Workshop Summary Report on Using AI Tools to Improve the Efficiency and Outcomes of the NEPA Process
Workshop Summary Report on Using AI Tools to Improve the Efficiency and Outcomes of the NEPA Process
AI for Permitting Workshop at the 2025 National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) Annual Conference
At the NAEP 2025 Conference and Training Symposium in Charleston, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) hosted a workshop focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews and federal permitting processes.
The sessions featured keynote insights from Eric Beightel, an introduction to DOE’s PermitAI initiative by Sameera Horawalavithana, and case studies demonstrating how AI can streamline permitting tasks—from analyzing public comments to preparing categorical exclusions. Participants also discussed both the opportunities and the challenges of integrating AI into permitting, including data standards, workflow differences across agencies, transparency, and the need for human oversight.
The full workshop summary captures key takeaways, barriers, and future opportunities for AI integration in environmental reviews.
