Late last week, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released a pre-publication version of a new rule, which would remove the implementing regulations for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in line with the directives set out in President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14154, titled Unleashing American Energy. NEPA requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impact of their actions and has often been viewed as a roadblock to development.
In conjunction with the rule release, CEQ issued new guidance to federal agencies, directing agencies to revise their NEPA procedures to ensure they are consistent with E.O. 14154 and that they properly expedite permitting approvals. CEQ’s guidance also emphasizes that agencies should not delay pending or ongoing approvals while revisions are taking place.
The interim rule on NEPA will be effective 45 days after publication in the Federal Register. There will also be a 30-day public comment period.
[View source.]
