[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]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2002 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
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