conducting environmental reviews.
• Establishment of a digital technology demonstration program. The DOT must select at least 10 federal-aid highway projects to demonstrate how digital platforms and 3D models can be utilized during the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes.
• Development of best practice guidance. The DOT is directed to publish technology-neutral guidance for project sponsors on the use of digital tools to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

The bill revises the environmental review process for federal-aid highway projects conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). It specifically modifies how project sponsors fulfill NEPA requirements for environmental impact analysis and community engagement by encouraging the integration of digital platforms and three-dimensional models.

The bill aims to modernize the environmental review process for federal-aid highway projects by encouraging the adoption of interactive digital platforms and three-dimensional modeling, such as digital twins. It seeks to integrate these technologies into environmental impact analyses and community engagement efforts through demonstration projects and the establishment of best practice guidance.