[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 137 (Thursday, July 16, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43304-43376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15179]



[[Page 43303]]

Vol. 85

Thursday,

No. 137

July 16, 2020

Part II





Council on Environmental Quality





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40 CFR Parts 1500, 1501, 1502, et al.





Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 137 / Thursday, July 16, 2020 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 43304]]


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COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

40 CFR Parts 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1508, 
1515, 1516, 1517, and 1518

[CEQ-2019-0003]
RIN 0331-AA03


Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions 
of the National Environmental Policy Act

AGENCY: Council on Environmental Quality.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issues this final 
rule to update its regulations for Federal agencies to implement the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). CEQ has not comprehensively 
updated its regulations since their promulgation in 1978, more than 
four decades ago. This final rule comprehensively updates, modernizes, 
and clarifies the regulations to facilitate more efficient, effective, 
and timely NEPA reviews by Federal agencies in connection with 
proposals for agency action. The rule will improve interagency 
coordination in the environmental review process, promote earlier 
public involvement, increase transparency, and enhance the 
participation of States, Tribes, and localities. The amendments will 
advance the original goals of the CEQ regulations to reduce paperwork 
and delays, and promote better decisions consistent with the national 
environmental policy set forth in section 101 of NEPA.

DATES: This is a major rule subject to congressional review. The 
effective date is September 14, 2020. However, if congressional review 
has changed the effective date, CEQ will publish a document in the 
Federal Register to establish the actual effective date or to terminate 
the rule.

ADDRESSES: CEQ has established a docket for this action under docket 
number CEQ-2019-0003. All documents in the docket are listed on 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Viktoria Z. Seale, Chief of Staff and 
General Counsel, 202-395-5750, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Background
    A. National Environmental Policy Act
    B. Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, Guidance, and 
Reports
    1. Regulatory History
    2. CEQ Guidance and Reports
    3. Environmental Impact Statement Timelines and Page Count 
Reports
    C. Judicial Review of Agency NEPA Compliance
    D. Statutory Developments
    E. Presidential Directives
    F. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
    G. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
II. Summary of Final Rule
    A. Changes Throughout Parts 1500-1508
    B. Revisions To Update the Purpose, Policy, and Mandate (Part 
1500)
    1. Purpose and Policy (Sec.  1500.1)
    2. Remove and Reserve Policy (Sec.  1500.2)
    3. NEPA Compliance (Sec.  1500.3)
    4. Reducing Paperwork and Delay (Sec. Sec.  1500.4 and 1500.5)
    5. Agency Authority (Sec.  1500.6)
    C. Revisions to NEPA and Agency Planning (Part 1501)
    1. NEPA Thresholds (Sec.  1501.1)
    2. Apply NEPA Early in the Process (Sec.  1501.2)
    3. Determine the Appropriate Level of NEPA Review (Sec.  1501.3)
    4. Categorical Exclusions (Sec.  1501.4)
    5. Environmental Assessments (Sec.  1501.5)
    6. Findings of No Significant Impact (Sec.  1501.6)
    7. Lead and Cooperating Agencies (Sec. Sec.  1501.7 and 1501.8)
    8. Scoping (Sec.  1501.9)
    9. Time Limits (Sec.  1501.10)
    10. Tiering (Sec.  1501.11)
    11. Incorporation by Reference (Sec.  1501.12)
    D. Revisions to Environmental Impact Statements (Part 1502)
    1. Purpose of Environmental Impact Statement (Sec.  1502.1)
    2. Implementation (Sec.  1502.2)
    3. Statutory Requirements for Statements (Sec.  1502.3)
    4. Major Federal Actions Requiring the Preparation of 
Environmental Impact Statements (Sec.  1502.4)
    5. Timing (Sec.  1502.5)
    6. Interdisciplinary Preparation (Sec.  1502.6)
    7. Page Limits (Sec.  1502.7)
    8. Writing (Sec.  1502.8)
    9. Draft, Final and Supplemental Statements (Sec.  1502.9)
    10. Recommended Format (Sec.  1502.10)
    11. Cover (Sec.  1502.11)
    12. Summary (Sec.  1502.12)
    13. Purpose and Need (Sec.  1502.13)
    14. Alternatives Including the Proposed Action (Sec.  1502.14)
    15. Affected Environment (Sec.  1502.15)
    16. Environmental Consequences (Sec.  1502.16)
    17. Submitted Alternatives, Information, and Analyses (Sec.  
1502.17)
    18. List of Preparers (Sec.  1502.18)
    19. Appendix (Sec.  1502.19)
    20. Publication of the Environmental Impact Statement (Sec.  
1502.20)
    21. Incomplete or Unavailable Information (Sec.  1502.21)
    22. Cost-Benefit Analysis (Sec.  1502.22)
    23. Methodology and Scientific Accuracy (Sec.  1502.23)
    24. Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements (Sec.  
1502.24)
    E. Revisions to Commenting on Environmental Impact Statements 
(Part 1503)
    1. Inviting Comments and Requesting Information and Analyses 
(Sec.  1503.1)
    2. Duty To Comment (Sec.  1503.2)
    3. Specificity of Comments and Information (Sec.  1503.3)
    4. Response to Comments (Sec.  1503.4)
    F. Revisions to Pre-Decisional Referrals to the Council of 
Proposed Federal Actions Determined To Be Environmentally 
Unsatisfactory (Part 1504)
    1. Purpose (Sec.  1504.1)
    2. Criterial for Referral (Sec.  1504.2)
    3. Procedure for Referrals and Response (Sec.  1504.3)
    G. Revisions to NEPA and Agency Decision Making (Part 1505)
    1. Remove and Reserve Agency Decisionmaking Procedures (Sec.  
1505.1)
    2. Record of Decision in Cases Requiring Environmental Impact 
Statements (Sec.  1505.2)
    3. Implementing the Decision (Sec.  1505.3)
    H. Revisions to Other Requirements of NEPA (Part 1506)
    1. Limitations on Actions During NEPA Process (Sec.  1506.1)
    2. Elimination of Duplication With State, Tribal, and Local 
Procedures (Sec.  1506.2)
    3. Adoption (Sec.  1506.3)
    4. Combining Documents (Sec.  1506.4)
    5. Agency Responsibility for Environmental Documents (Sec.  
1506.5)
    6. Public Involvement (Sec.  1506.6)
    7. Further Guidance (Sec.  1506.7)
    8. Proposals for Legislation (Sec.  1506.8)
    9. Proposals for Regulations (Sec.  1506.9)
    10. Filing Requirements (Sec.  1506.10)
    11. Timing of Agency Action (Sec.  1506.11)
    12. Emergencies (Sec.  1506.12)
    13. Effective Date (Sec.  1506.13)
    I. Revisions to Agency Compliance (Part 1507)
    1. Compliance (Sec.  1507.1)
    2. Agency Capability To Comply (Sec.  1507.2)
    3. Agency NEPA Procedures (Sec.  1507.3)
    4. Agency NEPA Program Information (Sec.  1507.4)
    J. Revisions to Definitions (Part 1508)
    1. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Act''
    2. Definition of ``Affecting''
    3. New Definition of ``Authorization''
    4. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Categorical Exclusion''
    5. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Cooperating Agency''
    6. Definition of ``Council''
    7. Definition of ``Cumulative Impact'' and Clarifying the 
Meaning of ``Effects''
    8. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Environmental Assessment''
    9. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Environmental Document''
    10. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Environmental Impact Statement''
    11. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Federal Agency''
    12. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Finding of No Significant 
Impact''
    13. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Human Environment''
    14. Definition of ``Jurisdiction by Law''
    15. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Lead Agency''

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    16. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Legislation''
    17. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Major Federal Action''
    18. Definition of ``Matter''
    19. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Mitigation''
    20. Definition of ``NEPA Process''
    21. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Notice of Intent''
    22. New Definition of ``Page''
    23. New Definition of ``Participating Agency''
    24. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Proposal''
    25. New Definition of ``Publish and Publication''
    26. New Definition of ``Reasonable Alternatives''
    27. New Definition of ``Reasonably Foreseeable''
    28. Definition of ``Referring Agency''
    29. Definition of ``Scope''
    30. New Definition of ``Senior Agency Official''
    31. Definition of ``Special Expertise''
    32. Striking the Definition of ``Significantly''
    33. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Tiering''
    K. CEQ Guidance Documents
III. Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
    A. Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review and 
Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
    B. Executive Order 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs
    C. Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 13272, Proper 
Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking
    D. Congressional Review Act
    E. National Environmental Policy Act
    F. Endangered Species Act
    G. Executive Order 13132, Federalism
    H. Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments
    I. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations
    J. Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
    K. Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform
    L. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    M. Paperwork Reduction Act

I. Background

    President Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., (NEPA or the Act) into law on January 1, 
1970. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) initially issued 
interim guidelines for implementing NEPA in 1970, revised those 
guidelines in 1971 and 1973, and subsequently promulgated its 
regulations implementing NEPA in 1978. The original goals of those 
regulations were to reduce paperwork and delays, and promote better 
decisions consistent with the national environmental policy established 
by the Act.
    Since the promulgation of the 1978 regulations, however, the NEPA 
process has become increasingly complicated and can involve excessive 
paperwork and lengthy delays. The regulations have been challenging to 
navigate with related provisions scattered throughout, and include 
definitions and provisions that have led to confusion and generated 
extensive litigation. The complexity of the regulations has given rise 
to CEQ's issuance of more than 30 guidance documents to assist Federal 
agencies in understanding and complying with NEPA. Agencies also have 
developed procedures and practices to improve their implementation of 
NEPA. Additionally, Presidents have issued directives, and Congress has 
enacted legislation to reduce delays and expedite the implementation of 
NEPA and the CEQ regulations, including for transportation, water, and 
other types of infrastructure projects.
    Despite these efforts, the NEPA process continues to slow or 
prevent the development of important infrastructure and other projects 
that require Federal permits or approvals, as well as rulemakings and 
other proposed actions. Agency practice has also continued to evolve 
over the past four decades, but many of the most efficient and 
effective practices have not been incorporated into the CEQ 
regulations. Further, a wide range of judicial decisions, including 
those issued by the Supreme Court, evaluating Federal agencies' 
compliance with NEPA have construed and interpreted key provisions of 
the statute and CEQ's regulations. CEQ's guidance, agency practice, 
more recent presidential directives and statutory developments, and the 
body of case law related to NEPA implementation have not been 
harmonized or codified in CEQ's regulations.
    As discussed further below, NEPA implementation and related 
litigation can be lengthy and significantly delay major infrastructure 
and other projects.\1\ For example, CEQ has found that NEPA reviews for 
Federal Highway Administration projects, on average take more than 
seven years to proceed from a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to issuance of a record of 
decision (ROD). This is a dramatic departure from CEQ's prediction in 
1981 that Federal agencies would be able to complete most EISs, the 
most intensive review of a project's environmental impacts under NEPA, 
in 12 months or less.\2\ In its most recent review, CEQ found that, 
across the Federal Government, the average time for completion of an 
EIS and issuance of a ROD was 4.5 years and the median was 3.5 
years.\3\ CEQ determined that one quarter of EISs took less than 2.2 
years, and one quarter of the EISs took more than 6 years. And these 
timelines do not necessarily include further delays associated with 
litigation over the legal sufficiency of the NEPA process or its 
resulting documentation.
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    \1\ See infra sec. I.B.3 and I.C.
    \2\ Forty Most Asked Questions Concerning CEQ's National 
Environmental Policy Act Regulations, 46 FR 18026 (Mar. 23, 1981) 
(``Forty Questions''), https://www.energy.gov/nepa/downloads/forty-most-asked-questions-concerning-ceqs-national-environmental-policy-act. ``The Council has advised agencies that under the new NEPA 
regulations even large complex energy projects would require only 
about 12 months for the completion of the entire EIS process. For 
most major actions, this period is well within the planning time 
that is needed in any event, apart from NEPA.'' Id. at Question 35.
    \3\ See infra sec. I.B.3.
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    Although other factors may contribute to project delays, the 
frequency and consistency of multi-year review processes for EISs for 
projects across the Federal Government leaves no doubt that NEPA 
implementation and related litigation is a significant factor.\4\ It is 
critical to improve NEPA implementation, not just for major projects, 
but because tens of thousands of projects and activities are subject to 
NEPA every year, many of which are important to modernizing our 
Nation's infrastructure.\5\
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    \4\ See also, Philip K. Howard, Common Good, Two Years, Not Ten: 
Redesigning Infrastructure Approvals (Sept. 2015) (``Two Years, Not 
Ten''), https://www.commongood.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2YearsNot10Years.pdf.
    \5\ As discussed in sections II.D and II.C.5, CEQ estimates that 
Federal agencies complete 176 EISs and 10,000 environmental 
assessments each year. In addition, CEQ estimates that agencies 
apply categorical exclusions to 100,000 actions annually. See infra 
sec. II.C.4.
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    As noted above, an extensive body of case law interpreting NEPA and 
CEQ's implementing regulations drives much of agencies' modern day 
practice. Though courts have correctly recognized that NEPA requires 
agencies to follow certain procedures and not to reach particular 
substantive results, the accretion of cases has not necessarily 
clarified implementation of the law. In light of the litigation risk 
such a situation presents, agencies have responded by generating 
voluminous studies analyzing impacts and alternatives well beyond the 
point where useful information is being produced and utilized by 
decision makers. In its most recent review, CEQ found that final EISs 
averaged 661 pages in length, and the median document was 447 pages.\6\ 
One quarter were 748 pages or longer. The page count and document 
length data do not include

[[Page 43306]]

appendices. The average modern EIS is more than 4 times as long as the 
150 pages contemplated by the 1978 regulations.
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    \6\ See infra sec. I.B.3.
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    By adopting these regulations following so many decades of NEPA 
practice, implementation, and litigation, CEQ is acting now to enhance 
the efficiency of the process based on its decades of experience 
overseeing Federal agency practice, and clarifying a number of key NEPA 
terms and requirements that have frequently been subject to litigation. 
The modifications and refinements reflected in the final rule will 
contribute to greater certainty and predictability in NEPA 
implementation, and thus eliminate at least in some measure the 
unnecessary and burdensome delays that have hampered national 
infrastructure and other important projects.
    In June 2018, CEQ issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
(ANPRM) requesting comment on potential updates and clarifications to 
the CEQ regulations.\7\ On January 10, 2020, CEQ published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking \8\ (NPRM or proposed rule) in the Federal Register 
proposing to update its regulations for implementing the procedural 
provisions of NEPA.
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    \7\ 83 FR 28591 (June 20, 2018).
    \8\ 85 FR 1684 (Jan. 10, 2020).
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    Following the publication of the NPRM, CEQ received approximately 
1,145,571 comments on the proposed rule.\9\ A majority of the comments 
(approximately 1,136,755) were the result of mass mail campaigns, which 
are comments with multiple signatories or groups of comments that are 
identical or very similar in form and content. CEQ received 
approximately 8,587 unique public comments of which 2,359 were 
substantive comments raising a variety of issues related to the 
rulemaking and contents of the proposed rule, including procedural, 
legal, and technical issues. Finally, 229 comments were duplicate or 
non-germane submissions, or contained only supporting materials.
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    \9\ In the NPRM, CEQ listed several methods for members of the 
public to submit written comments, including submittal to the docket 
on regulations.gov, by fax, or by mail. In addition, CEQ also 
included an email address ([email protected]) in the NPRM for 
further information. While the NPRM did not list this email address 
among the several methods for the public to provide comments, CEQ 
has considered comments received through this email address during 
the public comment period and included them in the docket on 
regulations.gov.
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    The background section below summarizes NEPA, the CEQ regulations, 
and developments since CEQ issued those regulations. Specifically, 
section I.A provides a brief summary of the NEPA statute. Section I.B 
describes the history of CEQ's regulations implementing NEPA and 
provides an overview of CEQ's numerous guidance documents and reports 
issued subsequent to the regulations. Section I.C discusses the role of 
the courts in interpreting NEPA. Section I.D provides a brief overview 
of Congress's efforts, and section I.E describes the initiatives of 
multiple administrations to reduce delays and improve implementation of 
NEPA. Finally, sections I.F and I.G provides the background on this 
rulemaking, including the ANPRM and the NPRM.
    In section II, CEQ provides a summary of the final rule, including 
changes CEQ made from the proposed rule, which comprehensively updates 
and substantially revises CEQ's prior regulations. This final rule 
modernizes and clarifies the CEQ regulations to facilitate more 
efficient, effective, and timely NEPA reviews by Federal agencies by 
simplifying regulatory requirements, codifying certain guidance and 
case law relevant to these regulations, revising the regulations to 
reflect current technologies and agency practices, eliminating obsolete 
provisions, and improving the format and readability of the 
regulations. CEQ's revisions include provisions intended to promote 
timely submission of relevant information to ensure consideration of 
such information by agencies. CEQ's revisions will provide greater 
clarity for Federal agencies, States, Tribes, localities, and the 
public, and advance the original goals of the CEQ regulations to reduce 
paperwork and delays and promote better decisions consistent with the 
national environmental policy set forth in section 101 of NEPA.
    CEQ provides a summary of the comments received on the proposed 
rule and responses in the document titled ``Update to the Regulations 
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act Final Rule Response to Comments'' \10\ (``Final Rule 
Response to Comments''). This document organizes the comments by the 
parts and sections of the proposed rule that the comment addresses, and 
includes a subsection on other general or crosscutting topics.
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    \10\ The Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act Final Rule 
Response to Comments document is available under ``Supporting 
Documents'' in the docket on regulations.gov under docket ID CEQ-
2019-0003.
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    Ultimately, the purpose of the NEPA process is to ensure informed 
decision making by Federal agencies with regard to the potential 
environmental effects of proposed major Federal actions and to make the 
public aware of the agency's decision-making process. When effective 
and well managed, the NEPA process results in more informative 
documentation, enhanced coordination, resolution of conflicts, and 
improved environmental outcomes. With this final rule, CEQ codifies 
effective agency practice and provides clarity on the requirements of 
the NEPA process.

A. National Environmental Policy Act

    Congress enacted NEPA to establish a national policy for the 
environment, provide for the establishment of CEQ, and for other 
purposes. Section 101 of NEPA sets forth a national policy ``to use all 
practicable means and measures, including financial and technical 
assistance, in a manner calculated to foster and promote the general 
welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature 
can exist in productive harmony, and [to] fulfill the social, economic, 
and other requirements of present and future generations of 
Americans.'' 42 U.S.C. 4331(a). Section 102 of NEPA establishes 
procedural requirements, applying that national policy to proposals for 
major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment by requiring Federal agencies to prepare a detailed 
statement on: (1) The environmental impact of the proposed action; (2) 
any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided; (3) 
alternatives to the proposed action; (4) the relationship between local 
short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and 
enhancement of long-term productivity; and (5) any irreversible and 
irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the 
proposed action. 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C). NEPA also established CEQ as an 
agency within the Executive Office of the President to administer 
Federal agency implementation of NEPA. 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(B), (C), (I), 
4342, 4344; see also Dep't of Transp. v. Pub. Citizen, 541 U.S. 752, 
757 (2004); Warm Springs Dam Task Force v. Gribble, 417 U.S. 1301, 
1309-10 (Douglas, J. Circuit Justice 1974).
    NEPA does not mandate particular results or substantive outcomes. 
Rather, NEPA requires Federal agencies to consider environmental 
impacts of proposed actions as part of agencies' decision-making 
processes. Additionally, NEPA does not include a private right of 
action and specifies no remedies. Challenges to agency action alleging 
noncompliance with NEPA procedures are brought under the Administrative 
Procedure Act (APA). 5

[[Page 43307]]

U.S.C. 551 et seq. Accordingly, NEPA cases proceed as APA cases. 
Limitations on APA cases and remedies thus apply to the adjudication of 
NEPA disputes.

B. Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, Guidance, and Reports

1. Regulatory History
    In 1970, President Nixon issued Executive Order (E.O.) 11514, 
titled ``Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality,'' which 
directed CEQ to ``[i]ssue guidelines to Federal agencies for the 
preparation of detailed statements on proposals for legislation and 
other Federal actions affecting the environment, as required by section 
102(2)(C) of the Act.'' \11\ CEQ issued interim guidelines in April of 
1970 and revised them in 1971 and 1973.\12\
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    \11\ 35 FR 4247 (Mar. 7, 1970), sec. 3(h).
    \12\ See 35 FR 7390 (May 12, 1970) (interim guidelines); 36 FR 
7724 (Apr. 23, 1971) (final guidelines); 38 FR 10856 (May 2, 1973) 
(proposed revisions to guidelines); 38 FR 20550 (Aug. 1, 1973) 
(revised guidelines).
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    In 1977, President Carter issued E.O. 11991, titled ``Relating to 
Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality.'' \13\ E.O. 11991 
amended section 3(h) of E.O. 11514, directing CEQ to ``[i]ssue 
regulations to Federal agencies for the implementation of the 
procedural provisions of [NEPA] . . . to make the environmental impact 
statement process more useful to decision[ ]makers and the public; and 
to reduce paperwork and the accumulation of extraneous background data, 
in order to emphasize the need to focus on real environmental issues 
and alternatives,'' and to ``require [environmental] impact statements 
to be concise, clear, and to the point, and supported by evidence that 
agencies have made the necessary environmental analyses.'' E.O. 11991 
also amended section 2 of E.O. 11514, requiring agency compliance with 
the regulations issued by CEQ. The Executive order was based on the 
President's constitutional and statutory authority, including NEPA, the 
Environmental Quality Improvement Act, 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq., and 
section 309 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7609. The President has a 
constitutional duty to ensure that the ``Laws be faithfully executed,'' 
U.S. Const. art. II, sec. 3, which may be delegated to appropriate 
officials. 3 U.S.C. 301. In signing E.O. 11991, the President delegated 
this authority to CEQ.\14\
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    \13\ 42 FR 26967 (May 25, 1977).
    \14\ The Presidential directive was consistent with the 
recommendation of the Commission on Federal Paperwork that the 
President require the development of consistent regulations and 
definitions and ensure coordination among agencies in the 
implementation of Environmental Impact Statement preparation. See 
The Report of the Commission on Federal Paperwork, Environmental 
Impact Statements 16 (Feb. 25, 1977).
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    In 1978, CEQ promulgated its ``National Environmental Policy Act, 
Regulations, Implementation of Procedural Provisions,'' 40 CFR parts 
1500-1508 (``CEQ regulations'' or ``NEPA regulations''), ``[t]o reduce 
paperwork, to reduce delays, and at the same time to produce better 
decisions [that] further the national policy to protect and enhance the 
quality of the human environment.'' \15\ The Supreme Court has 
explained that E.O. 11991 requires all ``heads of [F]ederal agencies to 
comply'' with the ``single set of uniform, mandatory regulations'' that 
CEQ issued to implement NEPA's provisions. Andrus v. Sierra Club, 442 
U.S. 347, 357 (1979).
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    \15\ 43 FR 55978 (Nov. 29, 1978); see also 44 FR 873 (Jan. 3, 
1979) (technical corrections), and 43 FR 25230 (June 9, 1978) 
(proposed rule).
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    The Supreme Court has afforded the CEQ regulations ``substantial 
deference.'' Robertson v. Methow Valley Citizens Council, 490 U.S. 332, 
355 (1989) (citing Andrus, 442 U.S. at 358); Pub. Citizen, 541 U.S. at 
757 (``The [CEQ], established by NEPA with authority to issue 
regulations interpreting it, has promulgated regulations to guide 
[F]ederal agencies in determining what actions are subject to that 
statutory requirement.'' (citing 40 CFR 1500.3)). The new regulations 
are intended to embody CEQ's interpretation of NEPA for Chevron 
purposes and to operate as legislative rules.\16\ See Chevron U.S.A., 
Inc. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842-43 (1984); see 
also Nat'l Cable & Telecomm. Ass'n v. Brand X internet Servs., 545 U.S. 
967, 980-86 (2005) (applying Chevron deference to Federal 
Communications Commission regulations); United States v. Mead Corp., 
533 U.S. 218, 227-30 (2001) (properly promulgated agency regulations 
addressing ambiguities or gaps in a statute qualify for Chevron 
deference when agencies possess the authority to issue regulations 
interpreting the statute). The Supreme Court has held that NEPA is a 
procedural statute that serves the twin aims of ensuring that agencies 
consider the significant environmental consequences of their proposed 
actions and inform the public about their decision making. Balt. Gas & 
Elec. Co. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 462 U.S. 87, 97 (1983) 
(citing Vt. Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 
435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978); Weinberger v. Catholic Action of Haw./Peace 
Educ. Project, 454 U.S. 139, 143 (1981)).
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    \16\ Even without expressly invoking Chevron here and noting 
that CEQ intends these regulations to operate as legislative rules, 
Chevron would still apply. See Guedes v. ATF, 920 F.3d 1, 23 (D.C. 
Cir. 2019) (``And for this Rule in particular, another telltale sign 
of the agency's belief that it was promulgating a rule entitled to 
Chevron deference is the Rule's invocation of Chevron by name. To be 
sure, an agency of course need not expressly invoke the Chevron 
framework to obtain Chevron deference: `Chevron is a standard of 
judicial review, not of agency action.' SoundExchange[, Inc. v. 
Copyright Royalty Bd.,] 904 F.3d [41,] 54 [(D.C. Cir. 2018)]. Still, 
the Bureau's invocation of Chevron here is powerful evidence of its 
intent to engage in an exercise of interpretive authority warranting 
Chevron treatment.'') (emphasis in original).
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    Furthermore, in describing the role of NEPA in agencies' decision-
making processes, the Supreme Court has stated, ``Congress in enacting 
NEPA, however, did not require agencies to elevate environmental 
concerns over other appropriate considerations.'' \17\ Balt. Gas & 
Elec. Co., 462 U.S. at 97 (citing Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council 
v. Karlen, 444 U.S. 223, 227 (1980) (per curiam)). Instead, NEPA 
requires agencies to analyze the environmental consequences before 
taking a major Federal action. Id. (citing Kleppe v. Sierra Club, 427 
U.S. 390, 410 n.21 (1976)). The Supreme Court has recognized that 
agencies have limited time and resources and that ``[t]he scope of the 
agency's inquiries must remain manageable if NEPA's goal of `[insuring] 
a fully informed and well-considered decision,' . . . is to be 
accomplished.'' Metro. Edison Co. v. People Against Nuclear Energy, 460 
U.S. 766, 776 (1983) (quoting Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. at 558).
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    \17\ Section 101 of NEPA provides that it is the Federal 
Government's policy ``to use all practicable means and measures . . 
. to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can 
exist in productive harmony, and [to] fulfill the social, economic, 
and other requirements of present and future generations of 
Americans.'' 42 U.S.C. 4331(a) (emphasis added).
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    CEQ has substantively amended its NEPA regulations only once, at 40 
CFR 1502.22, to replace the ``worst case'' analysis requirement with a 
provision for the consideration of incomplete or unavailable 
information regarding reasonably foreseeable significant adverse 
effects.\18\ CEQ found that the amended 40 CFR 1502.22 would ``generate 
information and discussion on those consequences of greatest concern to 
the public and of greatest relevance to the agency's decision,'' \19\ 
rather than distorting the decision-making process by overemphasizing 
highly speculative harms.\20\ The Supreme Court found this reasoning to

