Assembly Bill 874 proposes amendments to the environmental review prerequisites for major highway projects in Wisconsin. The bill modifies the current requirement that the Transportation Projects Commission (TPC) must be notified of an approved final environmental impact statement or environmental assessment before approving a project. Instead, it allows for the approval of a draft environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, or draft categorical exclusion. Additionally, the bill specifies that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be responsible for approving the draft environmental documents unless federal approval is necessary for funding.

Furthermore, the bill changes the conditions under which DOT can submit a report to TPC for major highway projects costing over $75 million. Previously, the report could only be submitted after the completion of a draft environmental impact statement or environmental assessment; now, it can also be submitted following the completion of a draft categorical exclusion. The bill includes the renumbering of certain sections and the creation of a definition for "categorical exclusion" in the statutes.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 13.489(4)(a)1.a, 13.489, 13.489(4)(a)1.b, 13.489(4m)(a)