[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50434-50435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24696]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY


Energy Task Force

AGENCY: Council of Environmental Quality.

ACTION: Notice extending comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice, CEQ has invited interested parties 
to (1) provide basic information about major pending projects or major 
projects under development that may be relevant to Task Force efforts 
to streamline energy permitting decisions and (2) comment on the 
proposed nature and scope of Task Force activities and provide specific 
suggestions and examples of permitting or other decision making 
processes which should be improved or streamlined. 66 Fed. Reg. 43586-
43587 (August 20, 2001). Interested parties have requested that CEQ 
extend the time to file comments. The deadline for comments was October 
1, 2001. By this notice, CEQ is extending the time period for public 
comment to October 31, 2001. Although the time for comments has been 
extended, CEQ requests that interested parties provide information 
about major pending projects or major projects under development as 
soon as possible. In addition, following the comment period, the Task 
Force will engage in an ongoing dialog with the public regarding 
permitting or other decision making processes which should be improved 
or streamlined.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before October 31, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct electronic written comments to Chair, Council on 
Environmental Quality, through the CEQ Web site at www.whitehouse.gov/
ceq. Written comments may also be submitted to the Chair, Council on 
Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President, 17th and G 
Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20503. Attention: Task Force. Written 
comments may also be faxed to the Task Force at (202) 456-6546.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies the ``National 
Energy Policy Report of the National Energy Policy Development Group'' 
may be directed to CEQ at the above address. The report is available on 
the White House Web site (http://www.whitehouse.gov/eneergy/National-
Energy-Policy.pdf) and on the Department of Energy Web site http://
www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases01/maypr/energy_policy.htm). Copies of 
the report (ISBN 0-16-050814-2) can also be purchased from the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, by 
calling (202) 512-1800 or mailing your request to U.S. GPO, Mail Stop 
SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 18, 2001, the President signed 
Executive Order 13212 recognizing the importance of environmentally 
sound production and transmission of energy to all American people. The 
Order established a federal interagency task force (``Task Force''), 
chaired by the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality 
(``CEQ''), to work with and monitor federal agencies'' efforts to 
expedite their review of permits or take other actions as necessary to 
accelerate the completion of energy-related projects, while maintaining 
safety, public health, and environmental protections. That task force 
is also charged with helping agencies create mechanisms to coordinate 
Federal, State, tribal and local permitting in geographic areas where 
increased permitting activity is expected.
    In order to further the work of this task force, CEQ believes that 
it would be beneficial to have public input on federal agency 
activities to implement Executive Order 13212. Such input may include 
recommendations for improving agency activities, consistent with the 
purposes and policies of the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq., (1) to accelerate the completion of energy-related 
projects; (2) to increase energy production and

[[Page 50435]]

conservation; (3) to improve transmission of energy; and (4) to 
coordinate permitting in geographic areas where increased permitting 
activity is expected.
    Public comments are requested by October 31, 2001.

    Dated: September 26, 2001.
James L. Connaughton,
Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality.
[FR Doc. 01-24696 Filed 10-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3125-01-P