[[Page 43308]]

be a well-considered basis for the change, and that the new regulation 
was entitled to substantial deference. Methow Valley, 490 U.S. at 356.
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    \18\ 51 FR 15618 (Apr. 25, 1986).
    \19\ 50 FR 32234, 32237 (Aug. 9, 1985).
    \20\ 51 FR 15618, 15620 (Apr. 25, 1986).
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    The NEPA regulations direct Federal agencies to adopt their own 
implementing procedures, as necessary, in consultation with CEQ. 40 CFR 
1507.3. Under this regulation, over 85 Federal agencies and their 
subunits have developed such procedures.\21\
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    \21\ A list of agency NEPA procedures is available at https://ceq.doe.gov/laws-regulations/agency_implementing_procedures.html.
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2. CEQ Guidance and Reports
    Over the past four decades, numerous questions have been raised 
regarding appropriate implementation of NEPA and the CEQ regulations. 
Soon after the issuance of the CEQ regulations and in response to CEQ's 
review of NEPA implementation and input from Federal, State, and local 
officials, including NEPA practitioners, CEQ issued the ``Forty Most 
Asked Questions Concerning CEQ's National Environmental Policy Act 
Regulations'' \22\ in 1981 (``Forty Questions''). This guidance covered 
a wide range of topics including alternatives, coordination among 
applicants, lead and cooperating agencies, and integration of NEPA 
documents with analysis for other environmental statutes. In addition, 
CEQ has periodically examined the effectiveness of the NEPA process and 
issued a number of reports on NEPA implementation. In some instances, 
these reports led to additional guidance. These documents have been 
intended to provide guidance and clarifications with respect to various 
aspects of the implementation of NEPA and the definitions in the CEQ 
regulations, and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the 
environmental review process.\23\
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    \22\ Forty Questions, supra note 2.
    \23\ See https://www.energy.gov/nepa/ceq-guidance-documents.
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    In January 1997, CEQ issued ``The National Environmental Policy 
Act: A Study of Its Effectiveness After Twenty-five Years.'' \24\ In 
that report, CEQ acknowledged that NEPA has ensured that agencies 
adequately analyze the potential environmental consequences of their 
actions and bring the public into the decision-making processes of 
Federal agencies. However, CEQ also identified matters of concern to 
participants in the study, including concerns with overly lengthy 
documents that may not enhance or improve decision making,\25\ and 
concerns that agencies may seek to `` `litigation-proof' documents, 
increasing costs and time but not necessarily quality.'' \26\ The 
report further stated that ``[o]ther matters of concern to participants 
in the Study were the length of NEPA processes, the extensive detail of 
NEPA analyses, and the sometimes confusing overlay of other laws and 
regulations.'' \27\ The participants in the study identified five 
elements of the NEPA process' collaborative framework (strategic 
planning, public information and input, interagency coordination, 
interdisciplinary place-based decision making, and science-based 
flexible management) as critical to effective and efficient NEPA 
implementation.
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    \24\ https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-publications/nepa25fn.pdf.
    \25\ Id. at iii.
    \26\ Id.
    \27\ Id. In the 50 years since the passage of NEPA, Congress has 
amended or enacted a number of other environmental laws that may 
also apply to proposed Federal agency actions, such as the 
Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and 
other substantive statutes. See discussion infra sec. I.D. 
Consistent with 40 CFR 1502.25, longstanding agency practice has 
been to use the NEPA process as the umbrella procedural statute, 
integrating compliance with these laws into the NEPA review and 
discussing them in the NEPA document. However, this practice 
sometimes leads to confusion as to whether an agency does an 
analysis to comply with NEPA or another, potentially substantive, 
environmental law.
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    In 2002, the Chairman of CEQ established a NEPA task force, 
composed of Federal agency officials, to examine NEPA implementation by 
focusing on (1) technology and information management and security; (2) 
Federal and intergovernmental collaboration; (3) programmatic analyses 
and tiering; (4) adaptive management and monitoring; (5) categorical 
exclusions (CEs); and (6) environmental assessments (EAs). In 2003, the 
task force issued a report \28\ recommending actions to improve and 
modernize the NEPA process, leading to additional guidance documents 
and handbooks.
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    \28\ See The NEPA Task Force Report to the Council on 
Environmental Quality, Modernizing NEPA Implementation (Sept. 2003) 
(``NEPA Task Force Report''), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-publications/report/finalreport.pdf.
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    Over the past 4 decades, CEQ has issued over 30 documents on a wide 
variety of topics to provide guidance and clarifications to assist 
Federal agencies in more efficiently and effectively implementing the 
NEPA regulations.\29\ While CEQ has sought to provide clarity and 
direction related to implementation of the regulations and the Act 
through the issuance of guidance, agencies continue to face 
implementation challenges. Further, the documentation and timelines for 
completing environmental reviews can be very lengthy, and the process 
can be complex and costly.
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    \29\ See, e.g., Emergencies and the National Environmental 
Policy Act (Oct. 2016) (``Emergencies Guidance''), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/nepa-practice/Emergencies_and_NEPA.pdf; Effective 
Use of Programmatic NEPA Reviews (Dec. 18, 2014) (``Programmatic 
Guidance''), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-regulations-and-guidance/Effective_Use_of_Programmatic_NEPA_Reviews_Final_Dec2014_searchable.pdf; NEPA and NHPA: A Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106 
(Mar. 2013), https://ceq.doe.gov/publications/nepa-handbooks.html; 
Memorandum on Environmental Conflict Resolution (Nov. 28, 2005), as 
expanded by Memorandum on Environmental Collaboration and Conflict 
Resolution (Sept. 7, 2012), https://ceq.doe.gov/nepa-practice/environmental-collaboration-and-conflict-resolution.html; Final 
Guidance on Improving the Process for Preparing Efficient and Timely 
Environmental Reviews Under the National Environmental Policy Act, 
77 FR 14473 (Mar. 12, 2012) (``Timely Environmental Reviews 
Guidance''), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-regulations-and-guidance/Improving_NEPA_Efficiencies_06Mar2012.pdf; Final Guidance for 
Federal Departments and Agencies on the Appropriate Use of 
Mitigation and Monitoring and Clarifying the Appropriate Use of 
Mitigated Findings of No Significant Impact, 76 FR 3843 (Jan. 21, 
2011) (``Mitigation Guidance''), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-regulations-and-guidance/Mitigation_and_Monitoring_Guidance_14Jan2011.pdf; Council on 
Environmental Quality, Final Guidance for Federal Departments and 
Agencies on Establishing, Applying, and Revising Categorical 
Exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act, 75 FR 75628 
(Dec. 6, 2010) (``CE Guidance''), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-regulations-and-guidance/NEPA_CE_Guidance_Nov232010.pdf; Letter from 
the Hon. James L. Connaughton, Chairman, Council on Environmental 
Quality, to the Hon. Norman Y. Mineta, Secretary, Department of 
Transportation (May 12, 2003) (``Connaughton Letter''), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-regulations-and-guidance/CEQ-DOT_PurposeNeed_May-2013.pdf; Considering Cumulative Effects Under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (Jan. 1997) (``Cumulative 
Effects Guidance''), https://ceq.doe.gov/publications/cumulative_effects.html; Environmental Justice: Guidance under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (Dec. 10, 1997) (``EJ Guidance''), 
https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-regulations-and-guidance/regs/ej/justice.pdf; Forty Questions, supra note 2. CEQ also issued a 
resource for the public, A Citizen's Guide to the NEPA: Having Your 
Voice Heard (Dec. 2007), https://ceq.doe.gov/get-involved/citizens_guide_to_nepa.html.
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    In 2018, CEQ and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a 
memorandum titled ``One Federal Decision Framework for the 
Environmental Review and Authorization Process for Major Infrastructure 
Projects under E.O. 13807'' (``OFD Framework Guidance'').\30\ CEQ and 
OMB issued this guidance pursuant to E.O. 13807, titled ``Establishing 
Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and 
Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects,'' \31\ to improve 
agency coordination for infrastructure

[[Page 43309]]

projects requiring an EIS and permits or other authorizations from 
multiple agencies and to improve the timeliness of the environmental 
review process. See E.O. 13807, infra sec. I.E. Consistent with the OFD 
Framework Guidance, supra note 30, Federal agencies signed a memorandum 
of understanding committing to implement the One Federal Decision (OFD) 
policy for major infrastructure projects, including by committing to 
establishing a joint schedule for such projects, preparation of a 
single EIS and joint ROD, elevation of delays and dispute resolution, 
and setting a goal of completing environmental reviews for such 
projects within two years.\32\ Subsequently, CEQ and OMB issued 
guidance for the Secretary of Transportation regarding the 
applicability of the OFD policy to States under the Surface 
Transportation Project Delivery Program,\33\ and for the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regarding the applicability of the 
OFD policy to entities assuming HUD environmental review 
responsibilities.\34\ CEQ also has provided direction to the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relating to the requirement for 
joint RODs under the OFD policy.\35\
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    \30\ M-18-13 (Mar. 20, 2018), https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/M-18-13.pdf.
    \31\ 82 FR 40463 (Aug. 24, 2017).
    \32\ See Memorandum of Understanding Implementing One Federal 
Decision under Executive Order 13807 (2018), https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MOU-One-Federal-Decision-m-18-13-Part-2-1.pdf.
    \33\ Guidance on the Applicability of E.O. 13807 to States with 
NEPA Assignment Authority Under the Surface Transportation Project 
Delivery Program, M-19-11 (Feb. 26, 2019), https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20190226OMB-CEQ327.pdf.
    \34\ Guidance on the Applicability of E.O. 13807 to Responsible 
Entities Assuming Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Environmental Review Responsibilities, M-19-20 (June 28, 2019), 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/M-19-20.pdf.
    \35\ See Letter from the Hon. Mary B. Neumayr, Chairman, Council 
on Environmental Quality, to the Hon. Neil Chatterjee, Chairman, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Comm'n (Aug. 22, 2019), https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20190822FERCOFDLetter.pdf.
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3. Environmental Impact Statement Timelines and Page Count Reports
    CEQ also has conducted reviews and prepared reports on the length 
of time it takes for agencies to prepare EISs and the length of these 
documents. These reviews found that the process for preparing EISs is 
taking much longer than CEQ advised, and that the documents are far 
longer than the CEQ regulations and guidance recommended. In December 
2018, CEQ issued a report compiling information relating to the 
timelines for preparing EISs during the period of 2010-2017, and the 
NPRM included a summary of the report. CEQ has since updated this 
analysis to include EISs completed in 2018, and this section reflects 
the updated data.\36\
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    \36\ See Council on Environmental Quality, Environmental Impact 
Statement Timelines (2010-2018), (June 12, 2020), https://ceq.doe.gov/nepa-practice/eis-timelines.html.
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    While CEQ's Forty Questions states that the time for an EIS, even 
for a complex project, should not exceed 1 year,\37\ CEQ found that, 
across the Federal Government, the average time for completion of an 
EIS and issuance of a ROD was 4.5 years and the median was 3.5 years. 
One quarter of the EISs took less than 2.2 years, and one quarter of 
the EISs took more than 6 years.
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    \37\ Forty Questions, supra note 2, at Question 35.
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    As reflected in the timelines report, the period from publication 
of a NOI to prepare an EIS to the notice of availability of the draft 
EIS took, on average, 58.4 percent of the total time, while preparing 
the final EIS, including addressing comments received on the draft EIS, 
took, on average, 32.2 percent of the total time. The period from the 
final EIS to publication of the ROD took, on average, 9.4 percent of 
the total time. This report recognized that EIS timelines vary widely 
and many factors may influence the timing of the document, including 
variations in the scope and complexity of the actions, variations in 
the extent of work done prior to issuance of the NOI, and suspension of 
EIS activities due to external factors.
    Additionally, in July 2019, CEQ issued a report on the length, by 
page count, of EISs (excluding appendices) finalized during the period 
of 2013-2017, and the NPRM included a summary of the report. CEQ has 
since updated this analysis to include EISs completed in 2018, and this 
section reflects the updated data.
    While the CEQ regulations include recommended page limits for the 
text of final EISs of normally less than 150 pages, or normally less 
than 300 pages for proposals of ``unusual scope or complexity,'' 40 CFR 
1502.7, CEQ found that many EISs are significantly longer. In 
particular, CEQ found that across all Federal agencies, draft EISs 
averaged 575 pages in total, with a median document length of 397 
pages.\38\ One quarter of the draft EISs were 279 pages or shorter, and 
one quarter were 621 pages or longer. For final EISs, the average 
document length was 661 pages, and the median document length was 447 
pages. One quarter of the final EISs were 286 pages or shorter, and one 
quarter were 748 pages or longer. On average, the change in document 
length from draft EIS to final EIS was an additional 86 pages or a 15 
percent increase.
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    \38\ See Council on Environmental Quality, Length of 
Environmental Impact Statements (2013-2018), (June 12, 2020) (``CEQ 
Length of EISs Report''), https://ceq.doe.gov/nepa-practice/eis-length.html.
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    With respect to final EISs, CEQ found that approximately 7 percent 
were 150 pages or shorter, and 27 percent were 300 pages or 
shorter.\39\ Similar to the conclusions of its EIS timelines study, CEQ 
noted that a number of factors may influence the length of EISs, 
including variation in the scope and complexity of the decisions that 
the EIS is designed to inform, the degree to which NEPA documentation 
is used to document compliance with other statutes, and considerations 
relating to potential legal challenges. Moreover, variation in EIS 
length may reflect differences in management, oversight, and 
contracting practices among agencies that could result in longer 
documents.
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    \39\ The page counts compiled for 2010-2017 include the text of 
the EIS as well as supporting content to which the page limit in 40 
CFR 1502.7 does not apply. For 2018, CEQ analyzed the data to 
determine the length of the text of the EISs and found that 19 
percent of the final EISs were 150 pages or shorter and 51 percent 
were 300 pages or shorter.
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    While there can be many factors affecting the timelines and length 
of EISs, CEQ has concluded that revisions to the CEQ regulations to 
advance more timely reviews and reduce unnecessary paperwork are 
warranted. CEQ has determined that improvements to agency processes, 
such as earlier solicitation of information from States, Tribes, and 
local governments and the public, and improved coordination in the 
development of EISs, can achieve more useful and timely documents to 
support agency decision making.

C. Judicial Review of Agency NEPA Compliance

    NEPA is the most litigated environmental statute in the United 
States.\40\ Over the past 50 years, Federal courts have issued an 
extensive body of case law addressing appropriate implementation and 
interpretation of NEPA and the CEQ regulations.\41\ The Supreme Court 
has directly addressed NEPA in 17 decisions, and the U.S. district and 
appellate courts issue approximately 100 to 140 decisions

[[Page 43310]]

each year interpreting NEPA. The Supreme Court has construed NEPA and 
the CEQ regulations in light of a ``rule of reason,'' which ensures 
that agencies determine whether and to what extent to prepare an EIS 
based on the usefulness of information to the decision-making process. 
See Marsh v. Or. Nat. Res. Council, 490 U.S. 360, 373-74 (1989). 
``Although [NEPA] procedures are almost certain to affect the agency's 
substantive decision, it is now well settled that NEPA itself does not 
mandate particular results, but simply prescribes the necessary 
process.'' Methow Valley, 490 U.S. at 350 (citing Strycker's Bay 
Neighborhood Council, Inc., 444 U.S. at 227-28; Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. at 
558; see also Pub. Citizen, 541 U.S. at 756-57 (``NEPA imposes only 
procedural requirements on [F]ederal agencies with a particular focus 
on requiring agencies to undertake analyses of the environmental impact 
of their proposals and actions.'' (citing Methow Valley, 490 U.S. at 
349-50)). The thousands of decisions interpreting NEPA and the current 
CEQ regulations being amended here drive much of agencies' modern-day 
practice. A challenge for agencies is that courts have interpreted key 
terms and requirements differently, adding to the complexity of 
environmental reviews. For example, in 2018 and 2019, the U.S. Courts 
of Appeals issued 56 substantive decisions on a range of topics, 
including assessment of impacts, sufficiency of alternatives, whether 
an agency's action qualified as Federal action, and purpose and need 
statements.\42\ As discussed below, the final rule codifies 
longstanding case law in some instances, and, in other instances, 
clarifies the meaning of the regulations where there is a lack of 
uniformity in judicial interpretation of NEPA and the CEQ regulations.
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    \40\ James E. Salzman and Barton H. Thompson, Jr., Environmental 
Law and Policy 340 (5th ed. 2019) (``Perhaps surprisingly, there 
have been thousands of NEPA suits. It might seem strange that NEPA's 
seemingly innocuous requirement of preparing an EIS has led to more 
lawsuits than any other environmental statute.'').
    \41\ The 2019 edition of NEPA Law and Litigation includes a 115-
page Table of Cases decisions construing NEPA. See Daniel R. 
Mandelker et al., NEPA Law and Litigation, Table of Cases (2d ed. 
2019).
    \42\ National Association of Environmental Professionals, 2019 
Annual NEPA Report of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
Practice (2020) at 30-31, https://naep.memberclicks.net/assets/annual-report/2019_NEPA_Annual_Report/NEPA_Annual_Report_2019.pdf; 
National Association of Environmental Professionals, 2018 Annual 
NEPA Report of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Practice 
(2019) at 41-51, https://naep.memberclicks.net/assets/documents/2019/NEPA_Annual_Report_2018.pdf.
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D. Statutory Developments

    Since the enactment of NEPA in 1970, Congress has amended or 
enacted a large number of substantive environmental statutes. These 
have included significant amendments to the Clean Water Act and Clean 
Air Act, establishment of new Federal land management standards and 
planning processes for National forests, public lands, and coastal 
zones, and statutory requirements to conserve fish, wildlife, and plant 
species.\43\ Additionally, the consideration of the effects on historic 
properties under the National Historic Preservation Act is typically 
integrated into the NEPA review.\44\ NEPA has served as the umbrella 
procedural statute, integrating these laws into NEPA reviews and 
discussing them in NEPA documents.
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    \43\ See, e.g., the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q; Clean 
Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251-1388; Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 
U.S.C. 1451-1466; Federal Land Policy and Management Act, 43 U.S.C. 
1701-1787; Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 
1974, 16 U.S.C. 1600-1614; Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801-1884; Endangered Species Act, 16 
U.S.C. 1531-1544; Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. 2701-2762; 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. 1201, 
1202, and 1211; and Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601-9675.
    \44\ Similar to NEPA, section 106 (54 U.S.C. 306108) of the 
National Historic Preservation Act is a procedural statute.
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    Over the past two decades and multiple administrations, Congress 
has also undertaken efforts to facilitate more efficient environmental 
reviews by Federal agencies, and has enacted a number of statutes aimed 
at improving the implementation of NEPA, including in the context of 
infrastructure projects. In particular, Congress has enacted 
legislation to improve coordination among agencies, integrate NEPA with 
other environmental reviews, and bring more transparency to the NEPA 
process.
    In 2005, Congress enacted 23 U.S.C. 139, ``Efficient environmental 
reviews for project decisionmaking,'' a streamlined environmental 
review process for highway, transit, and multimodal transportation 
projects (the ``section 139 process''), in the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59, sec. 6002(a), 119 Stat. 1144, 1857. 
Congress amended section 139 with additional provisions designed to 
improve the NEPA process in the 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 
21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141, sec. 1305-1309, 126 
Stat. 405, and the 2015 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) 
Act, Public Law 114-94, sec. 1304, 129 Stat. 1312, 1378. Section 139 
provides for an environmental review process that is based on and 
codifies many aspects of the NEPA regulations, including provisions 
relating to lead and cooperating agencies, concurrent environmental 
reviews in a single NEPA document, coordination on the development of 
the purpose and need statement and reasonable alternatives, and 
adoption of environmental documents. Further, section 139 provides for 
referral to CEQ for issue resolution, similar to part 1504 of the NEPA 
regulations, and allows for the use of errata sheets, consistent with 
40 CFR 1503.4(c).\45\
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    \45\ To facilitate the NEPA process for transportation projects 
subject to section 139, the statute specifically calls for 
development of a coordination plan, including development of a 
schedule, and publicly tracking the implementation of that schedule 
through use of the Permitting Dashboard. See infra sec. I.E. In 
addition, the section 139 process provides for ``participating'' 
agencies, which are any agencies invited to participate in the 
environmental review process. Section 139 also requires, to the 
maximum extent practicable, issuance of a combined final EIS and 
ROD.
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    When Congress enacted section 2045 of the Water Resources 
Development Act of 2007, Public Law 110-114, 121 Stat. 1041, 1103, it 
created a similar environmental review provision for water resources 
development projects by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). 33 
U.S.C. 2348.\46\ This project acceleration provision also requires a 
coordinated environmental review process, provides for dispute 
resolution, and codifies aspects of the NEPA regulations such as lead 
and cooperating agencies, concurrent environmental reviews, and the 
establishment of CEs. Section 2348(o) also directs the Corps to consult 
with CEQ on the development of guidance for implementing this 
provision.
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    \46\ Congress significantly revised this provision in the Water 
Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, Public Law 113-121, 
sec. 1005(a)(1), 128 Stat. 1193 1199.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In 2015 Congress enacted Title 41 of the FAST Act (FAST-41), to 
provide for a more efficient environmental review and permitting 
process for ``covered projects.'' See Public Law 114-94, sec. 41001-
41014, 129 Stat. 1312, 1741 (42 U.S.C. 4370m--4370m-12). These are 
projects that require Federal environmental review under NEPA, are 
expected to exceed $200 million, and involve the construction of 
infrastructure for certain energy production, electricity transmission, 
water resource projects, broadband, pipelines, manufacturing, and other 
sectors. Id. FAST-41 codified certain roles and responsibilities 
required by the NEPA regulations. In particular, FAST-41 imports the 
concepts of lead and cooperating agencies, and the different levels of 
NEPA analysis--EISs, EAs, and CEs. Consistent with 40 CFR 1501.5(e) 
through (f), CEQ is required to resolve any dispute over designation of 
a facilitating or lead agency for a covered project. 42 U.S.C. 4370m-
2(a)(6)(B). Section 4370m-4 codified several requirements from the CEQ

