Department of Transportation: environmental review process: federal program.

Existing federal law requires the United States Secretary of Transportation to carry out a surface transportation project delivery program, under which the participating states assume certain responsibilities for environmental review and clearance of transportation projects that would otherwise be the responsibility of the federal government. Existing law, until January 1, 2017, provides that the State of California consents to the jurisdiction of the federal courts with regard to the compliance, discharge, or enforcement of the responsibilities the Department of Transportation assumed as a participant in this program. Existing law requires the department, no later than January 1, 2016, to submit a report to the Legislature that includes specified elements. This bill would require the department to instead submit that report to the Legislature commencing January 1, 2021, and every 5 years thereafter. The bill would also delete the January 1, 2017, repeal date and thereby extend these provisions indefinitely.