H.R. 676

This bill exempts certain energy and mineral actions on federal lands from the environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Specifically, the bill states that the following are not to be considered a major federal action under NEPA: • issuing, granting, or renewing a lease, easement, or right-of-way under the Mineral Leasing Act for the exploration, development, or production of oil, gas, or coal; or • issuing, granting, or renewing a permit or other authorization under the Mining Law of 1872 for the exploration, location, development, or extraction of a critical mineral on land that is open to mineral entry. By way of background, NEPA requires agencies to identify and evaluate the impacts of major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment prior to finalizing certain decisions. Thus, if an action is not considered to be a major federal action, then it is exempt from NEPA.