[[Page 43311]]

regulations, including the requirement for concurrent environmental 
reviews, which is consistent with 40 CFR 1500.2(c), 1501.7(a)(6), and 
1502.25(a), and the tools of adoption, incorporation by reference, 
supplementation, and use of State documents, consistent with 40 CFR 
1506.3, 1502.21, 1502.9(c), and 1506.2.\47\ Finally, 42 U.S.C. 4370m-4 
addresses interagency coordination on key aspects of the NEPA process, 
including scoping (40 CFR 1501.7), identification of the range of 
reasonable alternatives for study in an EIS (40 CFR 1502.14), and the 
public comment process (40 CFR part 1503).
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    \47\ For covered projects, section 4370m-4 authorizes lead 
agencies to adopt or incorporate by reference existing environmental 
analyses and documentation prepared under State laws and procedures 
if the analyses and documentation meet certain requirements. 42 
U.S.C. 4370m-4(b)(1)(A)(i). This provision also requires that the 
lead agency, in consultation with CEQ, determine that the analyses 
and documentation were prepared using a process that allowed for 
public participation and consideration of alternatives, 
environmental consequences, and other required analyses that are 
substantially equivalent to what a Federal agency would have 
prepared pursuant to NEPA. Id.
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    To ensure a timely NEPA process so that important infrastructure 
projects can move forward, Congress has also established shorter 
statutes of limitations for challenges to certain types of projects. 
SAFETEA-LU created a 180-day statute of limitations for highway or 
public transportation capital projects, which MAP-21 later reduced to 
150 days. 23 U.S.C. 139(l). The Water Resources Reform and Development 
Act of 2014 established a three-year statute of limitations for 
judicial review of any permits, licenses, or other approvals for water 
resources development project studies. 33 U.S.C. 2348(k). Most recently 
in FAST-41, Congress established a two-year statute of limitations for 
covered projects. 42 U.S.C. 4370m-6.
    There are a number of additional instances where Congress has 
enacted legislation to facilitate more timely environmental reviews. 
For example, similar to the provisions described above, there are other 
statutes where Congress has called for a coordinated and concurrent 
environmental review. See, e.g., 33 U.S.C. 408(b) (concurrent review 
for river and harbor permits); 49 U.S.C. 40128 (coordination on 
environmental reviews for air tour management plans for national 
parks); 49 U.S.C. 47171 (expedited and coordinated environmental review 
process for airport capacity enhancement projects).
    Additionally, Congress has established or directed agencies to 
establish CEs to facilitate NEPA compliance. See, e.g., 16 U.S.C. 
6554(d) (applied silvicultural assessment and research treatments); 16 
U.S.C. 6591d (hazardous fuels reduction projects to carry out forest 
restoration treatments); 16 U.S.C. 6591e (vegetation management 
activity in greater sage-grouse or mule deer habitat); 33 U.S.C. 2349 
(actions to repair, reconstruct, or rehabilitate water resources 
projects in response to emergencies); 42 U.S.C. 15942 (certain 
activities for the purpose of exploration or development of oil or 
gas); 43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(5) (development and approval of vegetation 
management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance plans); 
MAP-21, Public Law 112-141, sec. 1315 (actions to repair or reconstruct 
roads, highways, or bridges damaged by emergencies), 1316 (projects 
within the operational right-of-way), and 1317 (projects with limited 
Federal assistance); FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Public 
Law 112-95, sec. 213(c), 126 Stat. 11, 46 (navigation performance and 
area navigation procedures); and Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, 
Public Law 111-8, sec. 423, 123 Stat. 524, 748 (Lake Tahoe Basin 
Management Unit hazardous fuel reduction projects).
    Further, in the context of emergency response, including economic 
crisis, Congress has enacted legislation to facilitate timely NEPA 
reviews or to exempt certain actions from NEPA review. Congress has 
directed the use or development of alternative arrangements in 
accordance with 40 CFR 1506.11 for reconstruction of transportation 
facilities damaged in an emergency (FAST Act, Pub. L. 114-94, sec. 
1432, 129 Stat. 1312, 1429) and for projects by the Departments of the 
Interior and Commerce to address invasive species (Water Infrastructure 
Improvements for the Nation Act, Pub. L. 114-322, sec. 4010(e)(3), 130 
Stat. 1628, 1877). Section 1609(c) of the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009 directed agencies to complete environmental 
reviews under NEPA on an expedited basis using the most efficient 
applicable process. Public Law 111-5, sec. 1609, 123 Stat. 115, 304.
    In 2013, Congress also enacted section 429 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (``Stafford 
Act''), 42 U.S.C. 5189g, which directed the President, in consultation 
with CEQ and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, to 
``establish an expedited and unified interagency review process to 
ensure compliance with environmental and historic requirements under 
Federal law relating to disaster recovery projects, in order to 
expedite the recovery process, consistent with applicable law.'' Sandy 
Recovery Improvement Act of 2013, Public Law 113-2, sec. 1106, 127 
Stat. 4, 45-46. This unified Federal environmental and historic 
preservation review (UFR) process is a framework for coordinating 
Federal agency environmental and historic preservation reviews for 
disaster recovery projects associated with presidentially declared 
disasters under the Stafford Act. The goal of the UFR process is to 
enhance the ability of Federal environmental review and authorization 
processes to inform and expedite disaster recovery decisions for grant 
applicants and other potential beneficiaries of disaster assistance by 
improving coordination and consistency across Federal agencies, and 
assisting agencies in better leveraging their resources and tools.\48\
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    \48\ See generally Memorandum of Understanding Establishing the 
Unified Federal Environmental and Historic Preservation Review 
Process for Disaster Recovery Projects (July 29, 2014), https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1414507626204-f156c4795571b85a4f8e1c1f4c4b7de1/Final_Signed_UFR_MOU_9_24_14_508_ST.PDF.
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    Finally, in some instances, Congress has exempted actions from 
NEPA. In 1996, Congress enacted the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act, which authorized the waiver of NEPA for 
the construction of the physical barriers and roads between the United 
States and Mexico border when necessary to ``ensure expeditious 
construction.'' Public Law 104-208, sec. 102(c), 110 Stat. 3009.\49\ In 
2013, Congress exempted certain disaster recovery actions or financial 
assistance to restore ``a facility substantially to its condition prior 
to the disaster or emergency.'' 42 U.S.C. 5159. In 2020, Congress 
enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which 
created an exemption from NEPA for the General Services 
Administration's acquisition of real property and interests in real 
property or improvements in real property in response to coronavirus in

[[Page 43312]]

conjunction with the provision of additional funding to prevent, 
prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. Public Law 116-136, Div. 
B.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred 
responsibility for the construction of border barriers from the 
Attorney General to the Department of Homeland Security. Public Law 
107-296, 116 Stat. 2135. In 2005, the REAL ID Act amended the waiver 
authority of section 102(c) expanding the Secretary of DHS' 
authority to waive ``all legal requirements'' that the Secretary, in 
his or her own discretion, determines ``necessary to ensure 
expeditious construction'' of certain ``barriers and roads.'' Public 
Law 109-13, Div. B, tit. I, sec. 102, 119 Stat. 231, 302, 306. It 
also added a judicial review provision that limited the district 
court's jurisdiction to hear any causes or claims concerning the 
Secretary's waiver authority to solely constitutional claims. Id. 
sec. 102(c)(2)(A). Further, the provision directed that any review 
of the district court's decision be raised by petition for a writ of 
certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States. Id. sec. 
102(c)(2)(C). See In re Border Infrastructure Envtl. Litig., 284 F. 
Supp. 3d 1092 (S.D. Cal. 2018).
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    These statutes reflect that Congress has recognized that the 
environmental review process can be more efficient and effective, 
including for infrastructure projects, and that in certain 
circumstances, Congress has determined it appropriate to exempt certain 
actions from NEPA review. Congress also has identified specific process 
improvements that can accelerate environmental reviews, including 
improved interagency coordination, concurrent reviews, and increased 
transparency.

E. Presidential Directives

    Over the past two decades and multiple administrations, Presidents 
also have recognized the need to improve the environmental review 
process to make it more timely and efficient, and have directed 
agencies, through Executive orders and Presidential memoranda, to 
undertake various initiatives to address these issues. In 2002, 
President Bush issued E.O. 13274 titled ``Environmental Stewardship and 
Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews,'' \50\ which stated that 
the development and implementation of transportation infrastructure 
projects in an efficient and environmentally sound manner is essential, 
and directed agencies to conduct environmental reviews for 
transportation projects in a timely manner.
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    \50\ 67 FR 59449 (Sept. 23, 2002).
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    In 2011, President Obama's memorandum titled ``Speeding 
Infrastructure Development Through More Efficient and Effective 
Permitting and Environmental Review'' \51\ directed certain agencies to 
identify up to three high-priority infrastructure projects for 
expedited environmental review and permitting decisions to be tracked 
publicly on a ``centralized, online tool.'' This requirement led to the 
creation of what is now the Permitting Dashboard, 
www.permits.performance.gov.
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    \51\ https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-201100601/pdf/DCPD-201100601.pdf.
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    In 2012, E.O. 13604, titled ``Improving Performance of Federal 
Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects,'' \52\ established an 
interagency Steering Committee on Federal Infrastructure Permitting and 
Review Process Improvement (``Steering Committee'') to facilitate 
improvements in Federal permitting and review processes for 
infrastructure projects. The Executive order directed the Steering 
Committee to develop a plan ``to significantly reduce the aggregate 
time required to make Federal permitting and review decisions on 
infrastructure projects while improving outcomes for communities and 
the environment.'' Similarly, E.O. 13616, titled ``Accelerating 
Broadband Infrastructure Deployment,'' \53\ established an interagency 
working group to, among other things, avoid duplicative reviews and 
coordinate review processes to advance broadband deployment.
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    \52\ 77 FR 18887 (Mar. 28, 2012).
    \53\ 77 FR 36903 (June 20, 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A 2013 Presidential Memorandum titled ``Modernizing Federal 
Infrastructure Review and Permitting Regulations, Policies, and 
Procedures'' \54\ directed the Steering Committee established by E.O. 
13604 to work with agencies, OMB, and CEQ to ``modernize Federal 
infrastructure review and permitting regulations, policies, and 
procedures to significantly reduce the aggregate time required by the 
Federal Government to make decisions in the review and permitting of 
infrastructure projects, while improving environmental and community 
outcomes'' and develop a plan to achieve this goal. Among other things, 
the memorandum directed that the plan create process efficiencies, 
including additional use of concurrent and integrated reviews; expand 
coordination with State, Tribal, and local governments; and expand the 
use of information technology tools. CEQ and OMB led the effort to 
develop a comprehensive plan to modernize the environmental review and 
permitting process while improving environmental and community 
outcomes, including budget proposals for funding and new authorities. 
Following the development of the plan, CEQ continued to work with 
agencies to improve the permitting process, including through expanded 
collection of timeframe metrics on the Permitting Dashboard. In late 
2015, these ongoing efforts were superseded by the enactment of FAST-
41, which codified the use of the Permitting Dashboard, established the 
Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (``Permitting 
Council''), and established other requirements for managing the 
environmental review and permitting process for covered infrastructure 
projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ 78 FR 30733 (May 22, 2013).
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    On August 15, 2017, President Trump issued E.O. 13807 titled 
``Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental 
Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects.'' \55\ 
Section 5(e)(i) directed CEQ to develop an initial list of actions to 
enhance and modernize the Federal environmental review and 
authorization process, including issuing such regulations as CEQ deems 
necessary to: (1) Ensure optimal interagency coordination of 
environmental review and authorization decisions; (2) ensure that 
multi-agency environmental reviews and authorization decisions are 
conducted in a manner that is concurrent, synchronized, timely, and 
efficient; (3) provide for use of prior Federal, State, Tribal, and 
local environmental studies, analysis, and decisions; and (4) ensure 
that agencies apply NEPA in a manner that reduces unnecessary burdens 
and delays, including by using CEQ's authority to interpret NEPA to 
simplify and accelerate the NEPA review process. In response to E.O. 
13807, CEQ published an initial list of actions and stated its intent 
to review its existing NEPA regulations in order to identify potential 
revisions to update and clarify these regulations.\56\
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    \55\ 82 FR 40463 (Aug. 24, 2017).
    \56\ 82 FR 43226 (Sept. 14, 2017).
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F. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    Consistent with E.O. 13807 and CEQ's initial list of actions, and 
given the length of time since CEQ issued its regulations, on June 20, 
2018, CEQ published an ANPRM titled ``Update to the Regulations for 
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act.'' \57\ The ANPRM requested public comments on how CEQ could 
ensure a more efficient, timely, and effective NEPA process consistent 
with the Act's national environmental policy and provided for a 30-day 
comment period.\58\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ 83 FR 28591 (June 20, 2018).
    \58\ In response to comments, CEQ extended the comment period 31 
additional days to August 20, 2018. 83 FR 32071 (July 11, 2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ANPRM requested comment on potential revisions to update and 
clarify the NEPA regulations, and included a list of questions on 
specific aspects of the regulations. For example, with respect to the 
NEPA process, the ANPRM asked whether there are provisions that CEQ 
could revise to ensure more efficient environmental reviews and 
authorization decisions, such as facilitating agency use of existing 
environmental studies, analyses and decisions, as well as improving 
interagency coordination. The ANPRM also requested comments on the 
scope of NEPA reviews, including whether CEQ should revise, clarify, or 
add definitions. The ANPRM also asked whether additional revisions 
relating to

[[Page 43313]]

environmental documentation issued pursuant to NEPA, including CEs, 
EAs, EISs, and other documents, would be appropriate. Finally, the 
ANPRM requested general comments, including whether there were obsolete 
provisions that CEQ could update to reflect new technologies or make 
the process more efficient, or that CEQ could revise to reduce 
unnecessary burdens or delays.
    In response to the ANPRM, CEQ received over 12,500 comments, which 
are available for public review.\59\ These included comments from a 
wide range of stakeholders, including States, Tribes, localities, 
environmental organizations, trade associations, NEPA practitioners, 
and interested members of the public. While some commenters opposed any 
updates to the regulations, other commenters urged CEQ to consider 
potential revisions. Though the approaches to the update of the NEPA 
regulations varied, most of the substantive comments supported some 
degree of updating of the regulations. Many noted that overly lengthy 
documents and the time required for the NEPA process remain real and 
legitimate concerns despite the NEPA regulations' explicit direction 
with respect to reducing paperwork and delays. In general, numerous 
commenters requested that CEQ consider revisions to modernize its 
regulations, reduce unnecessary burdens and costs, and make the NEPA 
process more efficient, effective, and timely.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ See https://www.regulations.gov, docket no. CEQ-2018-0001.
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G. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    On January 9, 2020, President Trump announced the release of CEQ's 
NPRM titled ``Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act'' and the rule was 
published in the Federal Register on January 10, 2020.\60\ The NPRM 
provided a 60-day comment period, and the comment period ended on March 
10, 2020.
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    \60\ Supra note 8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ hosted two public hearings in Denver, Colorado on February 11, 
2020, and in Washington, DC on February 25, 2020.\61\ CEQ also notified 
all federally recognized Tribes and over 400 interested groups, 
including State, Tribal, and local officials, environmental 
organizations, trade associations, NEPA practitioners, and interested 
members of the public representing a broad range of diverse views, that 
CEQ had issued the proposed rule for public comment.\62\ Additionally, 
CEQ made information to aid the public's review of the proposed rule 
available on its websites at www.whitehouse.gov/ceq and www.nepa.gov, 
including a redline version of the proposed changes to the regulations 
posted on www.regulations.gov, along with a presentation on the 
proposed rule and other background information.\63\ CEQ also conducted 
additional public outreach to solicit comments, including meetings with 
Tribal representatives in Denver, Colorado, Anchorage, Alaska, and 
Washington, DC.\64\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ Transcripts of the two public hearings with copies of 
testimony and written comments submitted at the hearings are 
available in the docket on www.regulations.gov, docket ID CEQ-2019-
0003.
    \62\ Notices are available under ``Supporting Documents'' in the 
docket, www.regulations.gov, docket ID CEQ-2019-0003, https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=25&so=DESC&sb=commentDueDate&po=0&dct=SR%2BO&D=CEQ-2019-0003.
    \63\ Id.
    \64\ CEQ also includes meeting summaries under supplemental 
materials. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to the NPRM, CEQ received comments from a broad range 
of stakeholders on a diversity of issues relating to the proposed rule. 
These included comments from members of Congress, State, Tribal, and 
local officials, environmental organizations, trade associations, NEPA 
practitioners, and interested members of the public. CEQ also received 
a large number of campaign comments, including comments with multiple 
signatories or groups of comments that were identical or very similar 
in form or content. The comments received on the NPRM raised a variety 
of issues related to the rulemaking and contents of the proposed rule, 
including procedural, legal, and technical issues. The Final Rule 
Response to Comments provides a summary of the comments and responses 
to those comments.

II. Summary of Final Rule

    In this section, CEQ summarizes the NPRM proposed changes and the 
final rule, including any changes or additions to what CEQ proposed. 
CEQ makes the additions, clarifications, and updates to its regulations 
based on its record evaluating the implementation of the NEPA 
regulations, suggestions in response to the ANPRM, and comments 
provided in response to the NPRM. The revisions finalized in this rule 
advance the original objectives of the 1978 regulations \65\ ``[t]o 
reduce paperwork, to reduce delays, and at the same time to produce 
better decisions [that] further the national policy to protect and 
enhance the quality of the human environment.'' \66\
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    \65\ In this final rule, CEQ uses the term ``1978 regulations'' 
to refer to the regulations as they exist prior to this final rule's 
amendment thereof, which includes the 1986 amendment to 40 CFR 
1502.22.
    \66\ 43 FR 55978 (Nov. 29, 1978).
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    In this final rule, CEQ makes various revisions to align the 
regulations with the text of the NEPA statute, including revisions to 
reflect the procedural nature of the statute, including under section 
102(2). CEQ also revises the regulations to ensure that environmental 
documents prepared pursuant to NEPA are concise and serve their purpose 
of informing decision makers regarding significant potential 
environmental effects of proposed major Federal actions and the public 
of the environmental issues in the pending decision-making process. CEQ 
makes changes to ensure that the regulations reflect changes in 
technology, increase public participation in the process, and 
facilitate the use of existing studies, analyses, and environmental 
documents prepared by States, Tribes, and local governments.
    CEQ also makes its regulations consistent with the OFD policy 
established by E.O. 13807 for multi-agency review and related 
permitting and other authorization decisions. The Executive order 
specifically instructed CEQ to take steps to ensure optimal interagency 
coordination, including through a concurrent, synchronized, timely, and 
efficient process for environmental reviews and authorization 
decisions. In response to the NPRM, CEQ received many comments 
supporting revisions to codify key aspects of the OFD policy in the 
NEPA regulations, including by providing greater specificity on the 
roles and responsibilities of lead and cooperating agencies. Commenters 
also suggested that the regulations require agencies to establish and 
adhere to timetables for the completion of reviews, another key element 
of the OFD policy. To promote improved interagency coordination and 
more timely and efficient reviews and in response to these comments, 
CEQ codifies and generally applies a number of key elements from the 
OFD policy in this final rule. These include development by the lead 
agency of a joint schedule, procedures to elevate delays or disputes, 
preparation of a single EIS and joint ROD to the extent practicable, 
and a two-year goal for completion of environmental reviews. Consistent 
with section 104 of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4334), codification of these 
policies will not limit or affect the authority or legal 
responsibilities of agencies under other statutory mandates that may be 
covered by joint schedules,

[[Page 43314]]

and CEQ includes language to that effect in Sec.  1500.6.\67\
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    \67\ In the preamble, CEQ uses the section symbol (Sec.  ) to 
refer to the final regulations as set forth in this final rule and 
40 CFR to refer to the 1978 CEQ regulations as set forth in 40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ also clarifies the process and documentation required for 
complying with NEPA by amending part 1501 to add sections on threshold 
considerations, determination of the appropriate level of NEPA review, 
and the application of CEs; and revising sections in part 1501 on EAs 
and findings of no significant impact (FONSIs), and EISs in part 1502. 
CEQ further revises the regulations to promote more efficient and 
timely environmental reviews, including revisions to promote 
interagency coordination by amending sections of parts 1501, 1506, and 
1507 relating to lead, cooperating, and participating agencies, timing 
of agency action, scoping, and agency NEPA procedures.
    To promote a more efficient and timely NEPA process, CEQ amends 
provisions in parts 1501, 1506, and 1507 relating to applying NEPA 
early in the process, scoping, tiering, adoption, use of current 
technologies, and avoiding duplication of State, Tribal, and local 
environmental reviews; revises parts 1501 and 1502 to provide for 
presumptive time and page limits; and amends part 1508 to clarify the 
definitions. For example, CEQ includes two new mechanisms to facilitate 
the use of CEs when appropriate. Under Sec.  1506.3(d), an agency can 
adopt another agency's determination that a CE applies to a proposed 
action when the adopting agency's proposed action is substantially the 
same. This extends the adoption process and standards from EISs to CE 
determinations.\68\ This allows agencies to ``piggyback'' where more 
than one agency is taking an action related to the same project or 
activity. Alternatively, to apply CEs listed in another agency's 
procedures (without that agency already having made a determination 
that a CE applies to a substantially similar action), agencies can 
establish a process in their agency NEPA procedures to coordinate and 
apply CEs listed in other agencies' procedures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ The final rule also extends the adoption process and 
standards, which only applies to EISs under the 1978 regulations, to 
EAs as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Another efficiency included in this final rule is the ability for 
agencies to identify other requirements that serve the function of 
agency compliance with NEPA. Under Sec. Sec.  1501.1 and 1507.3(d)(6), 
agencies may determine that another statute's requirements serve the 
function of agency compliance with NEPA. Alternatively, agencies may 
designate in their agency NEPA procedures one or more procedures or 
documents under other statutes or Executive orders that satisfy one or 
more requirements in the NEPA regulations, consistent with Sec.  
1507.3(c)(5). Finally, Sec.  1506.9 allows agencies to substitute 
processes and documentation developed as part of the rulemaking process 
for corresponding requirements in these regulations.
    As noted above, NEPA is a procedural statute that has twin aims. 
The first is to promote informed decision making, while the second is 
to inform the public about the agency's decision making. In this final 
rule, CEQ amends parts 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1505, and 1508 to ensure 
that agencies solicit and consider relevant information early in the 
NEPA process and have the maximum opportunity to take that information 
into account in their decision making.
    In situations where an EIS is required, this process takes place in 
two discrete steps. First, Sec.  1501.9(d) directs agencies to include 
information on the proposed action in the NOI, including its expected 
impacts and alternatives, and a request for comments from interested 
parties on the potential alternatives, information, and analyses 
relevant to the proposed action. Second, Sec.  1503.1(a) requires 
agencies to request comments on the analysis and conclusions of the 
draft EIS. The purpose of these two provisions is to bring relevant 
comments, information, and analyses to the agency's attention, as early 
in the process as possible, to enable the agency to make maximum use of 
this information.
    To facilitate this process, Sec.  1503.3 requires comments on the 
draft EIS to be submitted on a timely basis and to be as specific as 
possible. Similarly, Sec.  1503.1(a)(3) requires agencies to invite 
interested parties to comment specifically on the alternatives, 
information, and analyses submitted for consideration in the 
development of the draft EIS. Finally, Sec.  1503.3(b) provides that 
comments, information, and analyses on the draft EIS not timely 
received are deemed unexhausted and therefore forfeited. The intent of 
these amendments is two-fold: (1) To ensure that comments are timely 
received and at a level of specificity where they can be meaningfully 
taken into account, where appropriate; and (2) to prevent unnecessary 
delay in the decision-making process.
    Consistent with this intent, Sec.  1500.3(b)(2) also directs 
agencies to include a new section in both the draft and final EIS that 
summarizes all alternatives, information, and analyses submitted by 
interested parties in response to the agency's requests for comment in 
the NOI and on the draft EIS. In addition, Sec. Sec.  1502.17(a)(2) and 
1503.1(a)(3) direct agencies to request comment on the summary in the 
draft EIS. The purpose of these provisions is to ensure that the 
agency, through outreach to the public, has identified all relevant 
information submitted by State, Tribal, and local governments and other 
public commenters. Although not a substitute for the entire record, the 
summary will assist agency decision makers in their consideration of 
the record for the proposed action. As the Supreme Court observed in 
Metropolitan Edison Co. v. People Against Nuclear Energy, ``[t]he scope 
of [an] agency's inquiries must remain manageable if NEPA's goal of 
`[insuring] a fully informed and well-considered decision' . . . is to 
be accomplished.'' 460 U.S. at 776 (quoting Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. at 
558).
    Finally, informed by the summary included in the final EIS pursuant 
to Sec. Sec.  1500.3(b)(2) and 1502.17 and the response to comments 
pursuant to Sec.  1503.4, together with any other material in the 
record that he or she determines to be relevant, the decision maker is 
required under Sec.  1505.2(b) to certify in the ROD that the agency 
has considered the alternatives, information, analyses, and objections 
submitted by State, Tribal, and local governments and public commenters 
for consideration in the development of the final EIS. Section 
1505.2(b) further provides that a decision certified in this manner is 
entitled to a presumption that the agency has adequately considered the 
submitted alternatives, information, and analyses, including the 
summary thereof, in reaching its decision. This presumption will 
advance the purposes of the directive in E.O. 11991 to ensure that EISs 
are supported by evidence that agencies have performed the necessary 
environmental analyses. See E.O. 11991, sec. 1 amending E.O. 11514, 
sec. 3(h). This presumption is also consistent with the longstanding 
presumption of regularity that government officials have properly 
discharged their official duties. See U.S. Postal Serv. v. Gregory, 534 
U.S. 1, 10 (2001) (``[W]e note that a presumption of regularity 
attaches to the actions of government agencies.'' (citing United States 
v. Chem. Found., Inc., 272 U.S. 1, 14-15 (1926)); INS v. Miranda, 459 
U.S. 14, 18 (1982) (specific evidence required to overcome presumption 
that public officers have executed their responsibilities properly); 
Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Inc. v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402, 415 
(1971) (Although a

[[Page 43315]]

statute prohibited Federal funds for roads through parks absent a 
feasible and prudent alternative, and although the Secretary of 
Transportation approved funds without formal findings, the Secretary's 
decision-making process was nevertheless entitled to a presumption of 
regularity.); Fed. Commc'ns Comm'n v. Schreiber, 381 U.S. 279, 296 
(1965) (noting ``the presumption to which administrative agencies are 
entitled--that they will act properly and according to law''); Phila. & 
T. Ry. v. Stimpson, 39 U.S. (14 Pet.) 448, 458 (1840) (Where a statute 
imposed certain conditions before a corrected patent could issue, the 
signatures of the President and the Secretary of State on a corrected 
patent raised a presumption that the conditions were satisfied, despite 
absence of recitals to that effect on face of patent.); Martin v. Mott, 
25 U.S. (12 Wheat.) 19, 33 (1827) (``Every public officer is presumed 
to act in obedience to his duty, until the contrary is shown . . . 
.''); Udall v. Wash., Va. & Md. Coach Co., 398 F.2d 765, 769 (D.C. Cir. 
1968) (The Secretary of the Interior's determination that limitation of 
commercial bus service was required to preserve a parkway's natural 
beauty was entitled to presumption of validity, and the burden was on 
the challenger to overcome it.).
    In light of this precedent and the interactive process established 
by these regulations, under which the agency and interested parties 
exchange information multiple times, the agency compiles and evaluates 
summaries of that information, and a public official is required to 
certify the agency's consideration of the record, it is CEQ's intention 
that this presumption may be rebutted only by clear and convincing 
evidence that the agency has not properly discharged its duties under 
the statute.
    Finally, CEQ revises the regulations to make them easier to 
understand and apply. CEQ reorganizes the regulatory text to move 
topics addressed in multiple sections and sometimes multiple parts into 
consolidated sections. CEQ simplifies and clarifies part 1508 to focus 
on definitions by moving operative requirements to the relevant 
regulatory provisions. CEQ revises the regulations to consolidate 
provisions and reduce duplication. Such consolidation, reordering, and 
reorganization promotes greater clarity and ease of use.

