[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 8046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3532]


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COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY


National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Draft Guidance, 
``Consideration of the Effects of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas 
Emissions.''

AGENCY: Council On Environmental Quality.

ACTION: Notice of Availability, Draft Guidance, ``Consideration of the 
Effects of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.''

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SUMMARY: On February 18, 2010, the Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) announced four steps to modernize, reinvigorate, and ease the use 
and increase the transparency of implementation of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Enacted in 1970, NEPA is a fundamental 
tool used to harmonize our economic, environmental, and social 
aspirations and is a cornerstone of our Nation's efforts to protect the 
environment. NEPA recognizes that many Federal activities affect the 
environment and mandates that Federal agencies consider the 
environmental impacts of their proposed actions before acting. 
Additionally, NEPA emphasizes public involvement in government actions 
affecting the environment by requiring that the benefits and the risks 
associated with proposed actions be assessed and publicly disclosed.
    CEQ, which is charged with implementing NEPA, recognizes that it is 
a visionary and versatile law that can be used effectively to address 
new environmental challenges facing our nation and also to engage the 
public widely and effectively. Furthermore, CEQ wants to develop more 
effective and accessible tools for citizen involvement in government 
decision-making. These actions are designed to provide carefully-
tailored new assessment and reporting requirements, facilitate agency 
compliance with NEPA, and enhance the quality of public involvement in 
governmental decisions relating to the environment.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before May 24, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The NEPA Draft Guidance documents are available at http://www.nepa.gov. Comments on the NEPA Draft Guidance ``Consideration of 
the Effects of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions'' should be 
submitted electronically to [email protected], or in writing to 
The Council on Environmental Quality, Attn: Ted Boling, 722 Jackson 
Place, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ted Boling, Senior Counsel, at (202) 
395-5750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CEQ is issuing draft guidance for public 
comment on when and how Federal agencies must consider the impacts of 
proposed Federal actions on global climate change, as well as the 
expected environmental effects from climate change that may be relevant 
to the design of the proposed Federal action. CEQ has been asked to 
provide guidance on this subject informally by Federal agencies and 
formally by a petition under the Administrative Procedure Act. The 
draft guidance explains how Federal agencies should analyze the 
environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change 
when they describe the environmental impacts of a proposed action under 
NEPA by (1) providing practical tools for agency reporting, including a 
presumptive threshold of 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide 
equivalent emissions from the proposed action to trigger consideration 
of a quantitative analysis, and (2) suggestions to agencies on how to 
assess the effects of climate change on the proposed action, and, in 
turn, on the design of agency actions. CEQ will seek public comment on 
this guidance for 90 days. Draft guidance documents are now available 
at the Council on Environmental Quality Web site at http://www.nepa.gov.
    Public comments are requested on or before May 24, 2010.

    February 18, 2010.
Nancy Sutley,
Chair, Council on Environmental Quality.
[FR Doc. 2010-3532 Filed 2-22-10; 8:45 am]
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