[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 59449-59450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24252]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2002 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 59449]]

                Executive Order 13274 of September 18, 2002

                
Environmental Stewardship and Transportation 
                Infrastructure Project Reviews

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, and to enhance environmental stewardship and 
                streamline the environmental review and development of 
                transportation infrastructure projects, it is hereby 
                ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. The development and implementation 
                of transportation infrastructure projects in an 
                efficient and environmentally sound manner is essential 
                to the well-being of the American people and a strong 
                American economy. Executive departments and agencies 
                (agencies) shall take appropriate actions, to the 
                extent consistent with applicable law and available 
                resources, to promote environmental stewardship in the 
                Nation's transportation system and expedite 
                environmental reviews of high-priority transportation 
                infrastructure projects.

                Sec. 2. Actions. (a) For transportation infrastructure 
                projects, agencies shall, in support of the Department 
                of Transportation, formulate and implement 
                administrative, policy, and procedural mechanisms that 
                enable each agency required by law to conduct 
                environmental reviews (reviews) with respect to such 
                projects to ensure completion of such reviews in a 
                timely and environmentally responsible manner.

                    (b) In furtherance of the policy set forth in 
                section 1 of this order, the Secretary of 
                Transportation, in coordination with agencies as 
                appropriate, shall advance environmental stewardship 
                through cooperative actions with project sponsors to 
                promote protection and enhancement of the natural and 
                human environment in the planning, development, 
                operation, and maintenance of transportation facilities 
                and services.
                    (c) The Secretary of Transportation shall designate 
                for the purposes of this order a list of high-priority 
                transportation infrastructure projects that should 
                receive expedited agency reviews and shall amend such 
                list from time to time as the Secretary deems 
                appropriate. For projects on the Secretary's list, 
                agencies shall to the maximum extent practicable 
                expedite their reviews for relevant permits or other 
                approvals, and take related actions as necessary, 
                consistent with available resources and applicable 
                laws, including those relating to safety, public 
                health, and environmental protection.

                Sec. 3. Interagency Task Force. (a) Establishment. 
                There is established, within the Department of 
                Transportation for administrative purposes, the 
                interagency ``Transportation Infrastructure 
                Streamlining Task Force'' (Task Force) to: (i) monitor 
                and assist agencies in their efforts to expedite a 
                review of transportation infrastructure projects and 
                issue permits or similar actions, as necessary; (ii) 
                review projects, at least quarterly, on the list of 
                priority projects pursuant to section 2(c) of this 
                order; and (iii) identify and promote policies that can 
                effectively streamline the process required to provide 
                approvals for transportation infrastructure projects, 
                in compliance with applicable law, while maintaining 
                safety, public health, and environmental protection.

                    (b) Membership and Operation. The Task Force shall 
                promote interagency cooperation and the establishment 
                of appropriate mechanisms to coordinate Federal, State, 
                tribal, and local agency consultation, review, 
                approval, and permitting of transportation 
                infrastructure projects. The Task Force shall consist 
                exclusively of the following officers of the United 
                States: the Secretary

[[Page 59450]]

                of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of 
                Transportation (who shall chair the Task Force), 
                Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Defense, 
                Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
                Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic 
                Preservation, and Chairman of the Council on 
                Environmental Quality. A member of the Task Force may 
                designate, to perform the Task Force functions of the 
                member, any person who is part of the member's 
                department, agency, or office and who is either an 
                officer of the United States appointed by the President 
                with the advice and consent of the Senate or a member 
                of the Senior Executive Service. The Task Force shall 
                report to the President through the Chairman of the 
                Council on Environmental Quality.

                Sec. 4. Report. At least once each year, the Task Force 
                shall submit to the President a report that: (a) 
                Describes the results of the coordinated and expedited 
                reviews on a project-by-project basis, and identifies 
                those procedures and actions that proved to be most 
                useful and appropriate in coordinating and expediting 
                the review of the projects.

                    (b) Identifies substantive and procedural 
                requirements of Federal, State, tribal, and local laws, 
                regulations, and Executive Orders that are inconsistent 
                with, duplicative of, or are structured so as to 
                restrict their efficient implementation with other 
                applicable requirements.
                    (c) Makes recommendations regarding those 
                additional actions that could be taken to: (i) address 
                the coordination and expediting of reviews of 
                transportation infrastructure projects by simplifying 
                and harmonizing applicable substantive and procedural 
                requirements; and (ii) elevate and resolve 
                controversies among Federal, State, tribal, and local 
                agencies related to the review or impacts of 
                transportation infrastructure projects in a timely 
                manner.
                    (d) Provides any other recommendations that would, 
                in the judgement of the Task Force, advance the policy 
                set forth in section 1 of this order.

                Sec. 5. Preservation of Authority. Nothing in this 
                order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect 
                the functions of the Director of the Office of 
                Management and Budget relating to budget, 
                administrative, and legislative proposals.

                Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to 
                improve the internal management of the Federal 
                Government and is not intended to, and does not, create 
                any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or equity by a party against the 
                United States, its departments, agencies, 
                instrumentalities or entities, its officers or 
                employees, or any other person.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    September 18, 2002.

[FR Doc. 02-24252
Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P