A. Changes Throughout Parts 1500-1508

    CEQ proposed several revisions throughout parts 1500-1508 to 
provide consistency, improve clarity, and correct grammatical errors. 
CEQ proposed to make certain grammatical corrections in the regulations 
where it proposed other changes to the regulations to achieve the goals 
of this rulemaking, or where CEQ determined the changes are necessary 
for the reader to understand fully the meaning of the sentence. CEQ 
proposed to revise sentences from passive voice to active voice to help 
identify the responsible parties. CEQ also proposed to correct the 
usage of the term ``insure'' with ``ensure'' consistent with modern 
usage. ``Insure'' is typically used in the context of providing or 
obtaining insurance, whereas ``ensure'' is used in the context of 
making something sure, certain, or safe. While NEPA uses the term 
``insure,'' the context in which it is used makes it clear that 
Congress meant ``ensure'' consistent with modern usage. Similarly, CEQ 
proposed to correct the use of ``which'' and ``that'' throughout the 
rule.
    CEQ proposed to add paragraph letters to certain introductory 
paragraphs where it would improve clarity. Finally, CEQ invited comment 
on whether it should make these types of grammatical and editorial 
changes throughout the rule or if there are additional specific 
instances where CEQ should make these types of changes. In the final 
rule, CEQ adopts the proposed revisions to provide consistency and 
clarity and to correct grammatical errors and makes these types of 
changes throughout.
    CEQ proposed to add ``Tribal'' to the phrase ``State and local'' 
throughout the rule to ensure consultation with Tribal entities and to 
reflect existing NEPA practice to coordinate or consult with affected 
Tribal governments and agencies, as necessary and appropriate for a 
proposed action. CEQ also proposed this change in response to comments 
on the ANPRM supporting expansion of the recognition of the sovereign 
rights, interests, and expertise of Tribes. CEQ proposed to eliminate 
the provisions in the regulations that limit Tribal interest to 
reservations. CEQ adopts these proposals in the final rule and makes 
these additions and revisions in Sec. Sec.  1500.3(b)(2)-(4), 
1500.4(p), 1500.5(j), 1501.2(b)(4)(ii), 1501.3(b)(2)(iv), 1501.5(e), 
1501.7(b) and (d), 1501.8(a), 1501.9(b), 1501.10(f), 1502.5(b), 
1502.16(a)(5), 1502.17(a) and (b), 1502.20(a), 1503.1(a)(2)(i) and 
(ii), 1505.2(b), and 1506.1(b), 1506.2, 1506.6(b)(3)(i)-(iii), and 
1508.1(e), (k), and (w). As noted in the NPRM, these changes are 
consistent with and in support of government-to-government consultation 
pursuant to E.O. 13175, titled ``Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments.'' \69\
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    \69\ 65 FR 67249 (Nov. 9, 2000).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ proposed several changes for consistent use of certain terms. 
In particular, CEQ proposed to change ``entitlements'' to the defined 
term ``authorizations'' proposed in Sec.  1508.1(c) throughout the 
regulations and added ``authorizations'' where appropriate to reflect 
the mandate in E.O. 13807 for better integration and coordination of 
authorization decisions and related environmental reviews. CEQ is 
adopting these revisions in the final rule in Sec. Sec.  1501.2(a), 
1501.7(i), 1501.9(d)(4) and (f)(4), 1502.13, 1502.24(b), 1503.3(d), and 
1508.1(w).
    CEQ proposed to use the term ``decision maker'' to refer to an 
individual responsible for making decisions on agency actions and 
``senior agency official'' to refer to the individual who oversees the 
agency's overall compliance with NEPA. CEQ adopts these changes in the 
final rule. There may be multiple individuals within certain 
departments or agencies that have these responsibilities, including 
where subunits have developed agency procedures or NEPA compliance 
programs.
    CEQ proposed to replace ``circulate'' or ``circulation'' with 
``publish'' or ``publication'' throughout the rule and make ``publish 
or publication'' a defined term in Sec.  1508.1(y), which provides 
agencies with the flexibility to make environmental review and 
information available to the public by electronic means not available 
at the time of promulgation of the CEQ regulations in 1978. As 
explained in the NPRM, historically, the practice of circulation 
included mailing of hard copies or providing electronic copies on disks 
or CDs. While it may be necessary to provide a hard copy or copy on 
physical media in limited circumstances, agencies now provide most 
documents in an electronic format by posting them online and using 
email or other electronic forms of communication to notify interested 
or affected parties. This change will help reduce paperwork and delays, 
and modernize the NEPA process to be more accessible to the public. CEQ 
finalizes these changes in Sec. Sec.  1500.4(o), 1501.2(b)(2), 
1502.9(b) and (d)(3), 1502.20, 1503.4(b) and (c), 1506.3(b)(1) and (2), 
and 1506.8(c)(2).
    CEQ proposed to change the term ``possible'' to ``practicable'' in 
the NPRM in a number of sections of the regulations. As noted in the 
NPRM, ``practicable'' is the more commonly used term in regulations to 
convey the ability for something to be done,

[[Page 43316]]

considering the cost, including time required, technical and economic 
feasibility, and the purpose and need for agency action. The term 
``practicable,'' which is in the statute (42 U.S.C. 4331(a), (b)) and 
used many times in the 1978 regulations,\70\ is consistent with notions 
of feasibility, which the case law has recognized as part of the NEPA 
process. See, e.g., Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. at 551 (``alternatives must be 
bounded by some notion of feasibility''); Kleppe, 427 U.S. at 414 
(``[P]ractical considerations of feasibility might well necessitate 
restricting the scope'' of an agency's analysis.) CEQ makes these 
changes in the final rule in Sec. Sec.  1501.7(h)(1) and (2), 
1501.8(b)(1), 1502.5, 1502.9(b), 1504.2, and 1506.2(b) and (c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \70\ See 40 CFR 1500.2(f), 1501.4(b), 1501.7, 1505.2(c), 
1506.6(f) and 1506.12(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, CEQ proposed to change ``no later than immediately'' to 
``as soon as practicable'' in Sec.  1502.5(b), and CEQ finalizes this 
change. Finally, CEQ proposed to refer to the procedures required in 
Sec.  1507.3 using the term ``agency NEPA procedures'' throughout. CEQ 
makes this change in the final rule.
    CEQ proposed to eliminate obsolete references and provisions in 
several sections of the CEQ regulations. In particular, CEQ proposed to 
remove references to the 102 Monitor in 40 CFR 1506.6(b)(2) and 
1506.7(c) because the publication no longer exists, and OMB Circular A-
95, which was revoked pursuant to section 7 of E.O. 12372 (47 FR 30959, 
July 16, 1982), including the requirement to use State and area-wide 
clearinghouses in 40 CFR 1501.4(e)(2), 1503.1(a)(2)(iii), 1505.2, and 
1506.6(b)(3)(i). CEQ removes these references in the final rule.
    CEQ proposed changes to citations and authorities in parts 1500 
through 1508. CEQ is updating the authorities sections for each part to 
correct the format. CEQ also is removing cross-references to the 
sections of part 1508, ``Definitions,'' and updates or inserts new 
cross-references throughout the rule to reflect revised or new 
sections. CEQ makes these changes throughout the final rule.
    Finally, CEQ is reorganizing chapter V of title 40 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations to place the NEPA regulations into a new subchapter 
A, ``National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations,'' and 
organizing its other regulations into their own new subchapter B, 
``Administrative Procedures and Operations.'' References to ``parts 
1500 through 1508'' in the proposed rule are referenced to ``this 
subchapter'' in the final rule. CEQ notes that the provisions of the 
NEPA regulations, which the final rule comprehensively updates, should 
be read in their entirety to understand the requirements under the 
modernized regulations.\71\
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    \71\ While the final rule retains, in large part, the numbering 
scheme used in the 1978 regulations, the final rule comprehensively 
updates the prior regulations. The new regulations should be 
consulted and reviewed to ensure application is consistent with the 
modernized provisions. Assumptions should not be made concerning the 
degree of change to, similarity to, or any interpretation of the 
prior version of the regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Revisions To Update the Purpose, Policy, and Mandate (Part 1500)

    In part 1500, CEQ proposed several revisions to update the policy 
and mandate sections of the regulations to reflect statutory, judicial, 
policy, and other developments since the CEQ regulations were issued in 
1978. CEQ includes the proposed changes with some revisions in the 
final rule.
1. Purpose and Policy (Sec.  1500.1)
    In the NPRM, CEQ proposed to retitle and revise Sec.  1500.1, 
``Purpose and policy,'' to align this section with the statutory text 
of NEPA and certain case law, and reflect the procedural requirements 
of section 102(2) (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)). These changes also are 
consistent with the President's directive to CEQ to ``[i]ssue 
regulations to Federal agencies for the implementation of the 
procedural provisions of the Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)).'' E.O. 11514, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, sec. 3(h). Many commenters supported these 
revisions to promote more efficient and timely reviews under NEPA, 
while others opposed the changes and requested that CEQ maintain the 
existing language. CEQ revises this section in the final rule 
consistent with its proposal.
    Section 1500.1 provides that NEPA is a procedural statute intended 
to ensure Federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of their 
actions in the decision-making process. The Supreme Court has made 
clear that NEPA is a procedural statute that does not mandate 
particular results; ``[r]ather, NEPA imposes only procedural 
requirements on [F]ederal agencies with a particular focus on requiring 
agencies to undertake analyses of the environmental impact of their 
proposals and actions.'' Pub. Citizen, 541 U.S. at 756-57 (citing 
Methow Valley, 490 U.S. at 349-50); see also Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. at 
558 (``NEPA does set forth significant substantive goals for the 
Nation, but its mandate to the agencies is essentially procedural.'').
    As proposed in the NPRM, CEQ revises Sec.  1500.1(a) to summarize 
section 101 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 4331) and to reflect that section 
102(2) establishes the procedural requirements to carry out the policy 
stated in section 101. CEQ revises Sec.  1500.1(a) consistent with the 
case law to reflect that the purpose and function of NEPA is satisfied 
if Federal agencies have considered relevant environmental information 
and the public has been informed regarding the decision-making process, 
and to reflect that NEPA does not mandate particular results or 
substantive outcomes. Marsh, 490 U.S. at 373-74; Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. 
at 558. CEQ replaces the vague reference to ``action-forcing'' 
provisions ensuring that Federal agencies act ``according to the letter 
and spirit of the Act'' (as well as consistently with their organic and 
program-specific governing statutes) with a more specific reference to 
the consideration of environmental impacts of their actions in agency 
decisions. These changes codify the Supreme Court's interpretation of 
section 102 in two important respects: Section 102 ``ensures that the 
agency, in reaching its decision, will have available, and will 
carefully consider, detailed information concerning significant 
environmental impacts; it also guarantees that the relevant information 
will be made available to the larger audience that may also play a role 
in both the decision[-]making process and the implementation of that 
decision.'' Methow Valley, 490 U.S. at 349; see also Winter v. Nat. 
Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 23 (2008); Pub. Citizen, 541 U.S. 
at 756-58.
    Consistent with CEQ's proposal in the NPRM, CEQ revises Sec.  
1500.1(b) to describe the NEPA regulations as revised in this final 
rule. In particular, CEQ revises this paragraph to reflect that the 
regulations include direction to Federal agencies to determine what 
actions are subject to NEPA's procedural requirements and the level of 
NEPA review, where applicable. The revisions also ensure that Federal 
agencies identify and consider relevant environmental information early 
in the process in order to promote informed decision making. These 
revisions reduce unnecessary burdens and delays consistent with E.O. 
13807 and the purposes of the regulations as originally promulgated in 
1978. These amendments emphasize that the policy of integrating NEPA 
with other environmental reviews is to promote concurrent and timely 
reviews and decision making consistent with statutes, Executive orders, 
and CEQ guidance. See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. 5189g; 23 U.S.C. 139; 42 U.S.C. 
4370m et seq.; E.O. 13604; E.O. 13807; Mitigation

[[Page 43317]]

Guidance, supra note 29, and Timely Environmental Reviews Guidance, 
supra note 29.
2. Remove and Reserve Policy (Sec.  1500.2)
    CEQ proposed to remove and reserve 40 CFR 1500.2, ``Policy.'' The 
section included language that is identical or similar to language in 
E.O. 11514, as amended. That Executive order directed CEQ to develop 
regulations that would make the ``[EIS] process more useful to decision 
makers and the public; and . . . reduce paperwork and the accumulation 
of extraneous background data, in order to emphasize the need to focus 
on real environmental issues and alternatives.'' See E.O. 11514, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, sec. 3(h). The Executive order also directed CEQ 
to require EISs to be ``concise, clear and to the point, and supported 
by evidence that agencies have made the necessary environmental 
analyses.'' Id. CEQ proposed to remove this section because it is 
duplicative of other sections of the regulations, thereby eliminating 
redundancy. CEQ is making this change in the final rule.
    Specifically, 40 CFR 1500.2(a) restated the statutory text in 
section 102 of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4332) and is duplicative of language in 
Sec.  1500.6, ``Agency authority,'' requiring each agency to interpret 
the provisions of NEPA as a supplement to its existing authority and as 
a mandate to view policies and missions in light of the Act's national 
environmental objectives. Paragraph (b) required agencies to implement 
procedures to make the NEPA process more useful to decision makers and 
the public; reduce paperwork and accumulation of extraneous background 
data; emphasize relevant environmental issues and alternatives; and 
make EISs concise, clear, and to the point and supported by evidence 
that thy have made the necessary analyses. This paragraph is 
duplicative of language in Sec.  1502.1, ``Purpose of environmental 
impact statement,'' and paragraphs (c) through (i) of Sec.  1500.4, 
``Reducing paperwork.''
    Paragraph (c) of 40 CFR 1500.2, requiring agencies to integrate 
NEPA requirements with other planning and review procedures to run 
concurrently rather than consecutively, is duplicative of language in 
Sec.  1502.24, ``Environmental review and consultation requirements,'' 
Sec.  1501.2, ``Apply NEPA early in the process,'' Sec.  1501.9, 
``Scoping,'' and Sec.  1500.4, ``Reducing paperwork.'' Paragraph (d) 
encouraging public involvement is duplicative of sections that direct 
agencies to provide notice and information to and seek comment from the 
public regarding proposed actions and environmental documents, 
including provisions in Sec.  1506.6, ``Public involvement,'' Sec.  
1501.9, ``Scoping,'' and Sec.  1503.1, ``Inviting comments and 
requesting information and analyses.'' \72\ Paragraph (e), which 
required agencies to use the NEPA process to identify and assess 
reasonable alternatives to proposed actions that will avoid or minimize 
adverse effects, is duplicative of language in Sec.  1502.1, ``Purpose 
of environmental impact statement,'' and paragraph (c) of Sec.  1505.2, 
``Record of decision in cases requiring environmental impact 
statements.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \72\ Section 1506.6 includes detailed provisions directing 
agencies to facilitate public involvement, including by providing 
the public with notice regarding actions, holding or sponsoring 
public hearings, and providing notice of NEPA-related hearings, 
public meetings, and other opportunities for public involvement, and 
the availability of environmental documents. Section 1501.9 requires 
agencies to issue a public notice regarding proposed actions for 
which the agencies will be preparing an EIS and to include specific 
information for, and to solicit information from the public 
regarding such proposed actions. Section 1503 provides direction to 
agencies regarding inviting comments from the public and requesting 
information and analyses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Paragraph (f) of 40 CFR 1500.2 required agencies to use all 
practicable means, consistent with the Act and other essential 
considerations of national policy, to restore and enhance the quality 
of the human environment and avoid or minimize any possible adverse 
effects of their actions upon the quality of the human environment. The 
rule specifically directs agencies to consider reasonable alternatives 
to avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts in Sec.  1502.1, 
``Purpose of environmental impact statement.'' The final rule also 
provides direction to agencies about the relevant environmental 
information to be considered in the decision-making process, including 
potential adverse effects and alternatives, and expressly directs 
agencies to identify alternatives considered (Sec. Sec.  1502.14 and 
1502.16), and to state in their RODs whether they have adopted all 
practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the 
alternative selected (Sec.  1505.2).
3. NEPA Compliance (Sec.  1500.3)
    CEQ proposed numerous changes and additions to Sec.  1500.3, ``NEPA 
compliance,'' including the addition of paragraph headings to improve 
readability. In paragraph (a), ``Mandate,'' CEQ proposed to update the 
authorities under which it issues the regulations. CEQ adds these 
references, including to E.O. 13807, in the final rule. In the NPRM, 
CEQ proposed to add a sentence to this paragraph regarding agency NEPA 
procedures not imposing additional procedures or requirements beyond 
those set forth in the regulations. To address confusion expressed by 
some commenters, CEQ does not include this sentence in the final rule 
because it includes this requirement in Sec.  1507.3, ``Agency NEPA 
procedures.''
    CEQ proposed to add a new paragraph (b), ``Exhaustion,'' to 
summarize public comment requirements and an exhaustion requirement. 
Specifically, CEQ proposed in paragraph (b)(1) to require that, in a 
NOI to prepare an EIS, agencies request comments from interested 
parties on the potential effects of and potential alternatives to 
proposed actions, and also request that interested parties identify any 
relevant information, studies, or analyses of any kind concerning such 
effects. CEQ includes this provision in the final rule to ensure that 
agencies solicit and consider relevant information early in the 
development of an EIS.
    In paragraph (b)(2) of Sec.  1500.3, CEQ proposed to require that 
the EIS include a summary of all the comments received for 
consideration in developing the EIS. CEQ includes this provision in the 
final rule with some changes. For consistency with the language in 
Sec.  1502.17, the final rule specifies that the draft and final EISs 
must include a summary of ``all alternatives, information, and 
analyses.'' Also, in response to comments requesting clarification on 
the meaning of ``public commenters,'' the final rule changes this 
phrase in paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of Sec.  1500.3 and in Sec.  
1502.17 to ``State, Tribal, and local governments and other public 
commenters'' for consistency with Sec. Sec.  1501.9 and 1506.6 and to 
clarify that public commenters includes governments as well as other 
commenters such as organizations, associations, and individuals.
    In paragraph (b)(3) of Sec.  1500.3, CEQ proposed to require that 
public commenters timely submit comments on draft EISs and any 
information on environmental impacts or alternatives to a proposed 
action to ensure informed decision making by Federal agencies. CEQ 
further proposed to provide that comments not timely raised and 
information not provided shall be deemed unexhausted and forfeited. 
This reinforces the principle that parties may not raise claims based 
on issues they themselves did not raise during the public comment 
period. See, e.g., Pub. Citizen, 541 U.S. at 764-65 (finding claims 
forfeited because respondents had not raised particular objections to 
the EA in their comments); Karst Envtl. Educ. & Prot., Inc. v. Fed. 
Highway Admin., 559 Fed. Appx. 421, 426-27

[[Page 43318]]

(6th Cir. 2014) (concluding that comments did not raise issue with 
``sufficient clarity'' to alert the Federal Highway Administration to 
concerns); Friends of the Norbeck v. U.S. Forest Serv., 661 F.3d 969, 
974 (8th Cir. 2011) (concluding that comments were insufficient to give 
the Forest Service an opportunity to consider claim and that judicial 
review was therefore improper); Exxon Mobil Corp. v. U.S. EPA, 217 F.3d 
1246, 1249 (9th Cir. 2000) (arguments not raised in comments are 
waived); Ass'n of Mfrs. v. Dep't of the Interior, 134 F.3d 1095, 1111 
(D.C. Cir. 1998) (failure to raise argument in rulemaking constitutes 
failure to exhaust administrative remedies). Finally, CEQ proposed to 
require that the public raise any objections to the submitted 
alternatives, information, and analyses section within 30 days of the 
notice of availability of the final EIS.
    The final rule includes paragraph (b)(3) with some modifications. 
The final rule requires State, Tribal, and local governments and other 
public commenters to submit comments within the comment periods 
provided under Sec.  1503.1 and that comments be as specific as 
possible under Sec.  1503.3. The rule specifies that comments or 
objections of any kind not submitted ``shall be forfeited as 
unexhausted'' to clarify any ambiguity about forfeiture and exhaustion. 
CEQ received comments opposing the proposal to require the public to 
raise objections to the submitted alternatives, information, and 
analyses section within 30 days of the notice of availability of the 
final EIS. The final rule does not include the proposed mandatory 30-
day comment period. However, Sec.  1506.11 retains from the 1978 
regulations the 30-day waiting period prior to issuance of the ROD, 
subject to limited exceptions, and under Sec.  1503.1(b), agencies may 
solicit comments on the final EIS if they so choose. Each commenter 
should put its own comments into the record as soon as practicable to 
ensure that the agency has adequate time to consider the commenter's 
input as part of the agency's decision-making process. Finally, to 
ensure commenters timely identify issues, CEQ expresses its intention 
that commenters rely on their own comments and not those submitted by 
other commenters in any subsequent litigation, except where otherwise 
provided by law.
    CEQ also proposed in paragraph (b)(4) of Sec.  1500.3 to require 
that the agency decision maker certify in the ROD that the agency has 
considered all of the alternatives, information, and analyses submitted 
by public commenters based on the summary in the EIS. CEQ includes this 
section in the final rule with some modifications. The final rule 
requires the decision maker, informed by the final EIS (including the 
public comments, summary thereof, and responses thereto) and other 
relevant material in the record, certify that she or he considered the 
alternatives, information, and analyses submitted by States, Tribes, 
and local governments and other public commenters. Relevant material 
includes both the draft and final EIS as well as any supporting 
materials incorporated by reference or appended to the document. The 
final rule does not specify the decision maker ``for the lead agency'' 
to account for multiple decision makers, consistent with the OFD 
policy.
    CEQ proposed to add a new paragraph (c), ``Review of NEPA 
compliance,'' to Sec.  1500.3 to reflect the development of case law 
since the promulgation of the CEQ regulations. Specifically, CEQ 
proposed to revise the sentence regarding timing of judicial review to 
strike references to the filing of an EIS or FONSI and replace them 
with the issuance of a signed ROD or the taking of another final agency 
action. CEQ includes this change in the final rule. Judicial review of 
NEPA compliance for agency actions can occur only under the APA, which 
requires finality. 5 U.S.C. 704. A private right of action to enforce 
NEPA, which is lacking, would be required to review non-final agency 
action. In addition, non-final agency action may not be fit for 
judicial review as a matter of prudential standing. See Abbott Labs v. 
Gardner, 387 U.S. 136, 148-49 (1967). Under the APA, judicial review 
does not occur until an agency has taken final agency action. Bennett 
v. Spear, 520 U.S. 154, 177-78 (1997) (``[T]he action must mark the 
`consummation' of the agency's decision[-]making process--it must not 
be of a merely tentative or interlocutory nature. And second, the 
action must be one by which `rights or obligations have been 
determined' or from which `legal consequences will flow''' (citations 
omitted)). Because NEPA's procedural requirements apply to proposals 
for agency action, judicial review should not occur until the agency 
has completed its decision-making process, and there are ``direct and 
appreciable legal consequences.'' Id. at 178. Final agency action for 
judicial review purposes is not necessarily when the agency publishes 
the final EIS, issues a FONSI, or makes the determination to 
categorically exclude an action.
    CEQ also proposed in paragraph (c) to clarify that any allegation 
of noncompliance be resolved as expeditiously as possible, and that 
agencies may structure their decision making to allow private parties 
to seek agency stays or provide for efficient mechanisms, such as 
imposition of bonds, for seeking, granting, and imposing conditions on 
stays. The final rule clarifies that it is CEQ's intention that any 
allegation of noncompliance be resolved as expeditiously as possible. 
The final rule also clarifies that agencies may structure their 
procedures consistent with their organic statutes, and as part of 
implementing the exhaustion provisions in paragraph (b) of Sec.  
1500.3, to include an appropriate bond or other security requirement to 
protect against harms associated with delays.
    Consistent with their statutory authorities, agencies may impose, 
as appropriate, bond and security requirements or other conditions as 
part of their administrative processes, including administrative 
appeals, and a prerequisite to staying their decisions, as courts do 
under rule 18 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and other 
rules.\73\ See, e.g., Fed. R. App. P. 18(b); Fed. R. App. P. 
8(a)(2)(E); Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(c); Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(b); Fed. R. Civ. 
P. 62(d). CEQ notes that there is no ``NEPA exception'' that exempts 
litigants bringing NEPA claims from otherwise applicable bond or 
security requirements or other appropriate conditions, and that some 
courts have imposed substantial bond requirements in NEPA cases. See, 
e.g., Save Our Sonoran, Inc. v. Flowers, 408 F.3d 1113, 1125-26 (9th 
Cir. 2005) (concluding that district court's imposition of a $50,000 
bond was appropriate and supported by the record); Stockslager v. 
Carroll Elec. Co-op Corp., 528 F.2d 949 (8th Cir. 1976) (concluding 
that district court's imposition of a $10,000 bond was appropriate).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \73\ See, e.g., 26 CFR 2.6 (Bureau of Indian Affairs' regulatory 
provision that allows a person that believes he or she may suffer a 
measurable and substantial financial loss as a result of the delay 
caused by an appeal to request that the official require the posting 
of a reasonable bond).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ proposed to add a new paragraph (d), ``Remedies,'' to Sec.  
1500.3. CEQ proposed to state explicitly that harm from the failure to 
comply with NEPA can be remedied by compliance with NEPA's procedural 
requirements, and that CEQ's regulations do not create a cause of 
action for violation of NEPA. The statute does not create any cause of 
action, and agencies may not create private rights of action by 
regulation; ``[l]ike substantive [F]ederal law itself, private rights 
of action to enforce [F]ederal law must be created by Congress.'' 
Alexander v. Sandoval, 532 U.S. 275, 286 (2001) (citing Touche Ross

