Interior Department Set for Digital Overhaul: New Bill Mandates Online Permitting Systems

This bill, the Electronic Permitting Modernization Act, directs the Department of the Interior (DOI) to ditch the old ways and create modern, electronic systems for handling permits. The core idea, outlined in Section 2, is to make it easier for everyone – from individuals to businesses to local governments – to apply for, track, and manage permits related to activities the DOI oversees, like land use or resource management. Think less paper shuffling, more online processing.

Clicks Replace Clipboards: Digitizing the DOI

The biggest change here is the mandate for the Secretary of the Interior to build user-friendly electronic systems. Section 2 specifies these systems must handle the entire lifecycle: accepting applications, processing them, and keeping records electronically. No more digging through filing cabinets (hopefully). To make things findable, the bill also requires a central online hub – a one-stop-shop linking to all the different DOI permit systems, complete with contact info for folks who can help State, Tribal, and local governments navigate the process. Importantly, the DOI isn't supposed to build this in a vacuum; Section 2 explicitly requires consultation with States, local governments, Tribes, and other stakeholders to figure out what actually works for the people using these systems.

Staying Aligned: Environmental Rules and Digital Forms

This digital shift isn't happening in isolation. Section 3 makes sure the new electronic systems play nice with existing environmental rules. Specifically, for permits that need review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) – the law governing environmental impact assessments – the new digital processes must align with priorities set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. In simple terms, environmental reviews required for certain permits will be integrated into this new online framework, ensuring modernization doesn't sidestep environmental diligence.

The Ground Rules: Efficiency Without Oversharing

While pushing for modernization, the bill includes some guardrails (Section 2). It stresses efficiency by prohibiting the duplication of existing systems – no need to build five ways to submit the same form. It also protects sensitive information, stating that data shielded by laws like the Freedom of Information Act (specifically section 552(b) of title 5, U.S. Code, which covers things like internal agency deliberations or trade secrets) won't be made public through these new portals. The Secretary also has to keep Congress updated on how implementation is going. The aim seems to be a smoother, faster, more accessible permitting process without sacrificing necessary protections or creating redundant tech.