This legislation introduces new provisions to streamline environmental review processes for certain housing assistance administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It empowers the Secretary of HUD to designate specific assistance as "special projects" for environmental review, decision-making, and action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), allowing for a more efficient process unless another law already specifies a different procedure. Additionally, the bill expands the ability of Indian Tribes to assume environmental review obligations by amending Section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994. This change includes Indian Tribes alongside states and local governments in assuming these responsibilities, and provides a definition for "Indian Tribe" as a federally recognized tribe, aiming to facilitate tribal self-governance in housing development.
This legislation introduces new provisions to streamline environmental review processes for certain housing assistance administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It empowers the Secretary of HUD to designate specific assistance as "special projects" for environmental review, decision-making, and action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), allowing for a more efficient process unless another law already specifies a different procedure. Additionally, the bill expands the ability of Indian Tribes to assume environmental review obligations by amending Section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994. This change includes Indian Tribes alongside states and local governments in assuming these responsibilities, and provides a definition for "Indian Tribe" as a federally recognized tribe, aiming to facilitate tribal self-governance in housing development.