[[Page 43319]]

& Co. v. Redington, 442 U.S. 560, 578 (1979)). This is particularly 
relevant where, as here, the counterparty in any action to enforce NEPA 
would be a Federal officer or agency. See San Carlos Apache Tribe v. 
United States, 417 F.3d 1091, 1096-97 (9th Cir. 2005) (``[C]reating a 
direct private action against the federal government makes little sense 
in light of the administrative review scheme set out in the APA.'').
    The CEQ regulations create no presumption that violation of NEPA is 
a basis for injunctive relief or for a finding of irreparable harm. As 
the Supreme Court has held, the irreparable harm requirement, as a 
prerequisite to the issuance of preliminary or permanent injunctive 
relief, is neither eliminated nor diminished in NEPA cases. A showing 
of a NEPA violation alone does not warrant injunctive relief and does 
not satisfy the irreparable harm requirement. See Monsanto Co. v. 
Geertson Seed Farms, 561 U.S. 139, 157 (2010) (``[T]he statements 
quoted [from prior Ninth Circuit cases] appear to presume that an 
injunction is the proper remedy for a NEPA violation except in unusual 
circumstances. No such thumb on the scales is warranted.''); Winter, 
555 U.S. at 21-22, 31-33; see also Amoco Prod. Co. v. Vill. of Gambell, 
480 U.S. 531, 544-45 (1987) (rejecting proposition that irreparable 
damage is presumed when an agency fails to evaluate thoroughly the 
environmental impact of a proposed action). Moreover, a showing of 
irreparable harm in a NEPA case does not entitle a litigant to an 
injunction or a stay. See Winter, 555 U.S. at 20 (``A plaintiff seeking 
a preliminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on 
the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence 
of preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his favor, 
and that an injunction is in the public interest.'') (emphasis added); 
Geertson Seed Farms, 561 U.S. at 157 (``The traditional four-factor 
test applies when a plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction to remedy a 
NEPA violation . . . . An injunction should issue only if the 
traditional four-factor test is satisfied.'').
    Consistent with the Supreme Court's analysis in Geertson Seed 
Farms, agencies (as well as applicants) should give practical 
consideration to measures that might serve to anticipate, reduce, or 
eliminate possible adverse effects from a project. To the extent such 
measures are incorporated into an agency's ROD, they may provide 
grounds upon which a court, presented with an alleged violation of 
NEPA, might reasonably conclude that injunctive relief is not warranted 
because the measures prevent any irreparable harm from occurring. See 
Sec.  1505.3. For example, regular inspections or requirements that 
applicants obtain third-party insurance, for example, might constitute 
such measures in certain circumstances. Inspections can reveal defects 
before they cause harm. Third-party insurers, because of their exposure 
to risk, have an economic incentive to conduct thorough inspections, 
facilitating discovery of defects. Such measures would be relevant to 
whether a valid claim of irreparable harm has been established.
    CEQ also proposed to state that any actions to review, enjoin, 
vacate, stay, or alter an agency decision on the basis of an alleged 
NEPA violation be raised as soon as practicable to avoid or minimize 
any costs to agencies, applicants, or any affected third parties. As 
reflected in comments received in response to the ANPRM, delays have 
the potential to result in substantial costs. CEQ also proposed to 
replace the language providing that trivial violations should not give 
rise to an independent cause of action with language that states that 
minor, non-substantive errors that have no effect on agency decision 
making shall be considered harmless and shall not invalidate an agency 
action. Invalidating actions due to minor errors does not advance the 
goals of the statute and adds delays and costs. CEQ includes paragraph 
(d) in the final rule with a change to clarify that it is CEQ's 
intention that the regulations create no presumption that violation of 
NEPA is a basis for injunctive relief or for a finding of irreparable 
harm. As noted above, NEPA is a procedural statute and any harm is thus 
reparable by providing the necessary environmental documentation in 
accordance with the Act and these regulations. CEQ also adds ``vacate, 
or otherwise'' to the types of actions that may alter a decision to 
address situations where there may be a nationwide or other vacatur and 
``after final agency action'' to clarify when the actions should be 
raised.
    Finally, CEQ proposed to add a new paragraph (e), ``Severability,'' 
to Sec.  1500.3 to address the possibility that this rule, or portions 
of this rule, may be challenged in litigation. CEQ finalizes this 
paragraph as proposed, correcting the cross reference. As stated in the 
NPRM, it is CEQ's intention that the individual sections of this rule 
be severable from each other, and that if a court stays or invalidates 
any sections or portions of the regulations, this will not affect the 
validity of the remainder of the sections, which will continue to be 
operative.
4. Reducing Paperwork and Delay (Sec. Sec.  1500.4 and 1500.5)
    In the NPRM, CEQ proposed to reorder the paragraphs in Sec.  
1500.4, ``Reducing paperwork,'' and Sec.  1500.5, ``Reducing delay,'' 
for a more logical ordering, consistent with the three levels of NEPA 
review. CEQ also proposed edits to Sec. Sec.  1500.4 and 1500.5 for 
consistency with proposed edits to the cross-referenced sections. CEQ 
makes these proposed changes in the final rule. Additionally, the final 
rule revises the language in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Sec. Sec.  
1500.4 and 1500.5 to make the references to CEs and FONSIs consistent 
with the language in Sec. Sec.  1501.4(a) and 1501.6(a), respectively. 
CEQ also proposed conforming edits to Sec.  1500.4(c) to broaden the 
paragraph to include EAs by changing ``environmental impact 
statements'' to ``environmental documents'' and changing ``setting'' to 
``meeting'' since page limits would be required for both EAs and EISs. 
CEQ makes these changes in the final rule and corrects the cross-
reference. CEQ revises paragraph (h) of Sec.  1500.4 to add ``e.g.'' to 
the citations to clarify that these are just examples of the useful 
portions of EISs and to correct the cross-reference to background 
material from Sec.  1502.16 to Sec.  1502.1. CEQ revises the citations 
in paragraph (k) of Sec.  1500.4 to make them sequential. Finally, CEQ 
revises paragraph (d) of Sec.  1500.5 for clarity.
5. Agency Authority (Sec.  1500.6)
    CEQ proposed to add a savings clause to Sec.  1500.6, ``Agency 
authority,'' to clarify that the CEQ regulations do not limit an 
agency's other authorities or legal responsibilities. This 
clarification is consistent with section 104 of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4334), 
section 2(g) of E.O. 11514, and the 1978 regulations, but acknowledges 
the possibility of different statutory authorities that may set forth 
different requirements, such as timeframes. In the final rule, CEQ 
makes the proposed changes and clarifies further that agencies 
interpret the provisions of the Act as a mandate to view the agency's 
policies and missions in the light of the Act's national environmental 
objectives, to the extent NEPA is consistent with the agency's existing 
authority. This is consistent with E.O. 11514, which provides that 
Federal agencies shall ``[i]n carrying out their responsibilities under 
the Act and this Order, comply with the [CEQ regulations] except where 
such compliance would be inconsistent with statutory requirements.'' 
E.O. 11514, as amended by E.O. 11991, sec. 2(g). CEQ also proposed to 
clarify that compliance

[[Page 43320]]

with NEPA means the Act ``as interpreted'' by the CEQ regulations. CEQ 
makes this change in the final rule in Sec.  1500.6, as well as in 
Sec. Sec.  1502.2(d) and 1502.9(b), to clarify that agencies should 
implement the statute through the framework established in these 
regulations. Finally, CEQ revises the sentence explaining the meaning 
of the phrase ``to the fullest extent possible'' in section 102, to 
replace ``unless existing law applicable to the agency's operations 
expressly prohibits or makes compliance impossible'' with ``consistent 
with Sec.  1501.1.'' As discussed in section II.C.1, Sec.  1501.1 sets 
forth threshold considerations for assessing whether NEPA applies or is 
otherwise fulfilled, including considerations related to other statutes 
with which agencies must comply.

C. Revisions to NEPA and Agency Planning (Part 1501)

    CEQ proposed significant changes to modernize and clarify part 
1501. CEQ proposed to replace the current 40 CFR 1501.1, ``Purpose,'' 
because it is unnecessary and duplicative, with a new section, ``NEPA 
threshold applicability analysis,'' to address threshold considerations 
of NEPA applicability. CEQ proposed to add additional sections to 
address the level of NEPA review and CEs. CEQ further proposed to 
consolidate and clarify provisions on EAs and FONSIs, and relocate to 
part 1501 from part 1502 the provisions on tiering and incorporation by 
reference. CEQ also proposed to set presumptive time limits for the 
completion of NEPA reviews, and clarify the roles of lead and 
cooperating agencies to further the OFD policy and encourage more 
efficient and timely NEPA reviews. CEQ makes many of these changes in 
the final rule with modifications as discussed further in this section.
1. NEPA Thresholds (Sec.  1501.1)
    Since the enactment of NEPA, courts have examined the applicability 
of NEPA to proposed agency activities and decisions, based on a variety 
of considerations. Courts have found that NEPA is inapplicable when an 
agency's statutory obligations clearly or fundamentally conflict with 
NEPA compliance; when Congress has established requirements under 
another statute that displace NEPA compliance in some fashion; when an 
agency is carrying out a non-discretionary duty or obligation (in whole 
or in part); or when environmental review and public participation 
procedures under another statute satisfy the requirements (i.e., are 
functionally equivalent) of NEPA.
    CEQ proposed a new Sec.  1501.1 to provide a series of 
considerations to assist agencies in a threshold analysis for 
determining whether NEPA applies to a proposed activity or whether NEPA 
is satisfied through another mechanism. CEQ proposed to title this 
section ``NEPA threshold applicability analysis'' in the NPRM. CEQ 
includes this provision in the final rule at Sec.  1501.1, ``NEPA 
thresholds.'' This section recognizes that the application of NEPA by 
Congress and the courts has evolved over the last four decades in light 
of numerous other statutory requirements implemented by Federal 
agencies. CEQ reorders these considerations in the final rule and adds 
a new consideration to paragraph (a)(1)--whether another statute 
expressly exempts a proposed activity or decision from NEPA. See, e.g., 
15 U.S.C. 793(c)(1) (exempting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
actions under the Clean Air Act); 33 U.S.C. 1371(c)(1) (exempting 
certain EPA actions under the Clean Water Act); 42 U.S.C. 5159 
(exempting certain actions taken or assistance provided within a 
Presidentially declared emergency or disaster area); and 16 U.S.C. 
3636(a) (exempting regulation of Pacific salmon fishing).
    The second consideration in paragraph (a)(2) is whether compliance 
with NEPA would clearly and fundamentally conflict with the 
requirements of another statute. See, e.g., Flint Ridge Dev. Co. v. 
Scenic Rivers Ass'n, 426 U.S. 776, 791 (1976) (concluding that the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development could not comply with NEPA's 
EIS requirement because it conflicted with requirements of the 
Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act). The third consideration in 
paragraph (a)(3) is whether compliance with NEPA would be inconsistent 
with congressional intent expressed in another statute. See, e.g., 
Douglas County v. Babbitt, 48 F.3d 1495, 1503 (9th Cir. 1995) (holding 
that NEPA was displaced by the Endangered Species Act's procedural 
requirements for designating critical habitat); and Merrell v. Thomas, 
807 F.2d 776, 778-80 (9th Cir. 1986) (holding that NEPA did not apply 
to the EPA's registration of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, 
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)).
    The fourth and fifth considerations in paragraphs (a)(4) and (5) 
are whether the proposed activity or decision meets the definition of a 
major Federal action generally and whether the proposed activity or 
decision does not meet the definition because it is non-discretionary 
such that the agency lacks authority to consider environmental effects 
as part of its decision-making process. See, e.g., Pub. Citizen, 541 
U.S. at 768-70 (concluding that, because the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration lacked discretion to prevent the entry of Mexican 
trucks into the United States, the agency did not need to consider 
under NEPA the environmental effects of Mexican trucks' cross-border 
operations that the President authorized); Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n v. 
Sec'y of the U.S. Dep't. of Transp., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 17723, at 
*15-18 (6th Cir. June 5, 2010) (applying Public Citizen and finding 
NEPA not applicable as EPA lacked discretion to reject Clean Water Act 
oil spill response plans that satisfied enumerated criteria); Citizens 
Against Rails-To-Trails v. Surface Transp. Bd., 267 F.3d 1144, 1152-54 
(D.C. Cir. 2001) (concluding that because the Surface Transportation 
Board lacked significant discretion regarding issuance of a certificate 
of interim trail use under the National Trails System Act, NEPA was not 
applicable); South Dakota v. Andrus, 614 F.2d 1190, 1193-95 (8th Cir. 
1980) (concluding that the granting of a mineral patent for a mining 
claim was a non-discretionary, ministerial act and non-discretionary 
acts should be exempt from NEPA). Consistent with Public Citizen, 541 
U.S. at 768-70, NEPA applies to the portion of an agency decision that 
is discretionary. In Public Citizen, the Supreme Court considered 
whether the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was required to 
consider the effects of a non-discretionary action in its NEPA document 
and concluded that it was not required to do so because it had no 
authority to prevent the cross-border entry of Mexican motor carriers, 
which was the result of presidential action. Id.
    Finally, the sixth consideration in paragraph (a)(6) is whether the 
proposed action is an action for which another statute's requirements 
serve the function of agency compliance with NEPA. See, e.g., Envtl. 
Def. Fund, Inc. v. U.S. EPA, 489 F.2d 1247, 1256-57 (D.C. Cir. 1973) 
(concluding that the substantive and procedural standards of FIFRA were 
functionally equivalent to NEPA and therefore formal compliance was not 
necessary); W. Neb. Res. Council v. U.S. EPA, 943 F.2d 867, 871-72 (8th 
Cir. 1991) (finding that the procedures of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
were functionally equivalent to those required by NEPA); Cellular Phone 
Taskforce v. Fed. Commc'ns Comm'n, 205 F.3d 82, 94-95 (2d Cir. 2000) 
(concluding that the procedures followed by the Federal Communications 
Commission were

[[Page 43321]]

functionally compliant with EA and FONSI requirements under NEPA). 
Paragraph (b) of Sec.  1501.1 clarifies that agencies can make this 
determination in their agency NEPA procedures in accordance with Sec.  
1507.3(d) or on a case-by-case basis. The final rule adds a new 
paragraph (b)(1) to state that agencies may request assistance from CEQ 
in making a case-by-case determination under this section, and a new 
paragraph (b)(2) to require agencies to consult with other Federal 
agencies for their concurrence when making a determination where more 
than one Federal agency administers the statute (e.g., the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA)). Agencies may document these consultations, as 
appropriate. Agencies will only apply the thresholds in this section 
after consideration on a case-by-case basis, or after agencies have 
determined whether and how to incorporate them into their own agency 
NEPA procedures.
    Some agencies already include information related to the 
applicability of NEPA to their actions in their agency NEPA procedures. 
For example, EPA's NEPA procedures include an applicability provision 
that explains which EPA actions NEPA does not apply to, including 
actions under the Clean Air Act and certain actions under the Clean 
Water Act. See 40 CFR 6.101. The final rule codifies the agency 
practice of including this information in agency NEPA procedures but 
also provides agencies' flexibility to make case-by-case determinations 
as needed.
2. Apply NEPA Early in the Process (Sec.  1501.2)
    CEQ proposed to amend Sec.  1501.2, ``Apply NEPA early in the 
process,'' designating the introductory paragraph as paragraph (a) and 
changing ``shall'' to ``should'' and ``possible'' to ``reasonable.'' 
CEQ makes these changes in the final rule. Agencies need the discretion 
to structure the timing of their NEPA processes to align with their 
decision-making processes, consistent with their statutory authorities. 
Agencies also need flexibility to determine the appropriate time to 
start the NEPA process, based on the context of the particular proposed 
action and governed by the rule of reason, so that the NEPA analysis 
meaningfully informs the agency's decision. The appropriate time to 
begin the NEPA process is dependent on when the agency has sufficient 
information, and on how it can most effectively integrate the NEPA 
review into the agency's decision-making process. Further, some courts 
have viewed this provision as a legally enforceable standard, rather 
than an opportunity for agencies to integrate NEPA into their decision-
making programs and processes. See, e.g., N.M. ex rel. Richardson v. 
Bureau of Land Mgmt., 565 F.3d 683 (10th Cir. 2009); Metcalf v. Daley, 
214 F.3d 1135 (9th Cir. 2000). As discussed above, only final agency 
action is subject to judicial review under the APA. CEQ's view is that 
agencies should have discretion with respect to timing, consistent with 
the regulatory provisions in Sec. Sec.  1501.11 and 1502.4 for 
deferring NEPA analysis to appropriate points in the decision-making 
process. As noted in the NPRM, this change is consistent with CEQ 
guidance that agencies should ``concentrate on relevant environmental 
analysis'' in their EISs rather than ``produc[ing] an encyclopedia of 
all applicable information.'' Timely Environmental Reviews Guidance, 
supra note 29; see also Sec. Sec.  1500.4(b), 1502.2(a). Therefore, CEQ 
makes these changes to clarify that agencies have discretion to 
structure their NEPA processes in accordance with the rule of reason. 
CEQ also proposed to change ``possible'' to ``reasonable'' in paragraph 
(b)(4)(iii) and ``shall'' to ``should'' in the introductory paragraph 
of Sec.  1502.5 for consistency with the changes to Sec.  1501.2. CEQ 
makes these changes in the final rule.
    CEQ also proposed to change ``planning and decisions reflect 
environmental values'' to ``agencies consider environmental impacts in 
their planning and decisions'' in paragraph (a). CEQ makes this change 
in the final rule because ``consider environmental impacts'' provides 
more explicit direction to agencies and is more consistent with the Act 
and the CEQ regulations.
    CEQ proposed to redesignate the remaining paragraphs in Sec.  
1501.2 to list out other general requirements for agencies. In 
paragraph (b)(1), the final rule removes the direct quote of NEPA 
consistent with the Federal Register's requirements for the Code of 
Federal Regualtions. In paragraph (b)(2), CEQ proposed to clarify that 
agencies should consider economic and technical analyses along with 
environmental effects. This change is consistent with section 102(2)(B) 
of NEPA, which directs agencies, in consultation with CEQ, to identify 
and develop methods and procedures to ensure environmental amenities 
and values are considered along with economic and technical 
considerations in decision making. CEQ makes this change in the final 
rule and revises the second sentence in this paragraph to qualify that 
agencies must review and publish environmental documents and 
appropriate analyses at the same time as other planning documents 
``whenever practicable.'' CEQ recognizes that it is not always 
practicable to publish such documents at the same time because it can 
delay publication of one or the other. Finally, CEQ proposed to amend 
paragraph (b)(4)(ii) to change ``agencies'' to ``governments'' 
consistent with and in support of government-to-government consultation 
pursuant to E.O. 13175 \74\ and E.O. 13132, ``Federalism.'' \75\ CEQ 
makes these changes in the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ Supra note 69.
    \75\ 64 FR 43255 (Aug. 10, 1999).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Determine the Appropriate Level of NEPA Review (Sec.  1501.3)
    As discussed in the NPRM, NEPA requires a ``detailed statement'' 
for ``major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the 
human environment.'' 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C). To determine whether an 
action requires such a detailed statement, the 1978 regulations 
provided three levels of review for Federal agencies to assess 
proposals for agency action. Specifically, the CEQ regulations allow 
agencies to review expeditiously those actions that normally do not 
have significant effects by using CEs or, for actions that are not 
likely to have significant effects, by preparing EAs. By using CEs and 
EAs whenever appropriate, agencies then can focus their limited 
resources on those actions that are likely to have significant effects 
and require the ``detailed statement,'' or EIS, required by NEPA.
    While the 1978 CEQ regulations provided for these three levels of 
NEPA review, they do not clearly set out the decisional framework by 
which agencies should assess their proposed actions and select the 
appropriate level of review. To provide this direction and clarity, the 
NPRM proposed to add a new section at Sec.  1501.3, ``Determine the 
appropriate level of NEPA review.'' The proposal described the three 
levels of NEPA review and the basis upon which an agency makes a 
determination regarding the appropriate level of review for a proposed 
action. CEQ includes the proposal in the final rule at paragraph (a) of 
Sec.  1501.3.
    CEQ proposed to address the consideration of significance in 
paragraph (b) since it is central to determining the appropriate level 
of review. CEQ proposed to move the language from 40 CFR 1508.27, 
``Significantly,'' since it did not contain a definition, but rather 
set forth factors for considering whether an effect is significant, to 
paragraph (b). CEQ also proposed to eliminate most of the

[[Page 43322]]

factors in favor of a simpler, more flexible approach for agencies to 
assess significance. Specifically, CEQ proposed to change ``context'' 
to ``potentially affected environment'' and ``intensity'' to ``degree'' 
to provide greater clarity as to what agencies should consider in 
assessing potential significant effects. The phrase ``potentially 
affected environment'' relates more closely to physical, ecological, 
and socio-economic aspects than ``context.'' The final rule reorganizes 
several factors formerly categorized under ``intensity'' to clarify 
further this distinction. The final rule uses the term ``degree'' 
because some effects may not necessarily be of an intense or severe 
nature, but nonetheless should be considered when determining 
significance. While 40 CFR 1508.27 used several different words to 
explain what was meant by ``intensity,'' it also used ``degree'' 
numerous times. Therefore, the consistent use of ``degree'' throughout 
is clearer. In the final rule, CEQ includes these proposed changes in 
paragraph (b) with some additional revisions in response to comments. 
CEQ clarifies in paragraph (b)(1) that agencies ``should'' (rather than 
``may'') consider the affected area specific to the proposed action, 
consistent with the construction of paragraph (b)(2), and the affected 
area's resources. The final rule includes one example, listed species 
and designated critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act, but 
this could include any type of resource such as historic, cultural, or 
park lands. The final rule also modifies the example of significance 
varying with the setting, because there was some misunderstanding of 
the proposed change from ``world'' to ``Nation.'' This sentence merely 
serves as an example. Consistent with the NPRM, paragraph (b)(2) 
addresses considerations of the degree of effects. CEQ moves short- and 
long-term effects from ``affected environment'' in (b)(1) to ``degree'' 
in paragraph (b)(2)(i). CEQ proposed to exclude consideration of 
controversy (40 CFR 1508.27(b)(4)) because the extent to which effects 
may be controversial is subjective and is not dispositive of effects' 
significance. Further, courts have interpreted controversy to mean 
scientific controversy, which the final rule addresses within the 
definition of effects, as the strength of the science informs whether 
an effect is reasonably foreseeable. The controversial nature of a 
project is not relevant to assessing its significance.
    Additionally, CEQ proposed to remove the reference in 40 CFR 
1508.27(b)(7) to ``[s]ignificance cannot be avoided by terming an 
action temporary or by breaking it down into small component parts'' 
because this is addressed in the criteria for scope in Sec. Sec.  
1501.9(e) and 1502.4(a), which would provide that agencies evaluate in 
a single EIS proposals or parts of proposals that are related closely 
enough to be, in effect, a single course of action. Commenters noted 
that Sec. Sec.  1501.9 and 1502.4 are applicable only to EISs. 
Therefore, in the final rule CEQ includes a sentence in paragraph (b) 
stating that agencies should consider connected actions when 
determining the significance of the effects of the proposed action.
4. Categorical Exclusions (Sec.  1501.4)
    Under the 1978 regulations, agencies could categorically exclude 
actions from detailed review where the agency has found in its agency 
NEPA procedures that the action normally would not have significant 
effects. Over the past 4 decades, Federal agencies have developed more 
than 2,000 CEs.\76\ CEQ estimates that each year, Federal agencies 
apply CEs to approximately 100,000 Federal agency actions that 
typically require little or no documentation.\77\ While CEs are the 
most commonly used level of NEPA review, CEQ has addressed CE 
development and implementation in only one comprehensive guidance 
document, see CE Guidance, supra note 29, and the 1978 regulations did 
not address CEs in detail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ See Council on Environmental Quality, List of Federal 
Agency Categorical Exclusions (June 18, 2020), https://ceq.doe.gov/nepa-practice/categorical-exclusions.html.
    \77\ See, e.g., Council on Environmental Quality, The Eleventh 
and Final Report on the National Environmental Policy Act Status and 
Progress for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
Activities and Projects (Nov. 2, 2011), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-reports/nov2011/CEQ_ARRA_NEPA_Report_Nov_2011.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to the ANPRM, many commenters requested that CEQ update 
the NEPA regulations to provide more detailed direction on the 
application of CEs. To provide greater clarity, CEQ proposed to add a 
new section on CEs in proposed Sec.  1501.4, ``Categorical 
exclusions,'' to address in more detail the process by which an agency 
considers whether a proposed action is categorically excluded under 
NEPA.
    Proposed paragraph (a) stated that agencies identify CEs in their 
NEPA procedures. CEQ adds this paragraph to the final rule, reiterating 
the requirement in Sec.  1507.3(e)(2)(ii) that agencies establish CEs 
in their agency NEPA procedures. The NPRM proposed in paragraph (b) to 
set forth the requirement to consider extraordinary circumstances once 
an agency determines that a CE covers a proposed action, consistent 
with the current requirement in 40 CFR 1508.4. CEQ includes this 
provision in the final rule, changing the language from passive to 
active voice. CEQ proposed in paragraph (b)(1) to provide that, when 
extraordinary circumstances are present, agencies may consider whether 
mitigating circumstances, such as the design of the proposed action to 
avoid effects that create extraordinary circumstances, are sufficient 
to allow the proposed action to be categorically excluded. CEQ includes 
this paragraph in the final rule, but revises it to address confusion 
over whether CEQ is creating a ``mitigated CE.'' In the final rule, 
paragraph (b)(1) provides that an agency can categorically exclude a 
proposed action when an environmental resource or condition identified 
as a potential extraordinary circumstance is present if the agency 
determines that there are ``circumstances that lessen the impacts'' or 
other conditions sufficient to avoid significant effects. This 
paragraph clarifies that agencies' extraordinary circumstances criteria 
are not intended to necessarily preclude the application of a CE merely 
because a listed factor may be present or implicated. Courts have 
rejected a ``mere presence'' test for CEs. Sierra Club v. U.S. Forest 
Serv., 828 F.3d 402 (6th Cir. 2016); Sierra Club v. Bosworth, 510 F.3d 
1016 (9th Cir. 2007); Utah Envtl. Cong. v. Bosworth, 443 F.3d 732 (10th 
Cir. 2006); Sw. Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Forest Serv., 100 
F.3d 1443, 1450 (9th Cir. 1996); cf. Rhodes v. Johnson, 153 F.3d 785 
(7th Cir. 1998). Instead, the agency may consider in light of the 
extraordinary circumstances criteria, whether the proposed action would 
take place in such a way that it would not have significant effects, or 
whether the agency could modify the proposed action to avoid the 
extraordinary circumstances so that the action remains eligible for 
categorical exclusion. While this reflects current practice for some 
agencies,\78\ this revision would assist agencies as they consider 
whether to categorically exclude an action that would otherwise be 
considered in an EA and FONSI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ See, e.g., Forest Service categorical exclusions, 36 CFR 
220.6(b)(2); surface transportation categorical exclusions, 23 CFR 
771.116-771.118.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, CEQ proposed paragraph (b)(2) to address agencies' 
obligation to prepare an EA or EIS, as appropriate, if the agency 
cannot categorically exclude

