Report to identify opportunities to streamline application process; updating guidance

(a) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the Administrator) shall submit to Congress a report that evaluates the application ranking criteria and approval process for grants and loans under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)), which shall include, with respect to those grants and loans— (1) an evaluation of the shortcomings in the existing application requirements that are a recurring source of confusion for potential recipients of those grants or loans; (2) an identification of the most common sources of point deductions on application reviews; (3) strategies to incentivize the submission of applications from small communities and disadvantaged areas (as those terms are defined in section 128(a)(1)(B)(iv) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 9628(a)(1)(B)(iv)); and (4) recommendations, if any, to Congress on suggested legislative changes to the ranking criteria that would achieve the goal of streamlining the application process for small communities and disadvantaged areas (as so defined). (b) Updating guidance Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update the guidance relating to the application ranking criteria and approval process for grants and loans under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)) to reduce the complexity of the application process while ensuring competitive integrity.

(a) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the Administrator) shall submit to Congress a report that evaluates the application ranking criteria and approval process for grants and loans under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)), which shall include, with respect to those grants and loans— (1) an evaluation of the shortcomings in the existing application requirements that are a recurring source of confusion for potential recipients of those grants or loans; (2) an identification of the most common sources of point deductions on application reviews; (3) strategies to incentivize the submission of applications from small communities and disadvantaged areas (as those terms are defined in section 128(a)(1)(B)(iv) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 9628(a)(1)(B)(iv)); and (4) recommendations, if any, to Congress on suggested legislative changes to the ranking criteria that would achieve the goal of streamlining the application process for small communities and disadvantaged areas (as so defined). (b) Updating guidance Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update the guidance relating to the application ranking criteria and approval process for grants and loans under section 104(k) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(k)) to reduce the complexity of the application process while ensuring competitive integrity.