Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act

HR 3927, the Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act, extends the term of nationwide permits for environmental projects from five to ten years and creates a new category for "linear infrastructure projects" like pipelines and power lines. It allows these projects to receive nationwide permits if they discharge dredged or fill material into less than 3 acres of navigable waters, classifying such impacts as "minimal." The bill removes requirements for certain environmental reviews, including consultations under the Endangered Species Act and full National Environmental Policy Act assessments, replacing them with streamlined environmental assessments. This directly affects infrastructure developers and the Army Corps of Engineers, which administers the permitting process under the Clean Water Act.