[[Page 43323]]

a proposed action. CEQ includes this provision in the final rule 
revising the language to active voice and making it consistent with the 
format of paragraph (b).
    CEQ invited comment on the proposed revisions and asked whether it 
should address any other aspects of CEs in its regulations. CEQ also 
invited comment on whether it should establish government-wide CEs in 
its regulations to address routine administrative activities, for 
example, internal orders or directives regarding agency operations, 
procurement of office supplies and travel, and rulemakings to establish 
administrative processes such as those established under the Freedom of 
Information Act or Privacy Act. After considering the comments, as 
discussed in the Final Rule Response to Comments, CEQ is not including 
any additional provisions on CEs in the final rule.
5. Environmental Assessments (Sec.  1501.5)
    Under the 1978 regulations, when an agency has not categorically 
excluded a proposed action, the agency can prepare an EA to document 
its effects analysis. If the analysis in the EA demonstrates that the 
action's effects would not be significant, the agency documents its 
reasoning in a FONSI, which completes the NEPA process; otherwise, the 
agency uses the EA to help prepare an EIS. CEQ estimates that Federal 
agencies prepare over 10,000 EAs each year.\79\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \79\ See, e.g., Council on Environmental Quality, Fourth Report 
on Cooperating Agencies in Implementing the Procedural Requirements 
of the National Environmental Policy Act, Attachment A (Oct. 4, 
2016), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-reports/Attachment-A-Fourth-Cooperating-Agency-Report_Oct2016.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ proposed to consolidate the requirements for EAs that are 
scattered throughout the 1978 regulations into a new Sec.  1501.5, 
``Environmental assessments.'' CEQ proposed to revise paragraph (a) to 
state when agencies are required to prepare EAs. CEQ proposed minor 
clarifying edits to paragraph (b), which states that agencies may 
prepare an EA to assist in agency planning and decision making. The 
NPRM proposed to move the operative language regarding the requirements 
for an EA from the definition of EA in 40 CFR 1508.9 to paragraph (c). 
CEQ makes these proposed changes in the final rule.
    Under the final rule, the format for an EA is flexible and 
responsive to agency decision-making needs and the circumstances of the 
particular proposal for agency action. Requirements for documenting the 
proposed action and alternatives in an EA continue to be more limited 
than EIS requirements. An agency must briefly describe the need for the 
proposed action by describing the existing conditions, projected future 
conditions, and statutory obligations and authorities that may relate 
to the proposed agency action with cross-references to supporting 
documents. The final rule continues to require agencies to describe 
briefly the proposed action and any alternatives it is considering that 
would meet the need of the proposed agency action. For actions to 
protect or restore the environment, without unresolved conflicts 
concerning alternative uses of available resources, CEQ expects 
agencies to examine a narrower range of alternatives to the proposed 
action. When the action may have significant impacts, the agency should 
consider reasonable alternatives that would avoid those impacts or 
otherwise mitigate those impacts to less than significant levels.
    An agency does not need to include a detailed discussion of each 
alternative in an EA, nor does it need to include any detailed 
discussion of alternatives that it eliminated from study. While 
agencies have discretion to include more information in their EAs than 
is required to determine whether to prepare an EIS or a FONSI, they 
should carefully consider their reasons and have a clear rationale for 
doing so. Agencies should focus on analyzing material effects and 
alternatives, rather than marginal details that may unnecessarily delay 
the environmental review process.
    Under the final rule, an agency must describe the environmental 
impacts of its proposed action and alternatives, providing enough 
information to support a decision to prepare either a FONSI or an EIS. 
The EA should focus on whether the proposed action (including 
mitigation) would ``significantly'' affect the quality of the human 
environment and tailor the length of the discussion to the relevant 
effects. The agency may contrast the impacts of the proposed action and 
alternatives with the current and expected future conditions of the 
affected environment in the absence of the action, which constitutes 
consideration of a no-action alternative.
    Under the final rule, agencies should continue to list persons, 
relevant agencies, and applicants involved in preparing the EA to 
document agency compliance with the requirement to involve the public 
in preparing EAs to the extent practicable, consistent with paragraph 
(e). This may include incorporation by reference of records related to 
compliance with other environmental laws such as the National Historic 
Preservation Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, or Clean Air 
Act.
    CEQ adds a new paragraph (d) to the final rule to move the language 
from 40 CFR 1502.5(b) regarding when to begin preparing an EA that is 
required for an application to the agency.\80\ Agencies may specify in 
their NEPA procedures when an application is complete such that it can 
commence the NEPA process. While the NPRM did not propose this change, 
the move is consistent with CEQ's proposal to consolidate EA 
requirements in Sec.  1501.5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ CEQ also retains the statement in Sec.  1502.5(b), as 
proposed, with respect to EISs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final rule continues to provide that agencies may prepare EAs 
by and with other agencies, applicants, and the public. Modern 
information technology can help facilitate this collaborative EA 
preparation, allowing the agency to make a coordinated but independent 
evaluation of the environmental issues and assume responsibility for 
the scope and content of the EA. CEQ proposed to move the public 
involvement requirements for EAs from the current 40 CFR 1501.4(b) to 
Sec.  1501.5 and change ``environmental'' to ``relevant'' agencies to 
include all agencies that may contribute information that is relevant 
to the development of an EA. CEQ makes these changes in paragraph (e) 
in the final rule. CEQ also adds to and reorders the list to ``the 
public, State, Tribal, and local governments, relevant agencies, and 
any applicants,'' to address some confusion by public commenters that 
interpreted relevant to modify the public and applicants. In addition, 
this revision acknowledges that there will not be an applicant in all 
instances. Consistent with the 1978 regulations, the final rule does 
not specifically require publication of a draft EA for public review 
and comment, but continues to require agencies to reasonably involve 
the public prior to completion of the EA, so that they may provide 
meaningful input on those subject areas that the agency must consider 
in preparing the EA. Depending on the circumstances, the agency could 
provide adequate information through public meetings or by a detailed 
scoping notice, for example. There is no single correct approach for 
public involvement. Rather, agencies should consider the circumstances 
and have discretion to conduct public involvement tailored to the 
interested public, to available means of communications to reach the 
interested and affected parties, and to

[[Page 43324]]

the particular circumstances of each proposed action.
    The NPRM proposed to establish a presumptive 75-page limit for EAs, 
but allow a senior agency official to approve a longer length and 
establish a new page limit in writing. CEQ adds this new requirement at 
paragraph (f) in the final rule. As noted in the NPRM, while Question 
36a of the Forty Questions, supra note 2, stated that EAs should be 
approximately 10 to 15 pages, in practice, such assessments are often 
longer to address compliance with other applicable laws, and to 
document the effects of mitigation to support a FONSI. To achieve the 
presumptive 75-page limit, agencies should write all NEPA environmental 
documents in plain language, follow a clear format, and emphasize 
important impact analyses and relevant information necessary for those 
analyses, rather than providing extensive background material. An EA 
should have clear and concise conclusions and may incorporate by 
reference data, survey results, inventories, and other information that 
support these conclusions, so long as this information is reasonably 
available to the public.
    The presumptive EA page limit promotes more readable documents and 
provides agencies flexibility to prepare longer documents, where 
necessary, to support the agency's analysis. This presumptive page 
limit is consistent with CEQ's guidance on EAs, which advises agencies 
to avoid preparing lengthy EAs except in unusual cases where a proposal 
is so complex that a concise document cannot meet the goals of an EA 
and where it is extremely difficult to determine whether the proposal 
could cause significant effects. Page limits will encourage agencies to 
identify the relevant issues, focus on significant environmental 
impacts, and prepare concise readable documents that will inform 
decision makers as well as the public. Voluminous, unfocused 
environmental documents do not advance the goals of informed decision 
making or protection of the environment.
    CEQ proposed to add a new paragraph (f) to Sec.  1501.5 to clarify 
that agencies also may apply, as appropriate, certain provisions in 
part 1502 regarding incomplete or unavailable information, methodology 
and scientific accuracy, and environmental review and consultation 
requirements to EAs. CEQ includes this new paragraph at Sec.  1501.5(g) 
in the final rule.
    In addition to the new Sec.  1501.5, CEQ incorporates reference to 
EAs in other sections of the regulations to codify existing agency 
practice where it would make the NEPA process more efficient and 
effective. As discussed in section II.C.9, CEQ makes a presumptive time 
limit applicable to EAs in Sec.  1501.10. Further, for some agencies, 
it is a common practice to have lead and cooperating agencies 
coordinate in the preparation of EAs where more than one agency may 
have an action on a proposal; therefore, CEQ adds EAs to Sec. Sec.  
1501.7 and 1501.8, as discussed in section II.C.7. Finally, as 
discussed in section II.C.10, CEQ proposed to add EAs to Sec.  1501.11, 
``Tiering,'' to codify current agency practice of using EAs where the 
effects of a proposed agency action are not likely to be significant. 
These include program decisions that may facilitate later site-specific 
EISs as well as the typical use of EAs as a second-tier document tiered 
from an EIS. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule.
6. Findings of No Significant Impact (Sec.  1501.6)
    When an agency determines in its EA that an EIS is not required, it 
typically prepares a FONSI. The FONSI reflects that the agency has 
engaged in the necessary review of environmental impacts under NEPA. 
The FONSI shows that the agency examined the relevant data and 
explained the agency findings by providing a rational connection 
between the facts presented in the EA and the conclusions drawn in the 
finding. Any finding should clearly identify the facts found and the 
conclusions drawn by the agency based on those facts.
    In response to the ANPRM, CEQ received comments requesting that CEQ 
update its regulations to consolidate provisions and provide more 
detailed requirements for FONSIs. CEQ proposed to consolidate the 
operative language of 40 CFR 1508.13, ``Finding of no significant 
impact'' with 40 CFR 1501.4, ``Whether to prepare an environmental 
impact statement,'' in the proposed Sec.  1501.6, ``Findings of no 
significant impact.'' CEQ proposed to strike paragraph (a) as the 
requirements in that paragraph are addressed in Sec.  1507.3(d)(2) 
(Sec.  1507.3(e)(2) in the final rule). As noted in section II.C.5, CEQ 
proposed to move 40 CFR 1501.4(b) to Sec.  1501.5, ``Environmental 
assessments.'' Similarly, CEQ proposed to strike 40 CFR 1501.4(d), 
because Sec.  1501.9, ``Scoping,'' addresses this requirement. CEQ 
makes these changes in the final rule.
    CEQ proposed to make 40 CFR 1501.4(e) the new Sec.  1501.6(a), and 
revise the language to clarify that an agency must prepare a FONSI when 
it determines that a proposed action will not have significant effects 
based on the analysis in the EA, consistent with the definition of 
FONSI. The proposed rule had erroneously included the standard for 
preparing an EA--``is not likely to have significant effects.'' CEQ 
proposed to clarify in paragraph (a)(2) that the circumstances listed 
in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (ii) are the situations where the agency 
must make a FONSI available for public review. CEQ makes these changes 
in the final rule.
    CEQ proposed to move the operative requirement that a FONSI include 
the EA or a summary from the definition of FONSI in 40 CFR 1508.13 to a 
new paragraph (b). CEQ also proposed to change the requirement that the 
FONSI include a summary of the EA to ``incorporate it by reference.'' 
Consistent with Sec.  1501.12, in order to incorporate the EA by 
reference, the agency would need to briefly summarize it. Making this 
change ensures that the EA is available to the public. CEQ makes these 
changes in the final rule.
    Finally, CEQ proposed a new paragraph (c) to address mitigation, 
which CEQ includes in the final rule. The first sentence addresses 
mitigation generally in a FONSI, requiring agencies to state the 
authority for any mitigation adopted and any applicable monitoring or 
enforcement provisions. This sentence applies to all FONSIs. CEQ omits 
the ``means of'' mitigation from the final rule because it is 
unnecessary and many commenters misunderstood its meaning or found it 
confusing. The second sentence codifies the practice of mitigated 
FONSIs, consistent with CEQ's Mitigation Guidance.\81\ This provision 
requires the agency to identify the enforceable mitigation requirements 
and commitments, which are those mitigation requirements and 
commitments needed to reduce the effects below the level of 
significance.\82\ When preparing an EA, many agencies develop, 
consider, and commit to mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, 
rectify, reduce, or compensate for potentially significant adverse 
environmental impacts that would otherwise require preparation of an 
EIS. An agency can commit to mitigation

[[Page 43325]]

measures for a mitigated FONSI when it can ensure that the mitigation 
will be performed, when the agency expects that resources will be 
available, and when the agency has sufficient legal authorities to 
ensure implementation of the proposed mitigation measures. CEQ does not 
intend this codification of CEQ guidance to create a different standard 
for analysis of mitigation for a ``mitigated FONSI,'' but to provide 
clarity regarding the use of FONSIs.
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    \81\ The Mitigation Guidance, supra note 29, amended and 
supplemented the Forty Questions, supra note 2, specifically 
withdrawing Question 39 insofar as it suggests that mitigation 
measures developed during scoping or in an EA ``[do] not obviate the 
need for an EIS.''
    \82\ As discussed in sections I.B.1 and II.B, NEPA is a 
procedural statute and does not require adoption of a mitigation 
plan. However, agencies may consider mitigation measures that would 
avoid, minimize, rectify, reduce, or compensate for potentially 
significant adverse environmental impacts and may require mitigation 
pursuant to substantive statutes.
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7. Lead and Cooperating Agencies (Sec. Sec.  1501.7 and 1501.8)
    The 1978 CEQ regulations created the roles of lead agency and 
cooperating agencies for NEPA reviews, which are critical for actions, 
such as non-Federal projects, requiring the approval or authorization 
of multiple agencies. Agencies need to coordinate and synchronize their 
NEPA processes to ensure an efficient environmental review that does 
not cause delays. In recent years, Congress and several administrations 
have worked to establish a more synchronized procedure for multi-agency 
NEPA reviews and related authorizations, including through the 
development of expedited procedures such as the section 139 process and 
FAST-41. In response to the ANPRM, CEQ received comments requesting 
that CEQ update its regulations to clarify the roles of lead and 
cooperating agencies.
    CEQ proposed a number of modifications to Sec.  1501.7, ``Lead 
agencies,'' and Sec.  1501.8, ``Cooperating agencies,'' (40 CFR 1501.5 
and 1501.6, respectively, in the 1978 regulations) to improve 
interagency coordination, make development of NEPA documents more 
efficient, and facilitate implementation of the OFD policy. As stated 
in the NPRM, CEQ intends these modifications to improve the efficiency 
and outcomes of the NEPA process--including cost reduction, improved 
relationships, and better outcomes that avoid litigation--by promoting 
environmental collaboration.\83\ These modifications are consistent 
with Questions 14a and 14c of the Forty Questions, supra note 2. CEQ 
proposed to apply Sec. Sec.  1501.7 and 1501.8 to EAs as well as EISs 
consistent with agency practice. CEQ makes these changes in the final 
rule, but clarifies that the provisions apply to ``complex'' EAs and 
not routine EAs where involving multiple agencies could slow down an 
already efficient and effective process.\84\
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    \83\ See, e.g., Federal Forum on Environmental Collaboration and 
Conflict Resolution, Environmental Collaboration and Conflict 
Resolution (ECCR): Enhancing Agency Efficiency and Making Government 
Accountable to the People (May 2, 2018), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/nepa-practice/ECCR_Benefits_Recommendations_Report_%205-02-018.pdf.
    \84\ This is consistent with CEQ's reports on cooperating 
agencies, which have shown that use of cooperating agencies for EAs 
has remained low. Council on Environmental Quality, Attachment A, 
The Fourth Report on Cooperating Agencies in Implementing the 
Procedural Requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) 1 (Oct. 2016), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-reports/Attachment-A-Fourth-Cooperating-Agency-Report_Oct2016.pdf 
(percentage of EAs with cooperating agencies was 6.8 percent for 
Fiscal Years 2012 through 2015); see also Council on Environmental 
Quality, Attachment A, The Second Report on Cooperating Agencies in 
Implementing the Procedural Requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 2 (May 2012), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-reports/Cooperating_Agency_Report_2005-11_Attachment_23May2012.pdf (percentage of EAs with cooperating 
agencies was 5.9 percent for Fiscal Years 2005 through 2011).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ proposed to clarify in Sec.  1501.7(d) that requests for lead 
agency designations should be sent in writing to the senior agency 
officials of the potential lead agencies. CEQ makes this change in the 
final rule. CEQ did not propose any changes to paragraphs (e) and (f) 
of Sec.  1501.7, but makes clarifying edits by reorganizing phrases and 
changing the language to active voice in the final rule.
    Consistent with the OFD policy to ensure coordinated and timely 
reviews, CEQ proposed to add a new paragraph (g) to Sec.  1501.7 to 
require that Federal agencies evaluate proposals involving multiple 
Federal agencies in a single EIS and issue a joint ROD \85\ or single 
EA and joint FONSI when practicable. CEQ adds this paragraph to the 
final rule with edits to the EA sentence to make the language 
consistent with the EIS sentence.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ A ``single ROD,'' as used in E.O. 13807, is the same as a 
``joint ROD,'' which is a ROD addressing all Federal agency actions 
covered in the single EIS and necessary for a proposed project. 40 
CFR 1508.25(a)(3). The regulations would provide flexibility for 
circumstances where a joint ROD is impracticable. Examples include 
the statutory directive to issue a combined final EIS and ROD for 
transportation actions and the FERC's adjudicatory process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ proposed to move language from the cooperating agency 
provision, 40 CFR 1501.6(a), that addresses the lead agency's 
responsibilities with respect to cooperating agencies to proposed 
paragraph (h) in Sec.  1501.7 so that all of the lead agency's 
responsibilities are in a single section. CEQ also proposed to clarify 
in paragraph (h)(4) that the lead agency is responsible for determining 
the purpose and need, and alternatives in consultation with any 
cooperating agencies.\86\ CEQ makes this move and addition in the final 
rule. In response to comments, the final rule eliminates the phrase 
``consistent with its responsibility as lead agency'' in paragraph 
(h)(2) because it is non-specific and could cause agencies to reject 
germane and informative scientific research.
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    \86\ See OFD Framework Guidance, supra note 30, sec. VIII.A.5 
(``The lead agency is responsible for developing the Purpose and 
Need, identifying the range of alternatives to be analyzed, 
identifying the preferred alternative and determining whether to 
develop the preferred alternative to a higher level of detail.''); 
Connaughton Letter, supra note 29 (``[J]oint lead or cooperating 
agencies should afford substantial deference to the [ ] agency's 
articulation of purpose and need.'')
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ proposed new paragraphs (i) and (j) in Sec.  1501.7, and (b)(6) 
and (7) in Sec.  1501.8, to require development of and adherence to a 
schedule for the environmental review of and any authorizations 
required for a proposed action, and resolution of disputes and other 
issues that may cause delays in the schedule. CEQ includes these 
provisions in the final rule with minor edits for clarity. These 
provisions are consistent with current practices at agencies that have 
adopted elevation procedures pursuant to various statutes and 
directives, including 23 U.S.C. 139, FAST-41, and E.O. 13807. In 
response to comments, CEQ includes a new paragraph (b)(8) in Sec.  
1501.8 requiring cooperating agencies to jointly issue environmental 
documents with the lead agency, to the maximum extent practicable. This 
addition is consistent with the goal of interagency cooperation and 
efficiency.
    CEQ proposed to move the operative language that State, Tribal, and 
local agencies may serve as cooperating agencies from the definition of 
cooperating agency (40 CFR 1508.5) to paragraph (a) of Sec.  1501.8. 
Upon the request of the lead agency, non-Federal agencies should 
participate in the environmental review process to ensure early 
collaboration on proposed actions where such entities have jurisdiction 
by law or special expertise. CEQ also proposed in paragraph (a) to 
codify current practice to allow a Federal agency to appeal to CEQ a 
lead agency's denial of a request to serve as cooperating agency. 
Resolving disputes among agencies early in the process furthers the OFD 
policy and the goal of more efficient and timely NEPA reviews. CEQ 
makes these changes in the final rule with minor edits for clarity. 
Finally, CEQ proposed clarifications and grammatical edits throughout 
Sec.  1501.8. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule.
8. Scoping (Sec.  1501.9)
    In response to the ANPRM, CEQ received comments requesting that CEQ 
update its regulations related to scoping,

[[Page 43326]]

including comments requesting that agencies have greater flexibility in 
how to conduct scoping. CEQ proposed to reorganize in more 
chronological order, Sec.  1501.9, ``Scoping,'' (40 CFR 1501.7 in the 
1978 regulations), consolidate all the requirements for the NOI and the 
scoping process into the same section, and add paragraph headings to 
improve clarity. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule with minor 
edits as described further in this section.
    Specifically, CEQ proposed to revise paragraph (a) to state the 
general requirement to use scoping for EISs. Rather than requiring 
publication of an NOI as a precondition to the scoping process, CEQ 
proposed to modify paragraph (a) so that agencies can begin the scoping 
process as soon as the proposed action is developed sufficiently for 
meaningful agency consideration. Some agencies refer to this as pre-
scoping under the existing regulations to capture scoping work done 
before publication of the NOI. Rather than tying the start of scoping 
to the agency's decision to publish an NOI to prepare an EIS, the 
timing and content of the NOI would instead become an important step in 
the scoping process itself, thereby obviating the artificial 
distinction between scoping and pre-scoping. However, agencies should 
not unduly delay publication of the NOI and should be transparent about 
any work done prior to publication of the NOI. CEQ makes the changes as 
proposed in the final rule.
    Paragraph (b) addresses the responsibility of the lead agency to 
invite cooperating and participating agencies as well as other likely 
affected or interested persons. CEQ proposed to add ``likely'' to this 
paragraph to capture the reality that, at the scoping stage, agencies 
may not know the identities of all affected parties and that one of the 
purposes of scoping is to identify affected parties. CEQ makes this 
change in the final rule. In the final rule, CEQ strikes ``on 
environmental grounds'' from the parenthetical noting that likely 
affected or interested persons include those who might not agree with 
the action because the clause is unnecessarily limiting. Agencies 
should invite the participation of those who do not agree with the 
action irrespective of whether it is on environmental grounds.
    The NPRM proposed to move the existing (b)(4) to paragraph (c), 
``Scoping outreach.'' CEQ proposed to broaden the types of activities 
agencies might hold during scoping, including meetings, publishing 
information, and other means of communication to provide agencies 
additional flexibility in how to reach interested or affected parties 
in the scoping process. CEQ finalizes this change as proposed.
    Paragraph (d) proposed to address the NOI requirements. CEQ 
proposed a list of what agencies must include in an NOI to standardize 
NOI format, achieve greater consistency across agencies, provide the 
public with more information and transparency, and ensure that agencies 
conduct the scoping process in a manner that facilitates implementation 
of the OFD policy for multi-agency actions, including by proactively 
soliciting comments on alternatives, impacts, and relevant information 
to better inform agency decision making. CEQ makes these changes in the 
final rule with minor edits for clarity and edits to paragraph (d)(7) 
for consistency with Sec. Sec.  1500.3 and 1502.17 and to correct the 
cross-reference.
    CEQ proposed to move the criteria for determining scope from the 
definition of scope, 40 CFR 1508.25, to paragraph (e) and to strike the 
paragraph on ``cumulative actions'' for consistency with the proposed 
revisions to the definition of ``effects'' discussed below. CEQ makes 
this change in the final rule, but does not include the reference to 
``similar actions'' in proposed paragraph (e)(1)(ii) because commenters 
expressed confusion regarding whether the determination of the scope of 
the environmental documentation, as discussed in proposed Sec.  
1501.9(e)(1)(i)(C) was directly related to the discussion of the 
``effects of the action'' as effects are defined in Sec.  1508.1(g). To 
eliminate this confusion, CEQ strikes the language in proposed Sec.  
1501.9(e)(1)(i)(C) (40 CFR 1508.25(a)(3)) regarding similar actions. 
Further, CEQ notes that, in cases where the question of the 
consideration of similar actions to determine the scope of the NEPA 
documentation was raised, courts noted the discretionary nature of the 
language (use of the word ``may'' and ``should'' in proposed Sec.  
1501.9(e)(1)(i)(C) (40 CFR 1508.25(a)(3)) and have held that 
determinations as to the scope of a NEPA document based on a 
consideration of similar actions was left to the agency's discretion. 
See e.g., Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Ctr. v. Bureau of Land Mgmt., 387 
F.3d 989, 1000-01 (9th Cir. 2004). CEQ also notes that the reference to 
``other reasonable courses of action'' in paragraph (e)(2) are within 
the judgement of the agency. Agencies have discretion to address 
similar actions through a single analysis, pursuant to revised Sec.  
1502.4(b).
    Finally, paragraph (f) addresses other scoping responsibilities, 
including identifying and eliminating from detailed study non-
significant issues, allocating assignments among lead and cooperating 
agencies, indicating other related NEPA documents, identifying other 
environmental review requirements, and indicating the relationship 
between the environmental review and decision-making schedule. CEQ 
retains this paragraph in the final rule as proposed with minor 
grammatical edits.
9. Time Limits (Sec.  1501.10)
    In response to the ANPRM, CEQ received many comments on the lengthy 
timelines and costs of environmental reviews, and many suggestions for 
more meaningful time limits for the completion of the NEPA process. 
Accordingly, and to promote timely reviews, CEQ proposed to establish 
presumptive time limits for EAs and EISs consistent with E.O. 13807 and 
prior CEQ guidance. In Question 35 of the Forty Questions, supra note 
2, CEQ stated its expectation that ``even large complex energy projects 
would require only about 12 months for the completion of the entire EIS 
process'' and that, for most major actions, ``this period is well 
within the planning time that is needed in any event, apart from 
NEPA.'' CEQ also recognized that ``some projects will entail difficult 
long-term planning and/or the acquisition of certain data which of 
necessity will require more time for the preparation of the EIS.'' Id. 
Finally, Question 35 stated that an EA ``should take no more than 3 
months, and in many cases substantially less as part of the normal 
analysis and approval process for the action.''
    Based on agency experience with the implementation of the 
regulations, CEQ proposed in Sec.  1501.10, ``Time limits,'' to change 
the introductory text to paragraph (a) and add a new paragraph (b) to 
establish a presumptive time limit for EAs of one year and a 
presumptive time limit for EISs of two years. However, the NPRM also 
proposed that a senior agency official could approve in writing a 
longer period. CEQ proposed to define the start and end dates of the 
period consistent with E.O. 13807. CEQ makes these changes in the final 
rule. CEQ eliminates the sentence regarding lead agency from paragraph 
(a) because it is no longer needed given the revisions to this section 
changing ``agency'' to ``senior agency official.'' In response to 
comments, the final rule also adds ``FONSI'' to paragraph (b)(1) to 
clarify that the time limit for EAs is measured from the date of 
decision to prepare to the publication of an EA or FONSI, since 
agencies may not publish

