Description of the blog
On Feb. 16, the Council on Environmental Quality sent an interim final rule, “Removal of National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations,” to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget for final review. The review at OIRA is usually the final step in the process before a rule is officially published in the Federal Register.
While the text of the interim final rule is not yet available, it is expected that this rule will implement the executive order Unleashing American Energy. In the order, President Donald Trump revoked the 1977 executive order granting the CEQ rulemaking authority and directed the CEQ to propose rescinding all existing NEPA regulations.
Federal agencies will still be required to comply with the NEPA statute and conduct environmental reviews for major federal actions. Following repeal of the CEQ’s NEPA regulations, the executive order directs the CEQ to provide guidance to federal agencies on implementing NEPA in their own regulations with the goal of expediting permitting approvals.
ABC will be meeting with the OIRA to express its support for creating a coordinated, predictable and transparent process to streamline permitting while maintaining necessary environmental safeguards.
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