[Title 40 CFR 1501.5]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 40 - PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT]
[Chapter V - COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY]
[Part 1501 - NEPA AND AGENCY PLANNING]
[Sec. 1501.5 - Lead agencies.]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


40PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT282002-07-012002-07-01false1501.5Sec. 1501.5PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTCOUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYNEPA AND AGENCY PLANNING
Sec. 1501.5  Lead agencies.

    (a) A lead agency shall supervise the preparation of an 
environmental impact statement if more than one Federal agency either:
    (1) Proposes or is involved in the same action; or
    (2) Is involved in a group of actions directly related to each other 
because of their functional interdependence or geographical proximity.
    (b) Federal, State, or local agencies, including at least one 
Federal agency, may act as joint lead agencies to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (Sec. 1506.2).
    (c) If an action falls within the provisions of paragraph (a) of 
this section the potential lead agencies shall determine by letter or 
memorandum which agency shall be the lead agency and which shall be 
cooperating agencies. The agencies shall resolve the lead agency 
question so as not to cause delay. If there is disagreement among the 
agencies, the following factors (which are listed in order of descending 
importance) shall determine lead agency designation:
    (1) Magnitude of agency's involvement.
    (2) Project approval/disapproval authority.
    (3) Expertise concerning the action's environmental effects.
    (4) Duration of agency's involvement.
    (5) Sequence of agency's involvement.
    (d) Any Federal agency, or any State or local agency or private 
person substantially affected by the absence of lead agency designation, 
may make a written request to the potential lead agencies that a lead 
agency be designated.
    (e) If Federal agencies are unable to agree on which agency will be 
the lead agency or if the procedure described in paragraph (c) of this 
section has not resulted within 45 days in a lead agency designation, 
any of the agencies or persons concerned may file a request with the 
Council asking it to determine which Federal agency shall be the lead 
agency.

A copy of the request shall be transmitted to each potential lead 
agency. The request shall consist of:
    (1) A precise description of the nature and extent of the proposed 
action.
    (2) A detailed statement of why each potential lead agency should or 
should not be the lead agency under the criteria specified in paragraph 
(c) of this section.
    (f) A response may be filed by any potential lead agency concerned 
within 20 days after a request is filed with the Council. The Council 
shall determine as soon as possible but not later than 20 days after 
receiving the request and all responses to it which Federal agency shall 
be the lead agency and which other Federal agencies shall be cooperating 
agencies.

[43 FR 55992, Nov. 29, 1978; 44 FR 873, Jan. 3, 1979]