[[Page 43327]]

the EA separately. The final rule also clarifies that the time period 
is measured from the date the agency decides to prepare an EA, since 
applicants sometimes prepare EAs on behalf of agencies.
    Consistent with CEQ and OMB guidance, agencies should begin scoping 
and development of a schedule for timely completion of an EIS prior to 
issuing an NOI and commit to cooperate, communicate, share information, 
and resolve conflicts that could prevent meeting milestones.\87\ CEQ 
recognizes that agency capacity, including those of cooperating and 
participating agencies, may affect timing, and that agencies should 
schedule and prioritize their resources accordingly to ensure effective 
environmental analyses and public involvement. Further, agencies have 
flexibility in the management of their internal processes to set 
shorter time limits and to define the precise start and end times for 
measuring the completion time of an EA. Therefore, CEQ proposed to 
retain the factors for determining time limits in paragraph (c). CEQ 
proposed to revise paragraph (c)(6) for clarity and strike paragraph 
(c)(7) regarding controversial actions because it overlaps with 
numerous other factors, and because whether or not an action is 
controversial is not relevant to the analysis under NEPA. CEQ also 
proposed to retain with edits for clarity the list of parts of the NEPA 
process for which the senior agency official may set time limits in 
paragraph (d). CEQ retains paragraphs (c) and (d) in the final rule 
with the changes as proposed.
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    \87\ See OFD Framework Guidance, supra note 30 (``[w]hile the 
actual schedule for any given project may vary based upon the 
circumstances of the project and applicable law, agencies should 
endeavor to meet the two-year goal . . . .'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ proposed conforming edits to Sec.  1500.5(g) to change 
``establishing'' to ``meeting'' time limits and add ``environmental 
assessment.'' CEQ makes these edits in the final rule.
10. Tiering (Sec.  1501.11)
    CEQ proposed to move 40 CFR 1502.20, ``Tiering,'' to a new Sec.  
1501.11 and revise it to make clear that this provision is applicable 
to both EAs and EISs. CEQ proposed a number of revisions in Sec.  
1501.11 to clarify when agencies can use existing studies and 
environmental analyses in the NEPA process and when agencies would need 
to supplement such studies and analyses. The revisions clarify that 
agencies do not need to conduct site-specific analyses prior to an 
irretrievable commitment of resources, which in most cases will not be 
until the decision at the site-specific stage. CEQ makes these changes 
with additional updates in the final rule.
    Specifically, the final rule splits proposed paragraph (a) into two 
paragraphs. In the new paragraph (a), CEQ changes ``are encouraged to'' 
to ``should'' and moves to the end of this paragraph the sentence 
stating that tiering may also be appropriate for different stages of 
actions. The new paragraph (b) addresses the relationship between the 
different levels of tiered documents, and CEQ makes additional edits to 
this paragraph for clarity.
    CEQ also proposed to move the operative language addressing 
specific examples of when tiering is appropriate from the definition of 
tiering in 40 CFR 1508.28 to proposed paragraph (b). CEQ moves this 
language to paragraph (c) in the final rule with the edits as proposed.
11. Incorporation by Reference (Sec.  1501.12)
    CEQ proposed to move 40 CFR 1502.21, ``Incorporation by 
reference,'' to a new Sec.  1501.12 and change ``environmental impact 
statements'' to ``environmental documents'' because this provision is 
applicable generally, not just to EISs. CEQ makes this change in the 
final rule. CEQ makes additional changes in the final rule to revise 
sentences from passive to active voice. In response to comments, CEQ 
adds examples to the types of material that agencies may incorporate, 
including planning studies and analyses.

D. Revisions to Environmental Impact Statements (Part 1502)

    As stated in the NPRM, the most extensive level of NEPA analysis is 
an EIS, which is the ``detailed statement'' required under section 
102(2)(C) of NEPA. When an agency prepares an EIS, it typically issues 
a ROD at the conclusion of the NEPA review. Based on the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) weekly Notices of Availability published in the 
Federal Register between 2010 and 2019, Federal agencies published 
approximately 176 final EISs per year. CEQ proposed to update the 
format, page length, and timeline to complete EISs to better achieve 
the purposes of NEPA. CEQ also proposed several changes to streamline, 
allow for flexibility in, and improve the preparation of EISs. CEQ 
includes provisions in part 1502 to promote informed decision making by 
agencies and to inform the public about the decision-making process. 
The final rule continues to encourage application of NEPA early in the 
process and early engagement with applicants for non-Federal projects.
1. Purpose of Environmental Impact Statement (Sec.  1502.1)
    CEQ proposed to revise Sec.  1502.1 for consistency with the 
statutory language of NEPA and make other non-substantive revisions for 
clarity. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule. The final rule also 
retitles this section.
2. Implementation (Sec.  1502.2)
    CEQ proposed to strike the introductory text of Sec.  1502.2 as 
unnecessary and revise the text in paragraphs (a) and (c) for clarity 
and consistency with the language in the rule and regulatory text 
generally. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule with minor 
clarifying edits. The final rule clarifies in paragraph (d) that, in 
preparing an EIS, agencies shall state how the alternatives considered 
in it and decisions based on it serve the purposes of the statute as 
interpreted in the CEQ regulations. The final rule strikes ``ultimate 
agency'' in paragraph (e) because there may be multiple individuals 
within certain departments or agencies that have decision-making 
responsibilities, including where subunits have developed agency 
procedures or NEPA compliance programs.
3. Statutory Requirements for Statements (Sec.  1502.3)
    CEQ proposed to revise Sec.  1502.3 to make it a single paragraph, 
remove cross-references to the definition, and make minor clarifying 
edits. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule.
4. Major Federal Actions Requiring the Preparation of Environmental 
Impact Statements (Sec.  1502.4)
    CEQ proposed to revise Sec.  1502.4 to clarify in paragraph (a) 
that a ``properly defined'' proposal is one that is based on the 
statutory authorities for the proposed action. CEQ proposed to change 
``broad'' and ``program'' to ``programmatic'' in this section, as well 
as Sec. Sec.  1500.4(k) and 1506.1(c), since ``programmatic'' is the 
term commonly used by NEPA practitioners. The NPRM proposed further 
revisions to paragraph (b), including eliminating reference to 
programmatic EISs that ``are sometimes required,'' to focus the 
provision on the discretionary use of programmatic EISs in support of 
clearly defined decision-making purposes. For consistency, CEQ proposed 
to change the mandatory language to be discretionary in proposed 
paragraph (c)(3) (paragraph (b)(1)(iii) in the final rule). As CEQ 
stated in its 2014 guidance, programmatic NEPA reviews

[[Page 43328]]

``should result in clearer and more transparent decision[ ]making, as 
well as provide a better defined and more expeditious path toward 
decisions on proposed actions.'' \88\ Other statutes or regulations may 
grant discretion or otherwise identify circumstances for when to 
prepare a programmatic EIS. See, e.g., National Forest Management Act, 
16 U.S.C. 1604(g); 36 CFR 219.16. CEQ makes these changes in the final 
rule, and reorganizes proposed paragraphs (c) and (d) to be paragraphs 
(b)(1) and (2) since these paragraphs all address programmatic reviews. 
Finally, CEQ proposed to add a new sentence to proposed paragraph (d) 
(paragraph (b)(2) in the final rule) to clarify that when conducting 
programmatic reviews, agencies may tier their analyses to defer 
detailed analysis of specific program elements until they are ripe for 
decisions that would involve an irreversible or irretrievable 
commitment of resources. The final rule removes this latter clause and 
simplifies it to elements ``ripe for final agency action'' because NEPA 
review occurs pursuant to the APA and ``final agency action,'' as 
construed in Bennett v. Spear, is the test for when judicial review can 
commence. See 520 U.S. at 177-78.
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    \88\ Programmatic Guidance, supra note 29, at 7.
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5. Timing (Sec.  1502.5)
    For the reasons discussed in section II.C.2 and consistent with the 
edits to Sec.  1501.2, CEQ proposed to change ``shall'' to ``should'' 
in the introductory text so that agencies can exercise their best 
judgement about when to begin the preparation of an EIS. CEQ also 
proposed to revise paragraph (b) to clarify that agencies should work 
with potential applicants and applicable agencies before applicants 
submit applications. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule. Also, 
as noted in section II.C.7, CEQ revises paragraph (b) in the final rule 
to only address EISs in this section and move the discussion of EAs to 
Sec.  1501.5. Finally, CEQ adds ``and governments'' to ``State, Tribal, 
and local agencies'' to be comprehensive and consistent with similar 
changes made throughout the rule.
6. Interdisciplinary Preparation (Sec.  1502.6)
    CEQ proposed minor edits to Sec.  1502.6 consistent with the global 
changes discussed in section II.A. CEQ includes these changes in the 
final rule and revises this provision from passive to active voice.
7. Page Limits (Sec.  1502.7)
    In response to the ANPRM, CEQ received many comments on the length, 
complexity, and readability of environmental documents, and many 
suggestions for more meaningful page limits. As the President Carter 
noted in 1977 regarding issuance of E.O. 11991, ``to be more useful to 
decision[ ]makers and the public, [EISs] must be concise, readable, and 
based upon competent professional analysis. They must reflect a concern 
with quality, not quantity. We do not want [EISs] that are measured by 
the inch or weighed by the pound.'' \89\ The core purpose of page 
limits from the original regulations remains--documents must be a 
reasonable length and in a readable format so that it is practicable 
for the decision maker to read and understand the document in a 
reasonable time period. If documents are unreasonable in their length 
or unwieldly, there is a risk that they will not inform the decision 
maker, thereby undermining the purposes of the Act. As the Supreme 
Court noted in Metropolitan Edison Co. v. People Against Nuclear 
Energy, ``[t]he scope of the agency's inquiries must remain manageable 
if NEPA's goal of `[insuring] a fully informed and well-considered 
decision,' . . . is to be accomplished.'' 460 U.S. at 776 (quoting Vt. 
Yankee, 435 U.S. at 558). Therefore, CEQ proposed to reinforce the page 
limits for EISs set forth in Sec.  1502.7, while allowing a senior 
agency official to approve a statement exceeding 300 pages when it is 
useful to the decision-making process. CEQ makes these changes in the 
final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \89\ The Environment--Message to the Congress, 1977 Pub. Papers 
967, 985 (May 23, 1977).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As captured in CEQ's updated report on the length of final EISs, 
these documents average over 600 pages. See CEQ Length of EISs Report, 
supra note 38. While the length of an EIS will vary based on the 
complexity and significance of the proposed action and environmental 
effects the EIS considers, every EIS must be bounded by the practical 
limits of the decision maker's ability to consider detailed 
information. CEQ proposed this change to ensure that agencies develop 
EISs focused on significant effects and on the information useful to 
decision makers and the public to more successfully implement NEPA.
    CEQ intends for senior agency officials to take responsibility for 
the quantity, quality, and timelines of environmental analyses 
developed in support of the decisions of their agencies. Therefore, the 
senior agency official approving an EA or EIS in excess of the page 
limits should ensure that the final environmental document meets the 
informational needs of the agency's decision maker. For example, the 
agency decision makers may have varying levels of capacity to consider 
the information presented in the environmental document. In ensuring 
that the agency provides the resources necessary to implement NEPA, in 
accordance with Sec.  1507.2, senior agency officials should ensure 
that agency staff have the resources and competencies necessary to 
produce timely, concise, and effective environmental documents. 
Decisions as to page length for these documents are therefore closely 
related to an agency's decision as to how to structure its decision-
making process, and for that reason must ultimately remain within the 
discretion of the agency.
8. Writing (Sec.  1502.8)
    CEQ did not propose any changes to Sec.  1502.8. In the final rule, 
CEQ revises this provision to correct grammatical errors, including 
revising it from passive to active voice.
9. Draft, Final and Supplemental Statements (Sec.  1502.9)
    CEQ proposed to include headings for each of the paragraphs in 
Sec.  1502.9, ``Draft, final, and supplemental statements,'' to improve 
readability. CEQ proposed edits to paragraph (b) for clarity, replacing 
``revised draft'' with ``supplemental draft.'' CEQ makes these changes 
in the final rule and makes additional clarifying edits in Sec.  
1502.9, including to revise the language from passive to active voice.
    CEQ also received many comments in response to the ANPRM requesting 
clarification regarding when supplemental statements are required. CEQ 
proposed revisions to paragraph (d)(1) to clarify that agencies need to 
update environmental documents when there is new information or a 
change in the proposed action only if a major Federal action remains to 
occur and other requirements are met. CEQ makes this change in the 
final rule. As noted in the NPRM, this revision is consistent with 
Supreme Court case law holding that a supplemental EIS is required only 
``[i]f there remains `major Federal actio[n]' to occur, and if the new 
information is sufficient to show that the remaining action will 
`affec[t] the quality of the human environment' in a significant manner 
or to a significant extent not already considered . . . .'' Marsh, 490 
U.S. at 374 (quoting 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)); see also Norton v. S. Utah 
Wilderness All., 542 U.S. 55, 73 (2004). For example, supplementation

[[Page 43329]]

may be triggered after an agency executes a grant agreement but before 
construction is complete because the agency has yet to provide all of 
the funds under that grant agreement. On the other hand, when an agency 
issues a final rule establishing a regulatory scheme, there is no 
remaining action to occur, and therefore supplementation is not 
required. If there is no further agency action after the agency's 
decision, supplementation does not apply because the Federal agency 
action is complete. S. Utah Wilderness All., 542 U.S. at 73 (``although 
the `[a]pproval of a [land use plan]' is a `major Federal action' 
requiring an EIS . . . that action is completed when the plan is 
approved. . . . There is no ongoing `major Federal action' that could 
require supplementation (though BLM is required to perform additional 
NEPA analyses if a plan is amended or revised . . . .)'') (emphasis in 
original).
    In order to determine whether a supplemental analysis is required, 
CEQ proposed a new paragraph (d)(4) to provide that an agency may 
document its determination of whether a supplemental analysis is 
required consistent with its agency NEPA procedures or may, although it 
is not required, do so in an EA. CEQ adds this paragraph to the final 
rule, codifying the existing practice of several Federal agencies, such 
as the Department of Transportation's reevaluation provided for 
highway, transit, and railroad projects (23 CFR 771.129); the Bureau of 
Land Management's Determination of NEPA Adequacy (Department of the 
Interior Departmental Manual, Part 516, Chapter 11, Sec.  11.6); and 
the Corps' Supplemental Information Report (section 13(d) of 
Engineering Regulation 200-2-2).
10. Recommended Format (Sec.  1502.10)
    CEQ proposed to revise Sec.  1502.10 to provide agencies with more 
flexibility in formatting an EIS given that most EISs are prepared and 
distributed electronically. Specifically, CEQ proposed to eliminate the 
requirement to have a list of agencies, organizations and persons to 
whom copies of the EIS are sent since EISs are published online, and an 
index, as this is no longer necessary when most documents are produced 
in an electronically searchable format. Proposed changes to this 
section would also allow agencies to use a different format so that 
they may customize EISs to address the particular proposed action and 
better integrate environmental considerations into agency decision-
making processes. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule.
11. Cover (Sec.  1502.11)
    CEQ proposed to retitle and amend Sec.  1502.11 to remove the 
reference to a ``sheet'' since agencies prepare EISs electronically. 
CEQ also proposed to add a requirement to include the estimated cost of 
preparing the EIS to the cover in new paragraph (g) to provide 
transparency to the public on the costs of EIS-level NEPA reviews. To 
track costs, the NPRM proposed that agencies must prepare an estimate 
of environmental review costs, including costs of the agency's full-
time equivalent (FTE) personnel hours, contractor costs, and other 
direct costs related to the environmental review of the proposed 
action.\90\ CEQ also proposed this amendment to address the concerns 
raised by the U.S. Government Accountability Office that agencies are 
not tracking the costs of NEPA analyses, as well as the many comments 
CEQ received from stakeholders regarding the costs associated with 
development of NEPA analyses.\91\ CEQ noted in the NPRM that including 
such costs on the cover sheet would also be consistent with current OMB 
direction to Federal agencies to track costs of environmental reviews 
and authorizations for major infrastructure projects pursuant to E.O. 
13807 and would provide the public with additional information 
regarding EIS-level NEPA documents.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \90\ See, e.g., U.S. Department of the Interior, Reporting Costs 
Associated with Developing Environmental Impact Statements (July 23, 
2018), https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/dep_sec_memo_07232018_-_reporting_costs_associated_w_developing_environmental_impact_statements.pdf.
    \91\ In a 2014 report, the U.S. Government Accountability Office 
found that Federal agencies do not routinely track data on the cost 
of completing NEPA analyses, and that the cost can vary 
considerably, depending on the complexity and scope of the project. 
U.S. Gov't Accountability Office, GAO-14-370, National Environmental 
Policy Act: Little Information Exists on NEPA Analyses (Apr. 15, 
2014) (``GAO NEPA Report''), https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-370. The report referenced the 2003 CEQ task force analysis 
referenced above which estimated that a typical EIS costs from 
$250,000 to $2 million. See NEPA Task Force Report, supra note 28, 
at p. 65.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ adds this new paragraph (g) in the final rule with additional 
changes to clarify that agencies should provide the estimate on the 
final EIS, and that it should include the costs of preparing both the 
draft EIS and the final EIS. The final rule also adds a sentence to 
clarify that agencies should include the costs of cooperating and 
participating agencies if practicable. If not practicable, agencies 
must so indicate. For integrated documents where an agency is preparing 
a document pursuant to multiple environmental statutory requirements, 
it may indicate that the estimate reflects costs associated with NEPA 
compliance as well as compliance with other environmental review and 
authorization requirements. Agencies can develop methodologies for 
preparing these cost estimates and include them in their implementing 
procedures.
12. Summary (Sec.  1502.12)
    CEQ proposed to change ``controversy'' to ``disputed'' in Sec.  
1502.12. CEQ makes this and grammatical changes in the final rule. This 
change will better align the second clause of the sentence, ``areas of 
disputed issues raised by agencies and the public,'' with the final 
clause of the sentence, ``and the issues to be resolved (including the 
choice among alternatives).''
13. Purpose and Need (Sec.  1502.13)
    CEQ received a number of comments in response to the ANPRM 
recommending that CEQ better define the requirements for purpose and 
need statements. The focus of a purpose and need statement is the 
purpose and need for the proposed action, and agencies should develop 
it based on consideration of the relevant statutory authority for the 
proposed action. The purpose and need statement also provides the 
framework in which the agency will identify ``reasonable alternatives'' 
to the proposed action. CEQ has advised that this discussion of purpose 
and need should be concise (typically one or two paragraphs long) and 
that the lead agency is responsible for its definition. See Connaughton 
Letter, supra note 29 (``Thoughtful resolution of the purpose and need 
statement at the beginning of the process will contribute to a rational 
environmental review process and save considerable delay and 
frustration later in the decision[-]making process.''). ``In situations 
involving two or more agencies that have a decision to make for the 
same proposed action and responsibility to comply with NEPA or a 
similar statute, it is prudent to jointly develop a purpose and need 
statement that can be utilized by both agencies. An agreed-upon purpose 
and need statement at this stage can prevent problems later that may 
delay completion of the NEPA process.'' Id. The lead agency is 
responsible for developing the purpose and need, and cooperating 
agencies should give deference to the lead agency and identify any 
substantive concerns early in the process to ensure swift resolution. 
See OFD Framework Guidance, sec. VIII.A.5 and XII, supra note 30; 
Connaughton Letter, supra note 29.

