Interagency Review Acceleration Act for National Defense Priorities

This Act authorizes the Secretary of Defense to enter into interagency agreements with federal agencies (including EPA, CEQ, and Department of Interior) to establish expedited timelines for environmental and regulatory reviews of Defense priority projects designated by the Secretary as critical to national security. Each agreement shall specify a maximum review period of 180 days unless the head of the reviewing agency certifies in writing that extraordinary circumstances require additional time, in which case the period may be extended once by up to 90 days. No provision of this Act preempts or supersedes state or local environmental permitting or land-use laws. The Secretary may request that state and local governments voluntarily adopt reciprocal expedited procedures, but no federal funds shall be conditioned on state adoption. The Act does not eliminate any existing public notice or comment period required by federal law; however, the period may be reduced to a minimum of 30 days for designated priority projects if the Secretary and the reviewing agency jointly determine that a shorter period is consistent with adequate public participation. Any person aggrieved by a final agency action under this Act may seek judicial review in federal district court under the Administrative Procedure Act. The court shall set a hearing within 60 days of filing. No monetary damages may be awarded unless the agency action was arbitrary and capricious. The authority granted by this Act expires six years after enactment. The Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress three years after enactment evaluating the effectiveness, environmental impacts, and any cost savings attributable to the expedited procedures.