[[Page 43330]]

Agencies should tailor the purpose and need statement to meet the 
authorization requirements of both the lead and cooperating agencies.
    Consistent with CEQ guidance and in response to the ANPRM comments, 
CEQ proposed to revise Sec.  1502.13, ``Purpose and need,'' to clarify 
that the statement should focus on the purpose and need for the 
proposed action. In particular, CEQ proposed to strike ``to which the 
agency is responding in proposing the alternatives including'' to focus 
on the proposed action. CEQ further proposed, as discussed below, to 
address the relationship between the proposed action and alternatives 
in the definition of reasonable alternatives and other sections that 
refer to alternatives. Additionally, CEQ proposed to add a sentence to 
clarify that when an agency is responsible for reviewing applications 
for authorizations, the agency shall base the purpose and need on the 
applicant's goals and the agency's statutory authority. See, e.g., 
Citizens Against Burlington, Inc. v. Busey, 938 F.2d 190, 196 (D.C. 
Cir. 1991) (agencies must consider the relevant factors including the 
needs and goals of the applicants and Congress' views as expressed in 
the agency's statutory authorization). This addition is consistent with 
the definition of reasonable alternatives, which must meet the goals of 
the applicant, where applicable. CEQ revises Sec.  1502.13 in the final 
rule consistent with the NPRM proposal.
14. Alternatives Including the Proposed Action (Sec.  1502.14)
    CEQ also received many comments on the ANPRM requesting 
clarification regarding ``alternatives'' under the regulations. This 
section of an EIS describes the proposed action and alternatives in 
comparative form, including their environmental impacts, such that the 
decision maker and the public can understand the basis for choice. 
However, as explained in Sec.  1502.16, this section of the EIS should 
not duplicate the affected environment and environmental consequences 
sections, and agencies have flexibility to combine these three sections 
in a manner that clearly sets forth the basis for decision making.
    CEQ proposed changes to Sec.  1502.14, ``Alternatives including the 
proposed action,'' to simplify and clarify the language and provide 
further clarity on the scope of the alternatives analysis in an EIS. 
Specifically, CEQ proposed to revise the introductory paragraph to 
remove the colloquial language, including ``heart of'' the EIS and 
``sharply defining,'' and clarify that the alternatives section of the 
EIS should present the environmental impacts in comparative form. CEQ 
makes these changes in the final rule.
    In paragraph (a), CEQ proposed to delete ``all'' before 
``reasonable alternatives'' and add ``to the proposed action'' 
afterward for clarity because NEPA does not require consideration of 
all alternatives and does not provide specific guidance concerning the 
range of alternatives an agency must consider for each proposal. 
Section 102(2)(C) provides only that an agency should prepare a 
detailed statement addressing, among other things, ``alternatives to 
the proposed action.'' 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C). Section 102(2)(E) requires 
only that agencies ``study, develop, and describe appropriate 
alternatives to recommended courses of action.'' 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(E). 
Implementing this limited statutory direction, CEQ has long advised 
that ``[w]hen there are potentially a very large number of 
alternatives, only a reasonable number of examples, covering the full 
spectrum of alternatives, must be analyzed and compared in the EIS.'' 
Forty Questions, supra note 2, at Question 1b. CEQ makes this change in 
the final rule and rephrases paragraph (a) from passive to active 
voice.
    As stated in the NPRM, it is CEQ's view that NEPA's policy goals 
are satisfied when an agency analyzes reasonable alternatives, and that 
an EIS need not include every available alternative where the 
consideration of a spectrum of alternatives allows for the selection of 
any alternative within that spectrum. The reasonableness of the 
analysis of alternatives in a final EIS is resolved not by any 
particular number of alternatives considered, but by the nature of the 
underlying agency action and by the inherent practical limitations of 
the decision-making process. The discussion of environmental effects of 
alternatives need not be exhaustive, but must provide information 
sufficient to permit a reasoned choice of alternatives for the agency 
to evaluate available reasonable alternatives including significant 
alternatives that are called to its attention by other agencies, 
organizations, communities, or a member of the public.\92\ As discussed 
in section II.C.8, to aid agencies in identification of alternatives, 
Sec.  1501.9, ``Scoping,'' requires agencies to request identification 
of potential alternatives in the NOI. Analysis of alternatives also may 
serve purposes other than NEPA compliance, such as evaluation of the 
least environmentally damaging practicable alternative for the 
discharge of dredged or fill material under section 404(b)(1) of the 
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1344(b)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \92\ Additionally, by crafting alternatives, agencies can 
``bound'' different options and develop information on intermediate 
options that occupy the logical space in between different formal 
alternatives. See, e.g., H.A. Simon, ``Bounded Rationality,'' in 
Utility and Probability (J. Eatwell, M. Milgate, & P. Newman P. eds. 
1990).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The number of alternatives that is appropriate for an agency to 
consider will vary. For some actions, such as where the Federal 
agency's authority to consider alternatives is limited by statute, the 
range of alternatives may be limited to the proposed action and the no 
action alternative. For actions where the Federal authority to consider 
a range of alternatives is broad, the final EIS itself should consider 
a broader range of reasonable alternatives. However, a process of 
narrowing alternatives is in accord with NEPA's ``rule of reason'' and 
common sense--agencies need not reanalyze alternatives previously 
rejected, particularly when an earlier analysis of numerous reasonable 
alternatives was incorporated into the final analysis and the agency 
has considered and responded to public comment favoring other 
alternatives. Furthermore, agencies should limit alternatives to those 
available to the decision maker at the time of decision.
    For consistency with this change, CEQ proposed to strike ``the'' 
before ``reasonable alternatives'' in Sec.  1502.1, and amend Sec.  
1502.16, ``Environmental consequences,'' to clarify in proposed 
paragraph (a)(1) that the discussion must include the environmental 
impacts of the ``proposed action and reasonable alternatives.'' CEQ 
makes these changes in the final rule.
    In response to CEQ's ANPRM, some commenters urged that the 
regulations should not require agencies to account for impacts over 
which the agency has no control, including those resulting from 
alternatives outside its jurisdiction. CEQ proposed to strike 40 CFR 
1502.14(c) requiring consideration of reasonable alternatives not 
within the jurisdiction of the lead agency for all EISs because it is 
not efficient or reasonable to require agencies to develop detailed 
analyses relating to alternatives outside the jurisdiction of the lead 
agency. CEQ removes this paragraph in the final rule. Further, the new 
definition of ``reasonable alternatives'' excludes alternatives outside 
the agency's jurisdiction when they would not be technically feasible 
due to the agency's lack of statutory authority to implement that 
alternative. However, an agency may discuss reasonable alternatives not 
within its jurisdiction when necessary for the agency's decision-making 
process such as when preparing an EIS to address

[[Page 43331]]

legislative EIS requirements pursuant to Sec.  1506.8 and to address 
specific congressional directives.
    A concern raised by many ANPRM commenters is that agencies have 
limited resources and that it is important that agencies use those 
resources effectively. The provisions inviting commenters to identify 
potential alternatives will help to inform agencies as to how many 
alternatives are reasonable to consider, and allow agencies to assess 
whether any particular submitted alternative is reasonable to consider. 
Analyzing a large number of alternatives, particularly where it is 
clear that only a few alternatives would be economically and 
technically feasible and could be realistically implemented by the 
applicant, can divert limited agency resources. CEQ invited comment on 
whether the regulations should establish a presumptive maximum number 
of alternatives for evaluation of a proposed action, or alternatively 
for certain categories of proposed actions. CEQ sought comment on (1) 
specific categories of actions, if any, that should be identified for 
the presumption or for exceptions to the presumption; and (2) what the 
presumptive number of alternatives should be (e.g., a maximum of three 
alternatives including the no action alternative). CEQ did not receive 
sufficient information to establish a minimum, but adds a new paragraph 
(f) to the final rule to state that agencies shall limit their 
consideration to a reasonable number of alternatives. The revisions to 
the regulations to promote earlier solicitation of information and 
identification of alternatives, and timely submission of comments, will 
assist agencies in establishing how many alternatives are reasonable to 
consider and assessing whether any particular submitted alternative is 
reasonable to consider.
15. Affected Environment (Sec.  1502.15)
    CEQ proposed in Sec.  1502.15, ``Affected environment,'' to 
explicitly allow for combining of affected environment and 
environmental consequences sections to adopt what has become a common 
practice in some agencies. This revision would ensure that the 
description of the affected environment focuses on those aspects of the 
environment that the proposed action affects. CEQ makes this change in 
the final rule. Additionally, the final rule adds a clause to emphasize 
that the affected environment includes reasonably foreseeable 
environmental trends and planned actions in the affected areas. This 
change responds to comments raising concerns that eliminating the 
definition of cumulative impact (40 CFR 1508.7) would result in less 
consideration of changes in the environment. To the extent 
environmental trends or planned actions in the area(s) are reasonably 
foreseeable, the agency should include them in the discussion of the 
affected environment. Consistent with current agency practice, this 
also may include non-Federal planned activities that are reasonably 
foreseeable.
    In response to the NPRM, commenters expressed concerns that impacts 
of climate change on a proposed project would no longer be taken into 
account. Under the final rule, agencies will consider predictable 
environmental trends in the area in the baseline analysis of the 
affected environment. Trends determined to be a consequence of climate 
change would be characterized in the baseline analysis of the affected 
environment rather than as an effect of the action. Discussion of the 
affected environment should be informative but should not be 
speculative.
16. Environmental Consequences (Sec.  1502.16)
    CEQ proposed to reorganize Sec.  1502.16, ``Environmental 
consequences.'' CEQ proposed to designate the introductory paragraph as 
paragraph (a), move up the sentence that it should not duplicate the 
alternatives discussion, and create subordinate paragraphs (a)(1) 
through (10) for clarity. In paragraph (a)(1), CEQ proposed to 
consolidate into one paragraph the requirements regarding effects 
scattered throughout 40 CFR 1502.16, including paragraphs (a), (b), and 
(d), to include a discussion of the effects of the proposed action and 
reasonable alternatives. Also consistent with the definition of 
effects, CEQ proposed to strike references to direct, indirect, and 
cumulative effects. The combined discussion should focus on those 
effects that are reasonably foreseeable and have a reasonably close 
causal relationship to the proposed action, consistent with the 
proposed revised definition of effects addressed in Sec.  1508.1(g). 
CEQ proposed to move 40 CFR 1502.16(c) and (e) through (h) to be 
paragraphs (a)(5) through (9). To align with the statute, CEQ also 
proposed to add a new paragraph (a)(10) to provide that discussion of 
environmental consequences should include, where applicable, economic 
and technical considerations consistent with section 102(2)(B) of NEPA. 
CEQ makes these changes in the final rule with minor edits to clarify 
that ``this section'' in paragraph (a) refers to the ``environmental 
consequences'' section; address the dangling modifier, ``their 
significance,'' in paragraph (a)(1); correct the usage of ``which'' and 
``that'' throughout; and clarify the language in paragraph (b).
    Further, CEQ proposed to move the operative language that addresses 
when agencies need to consider economic and social effects in EISs from 
the definition of human environment in 40 CFR 1508.14 to proposed Sec.  
1502.16(b). CEQ also proposed to amend the language for clarity, 
explain that the agency makes the determination of when consideration 
of economic and social effects is interrelated with consideration of 
natural or physical environmental effects at which point the agency 
should give appropriate consideration to those effects, and strike 
``all of'' as unnecessary. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule.
17. Submitted Alternatives, Information, and Analyses (Sec.  1502.17)
    To ensure agencies have considered the alternatives, information, 
and analyses submitted by the public, including State, Tribal, and 
local governments as well as individuals and organizations, CEQ 
proposed to add a new Sec.  1502.17 to require a new ``submitted 
alternatives, information, and analyses'' section in draft and final 
EISs. CEQ includes this new provision in the final rule with some 
modifications to separate the requirements for draft and final EISs, as 
discussed in this section.
    To ensure agencies receive and consider relevant information as 
early in the process as possible, Sec.  1501.9, ``Scoping,'' requires 
agencies to specifically solicit such information in their notices of 
intent. Under Sec.  1502.17, agencies must include a summary in the EIS 
identifying all alternatives, information, and analyses the agency 
received from State, Tribal, and local governments and other public 
commenters. In developing the summary, agencies may refer to other 
relevant sections of the EIS or to appendices. A new paragraph (a)(1) 
requires agencies to append to the draft EIS or otherwise publish the 
comments received during scoping and, consistent with the proposed 
rule, paragraph (a)(2) requires the lead agency to invite comment on 
the summary. Finally, paragraph (b) requires agencies to prepare a 
summary in the final EIS based on all comments received on the draft 
EIS.
    CEQ proposed to require in a new Sec.  1502.18, ``Certification of 
alternatives, information, and analyses section,'' that, informed by 
the alternatives, information, and analyses section

[[Page 43332]]

required under Sec.  1502.17, the decision maker for the lead agency 
certify that the agency has considered such information and include the 
certification in the ROD under proposed Sec.  1505.2(e). CEQ moves this 
provision to Sec.  1505.2(b) in the final rule, as discussed in further 
detail in section II.G.2.
18. List of Preparers (Sec.  1502.18)
    CEQ proposed to move ``List of preparers'' from Sec.  1502.17 to 
Sec.  1502.19 to accommodate the two new sections addressing submitted 
alternatives, information, and analyses. The final rule moves this 
section to Sec.  1502.18 and makes minor revisions to change the 
language from passive to active voice and remove the erroneous cross-
references.
19. Appendix (Sec.  1502.19)
    CEQ proposed to move ``Appendix'' from Sec.  1502.18 to Sec.  
1502.20 and revise the language for clarity. The final rule moves this 
provision to Sec.  1502.19 with additional clarifying revisions. The 
final rule also adds a new paragraph (d) to reflect the potential 
appendix for scoping comments on alternatives, information, and 
analyses pursuant to Sec.  1502.17(a)(1) and a new paragraph (e) for 
the potential appendix of draft EIS comments pursuant to Sec. Sec.  
1503.1 and 1503.4(b).
20. Publication of the Environmental Impact Statement (Sec.  1502.20)
    CEQ proposed to move ``Circulation of the environmental impact 
statement'' from Sec.  1502.19 to Sec.  1502.21 and retitle it 
``Publication of the environmental impact statement.'' CEQ moves this 
to Sec.  1502.20 in the final rule. CEQ proposed to modernize this 
provision, changing circulate to publish and eliminating the option to 
circulate the summary of an EIS given that agencies electronically 
produce most EISs. CEQ proposed to require agencies to transmit the EIS 
electronically, but provide for paper copies by request. CEQ makes 
these changes in the final rule.
21. Incomplete or Unavailable Information (Sec.  1502.21)
    CEQ proposed several revisions to proposed Sec.  1502.22, 
``Incomplete or unavailable information,'' which CEQ redesignates as 
Sec.  1502.21 in the final rule. Specifically, CEQ proposed to further 
subdivide the paragraphs for clarity and strike the word ``always'' 
from paragraph (a) as unnecessarily limiting and inconsistent with the 
rule of reason, and replaced the term ``exorbitant'' with 
``unreasonable'' in paragraphs (b) and (c), which is consistent with 
CEQ's description of ``overall cost'' considerations in its 1986 
promulgation of amendments to this provision.\93\ CEQ reiterates that 
the term ``overall cost'' as used in this section includes ``financial 
costs and other costs such as costs in terms of time (delay) and 
personnel.'' \94\ CEQ invited comment on whether the ``overall costs'' 
of obtaining incomplete of unavailable information warrants further 
definition to address whether certain costs are or are not 
``unreasonable.'' CEQ does not include any definition in the final 
rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \93\ 51 FR at 15622 (Apr. 25, 1986).
    \94\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For clarity and in response to comments, the final rule inserts 
``but available'' in paragraph (b) to clarify that agencies will 
continue to be required to obtain available information essential to a 
reasoned choice between alternatives where the overall costs are not 
unreasonable and the means of obtaining that information are known.\95\ 
New scientific or technical research is unavailable information and is 
addressed in Sec.  1502.23. Where the overall costs are unreasonable or 
means of obtaining the information are not known, agencies will 
continue to be required to disclose in the EIS that information is 
incomplete or unavailable and provide additional information to assist 
in analyzing the reasonably foreseeable significant adverse impacts. 
However, Sec.  1502.23 does not require agencies to undertake new 
scientific and technical research to inform their analyses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \95\ See, e.g. Pub. Citizen, 541 U.S. at 767 (``Also, inherent 
in NEPA and its implementing regulations is a `rule of reason,' 
which ensures that agencies determine whether and to what extent to 
prepare an EIS based on the usefulness of any new potential 
information to the decision[-]making process.''); see also Marsh, 
490 U.S. at 373-74 (agencies should apply a ``rule of reason'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, CEQ proposed to eliminate 40 CFR 1502.22(c) addressing the 
applicability of the 1986 amendments to this section because this 
paragraph is obsolete. CEQ does not include this provision in the final 
rule.
22. Cost-Benefit Analysis (Sec.  1502.22)
    CEQ did not propose changes to the cost-benefit analysis section 
other than an update to the citation. In the final rule, CEQ moves this 
provision from Sec.  1502.23 to Sec.  1502.22 and adds a parenthetical 
after ``section 102(2)(B) of NEPA'' that paraphrases the statutory text 
relating to considering unquantified environmental amenities and values 
along with economic and technical considerations. This is consistent 
with the policy established in section 101(a), which also refers to 
fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and 
future generations of Americans. Finally, CEQ revises the language for 
clarity, including changing from passive to active voice.
23. Methodology and Scientific Accuracy (Sec.  1502.23)
    CEQ proposed revisions to update proposed Sec.  1502.24, which CEQ 
redesigantes Sec.  1502.23 in the final rule. The NPRM proposed to 
broaden this provision to environmental documents and CEQ makes this 
change in the final rule. CEQ proposed to clarify that agencies must 
make use of reliable existing data and resources when they are 
available and appropriate. CEQ also proposed to revise this section to 
allow agencies to draw on any source of information (such as remote 
sensing and statistical modeling) that the agency finds reliable and 
useful to the decision-making process. As noted in the NPRM, these 
changes will promote the use of reliable data, including information 
gathered using modern technologies. CEQ makes these changes in the 
final rule with minor changes. The final rule revises the sentence 
regarding placing the discussion of methodology in an appendix from 
singular to plural for consistency with the rest of the language in 
this section. In response to comments, CEQ moves the proposed sentence 
regarding new scientific and technical research to a new sentence at 
the end of the section and adds a sentence clarifying that nothing in 
this provision is intended to prohibit agencies from compliance with 
the requirements of other statutes pertaining to scientific and 
technical research. Agencies must continue to conduct surveys and 
collect data where required by other statutes.
24. Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements (Sec.  1502.24)
    CEQ proposed to revise this section to clarify that agencies must 
integrate, to the fullest extent possible, their NEPA analysis with all 
other applicable Federal environmental review laws and Executive orders 
in furtherance of the OFD policy established by E.O. 13807 and to make 
the environmental review process more efficient.\96\ CEQ redesignates 
this section in the final rule to Sec.  1502.24, updates a statutory

[[Page 43333]]

citation, and revises the text as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \96\ The Permitting Council has compiled a list of environmental 
laws and Executive orders that may apply to a proposed action. See 
Federal Environmental Review and Authorization Inventory, https://www.permits.performance.gov/tools/federal-environmental-review-and-authorization-inventory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Revisions to Commenting on Environmental Impact Statements (Part 
1503)

    Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA requires that agencies obtain views of 
Federal agencies with jurisdiction by law or expertise with respect to 
any environmental impact, and also directs that agencies make copies of 
the EIS and the comments and views of appropriate Federal, State, and 
local agencies available to the President, CEQ and the public. 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C). Part 1503 of the CEQ regulations include provisions 
relating to inviting and responding to comments. CEQ proposed to 
modernize part 1503 given modern technologies not available at the time 
of the 1978 regulations. In particular, the proposed regulations 
encouraged agencies to use the current methods of electronic 
communication both to publish important environmental information and 
to structure public participation for greater efficiency and inclusion 
of interested persons. Additionally, CEQ proposed changes to encourage 
commenters to provide information early and to require comments to be 
as specific as possible to ensure agencies can consider them in their 
decision-making process. CEQ finalizes many of the proposed changes 
with modifications as this section discusses in further detail.
1. Inviting Comments and Requesting Information and Analyses (Sec.  
1503.1)
    CEQ proposed to retitle and revise Sec.  1503.1, ``Inviting 
comments and requesting information and analyses,'' to better reach 
interested and affected parties and ensure agencies receive the 
relevant information they need to complete their analyses. CEQ proposed 
to revise paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (ii) to include State, Tribal and 
local agencies and governments to be comprehensive and consistent with 
the addition of ``Tribal'' as discussed in section II.A. CEQ proposed 
to eliminate the obsolete reference to OMB Circular A-95 from paragraph 
(a)(2)(iii) and move paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) to (a)(2)(iv) and (v), 
respectively, since these are additional parties from which agencies 
should request comments. CEQ also proposed in paragraph (a)(2)(v) to 
give agencies flexibility to tailor their public involvement process to 
more effectively reach interested and affected parties by soliciting 
comments ``in a manner designed to inform'' parties interested or 
affected ``by the proposed action.'' CEQ makes these changes in the 
final rule.
    CEQ also proposed to add a new paragraph (a)(3) that requires 
agencies to specifically invite comment on the completeness of the 
submitted alternatives, information and analyses section (Sec.  
1502.17). CEQ includes this new paragraph in the final rule with 
revisions to clarify that agencies should invite comments on the 
submitted alternatives, information, and analyses generally as well as 
the summary required under Sec.  1502.17, rather than on the 
completeness of the summary, as proposed. Interested parties who may 
seek to challenge the agency's decision have an affirmative duty to 
comment during the public review period in order for the agency to 
consider their positions. See Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. at 553.
    In paragraph (b), CEQ proposed to require agencies to provide a 30-
day comment period on the final EIS's submitted alternatives, 
information and analyses section. As noted in the discussion of Sec.  
1500.3(b) in section II.B.3, CEQ does not include this requirement in 
the final rule. However, the final rule adds language that if an agency 
requests comments on a final EIS before the final decision, the agency 
should set a deadline for such comments. This provides agencies the 
flexibility to request comments on a final EIS. Agencies may use this 
option where it would be helpful to inform the agency's decision making 
process.
    Finally, CEQ proposed a new paragraph (c) to require agencies to 
provide for commenting using electronic means while ensuring 
accessibility to those who may not have such access to ensure adequate 
notice and opportunity to comment. CEQ includes this proposed paragraph 
in the final rule.
2. Duty To Comment (Sec.  1503.2)
    Section 1503.2, ``Duty to comment,'' addresses the obligations of 
other agencies to comment on an EIS. CEQ proposed to clarify that this 
provision applies to cooperating agencies and agencies authorized to 
develop and enforce environmental standards. CEQ makes this change in 
the final rule and makes additional revisions to change the language 
from passive to active voice.
3. Specificity of Comments and Information (Sec.  1503.3)
    CEQ proposed to revise paragraph (a) and retitle Sec.  1503.3, 
``Specificity of comments and information,'' to explain that the 
purposes of comments is to promote informed decision making and further 
clarify that comments should provide sufficient detail for the agency 
to consider the comment in its decision-making process. See Pub. 
Citizen, 541 U.S. at 764; Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. at 553 (while ``NEPA 
places upon an agency the obligation to consider every significant 
aspect of the environmental impact of a proposed action, it is still 
incumbent upon [parties] who wish to participate to structure their 
participation so that it is meaningful, so that it alerts the agency to 
the [parties'] position . . . .''). CEQ also proposed in this paragraph 
that comments should explain why the issues raised are significant to 
the consideration of potential environmental impacts and alternatives 
to the proposed action, as well as economic and employment impacts, and 
other impacts affecting the quality of the human environment. In 
addition, CEQ proposed in this paragraph that comments should reference 
the section or page of the draft EIS, propose specific changes to those 
parts of the statement, where possible, and include or describe the 
data sources and methodologies supporting the proposed changes. See Vt. 
Yankee, 435 U.S. at 553 (``[Comments] must be significant enough to 
step over a threshold requirement of materiality before any lack of 
agency response or consideration becomes a concern. The comment cannot 
merely state that a particular mistake was made . . . ; it must show 
why the mistake was of possible significance in the results . . . .'' 
(quoting Portland Cement Ass'n v. Ruckelshaus, 486 F.2d 375, 394 (D.C. 
Cir. 1973)). CEQ includes these changes in the final rule to ensure 
that agencies are alerted to all interested and affected parties' 
concerns, but changes ``significant'' to ``important'' issues in the 
second sentence to avoid confusion with significant effects. Nothing in 
these revisions should be construed to limit public comment to those 
members of the public with scientific or technical expertise, and 
agencies should continue to solicit comment from all interested and 
affected members of the public. Consistent with the goal of promoting a 
manageable process and a meaningful focus on pertinent issues, CEQ also 
clarifies that commenters should submit information and raise issues as 
early in the process as possible, including during scoping to the 
extent practicable. Commenters should timely submit all comments and 
make their comments as specific as possible to promote informed and 
timely decision making.
    CEQ also proposed a new paragraph (b) to emphasize that comments on 
the submitted alternatives, information, and analyses section should 
identify any additional alternatives, information, or

[[Page 43334]]

analyses not included in the draft EIS, and should be as specific as 
possible. The proposal required comments and objections to be raised 
within 30 days of publication of the notice of availability of the 
final EIS and noted that comments and objections not provided within 
those 30 days are considered exhausted and forfeited under Sec.  
1500.3(b). In the final rule, CEQ includes this paragraph with some 
changes. The final rule provides that comments should be on the 
submitted alternatives, information, and analyses themselves as well as 
the summary that Sec.  1502.17 requires and be as specific as possible. 
It further provides that comments and objections on the draft EIS must 
be raised within the comment period provided by the agency, consistent 
with Sec.  1506.11. The final rule does not include the 30-day comment 
period, as discussed in sections II.B.3 and II.E.1; however, it 
provides that if the agency requests comments on the final EIS, 
comments and objections must be raised within the comment period. The 
final rule also provides that comments and objections not provided 
within the relevant comment periods are considered unexhausted and 
forfeited under Sec.  1500.3(b).
    CEQ proposed to change ``commenting'' agency to ``participating'' 
agency in paragraph (c), and ``entitlements'' to ``authorizations'' in 
paragraph (d). CEQ makes these changes in the final rule. Finally, CEQ 
proposed to broaden paragraph (e) to require cooperating agencies with 
jurisdiction by law to specify the mitigation measures they consider 
necessary for permits, licenses, or related requirements, including the 
applicable statutory authority. CEQ includes this change in the final 
rule because it will provide greater transparency and clarity to the 
lead agency and the public when mitigation is required under another 
statute.
4. Response to Comments (Sec.  1503.4)
    In practice, the processing of comments can require substantial 
time and resources. CEQ proposed to amend Sec.  1503.4, ``Response to 
comments,'' to simplify and clarify in paragraph (a) that agencies are 
required to consider substantive comments timely submitted during the 
public comment period. CEQ also proposed to clarify that an agency may 
respond to comments individually or collectively. Consistent with this 
revision, CEQ proposed to clarify that, in the final EIS, agencies may 
respond by a variety of means, and to strike the detailed language in 
paragraph (a)(5) relating to comments that do not warrant further 
agency response. CEQ includes these changes with some modifications in 
the final rule. Specifically, CEQ changes ``individually'' to 
``individual'' and ``collectively'' to ``groups of comments'' to 
clarify that agencies may respond to individual comments or group and 
respond once to a group of comments addressing the same issue. CEQ also 
modifies paragraph (a) introductory text to make clear that the list in 
paragraphs (a)(1) through (5) is how the agency may respond to 
comments. Finally, CEQ adds a clause to paragraph (a)(5) to reinforce 
that agencies do not have to respond to each comment individually. 
Under the 1978 regulations, agencies have had flexibility in how they 
structure their responses to comments, and CEQ does not consider this 
clarification to be a change in position.
    CEQ proposed to clarify in paragraph (b) that agencies must append 
comments and responses to EISs rather than including them in the body 
of the EIS, or otherwise publish them. Under current practice, some 
agencies include these comment responses in the EISs themselves, which 
can contribute to excessive length. See CEQ Length of EISs Report, 
supra note 38. CEQ makes this change in the final rule. As noted in the 
NPRM, these changes do not preclude an agency from summarizing or 
discussing specific comments in the EIS as well.
    Finally, CEQ proposed to amend paragraph (c) for clarity. CEQ makes 
the proposed changes and additional clarifying edits in the final rule.

F. Revisions to Pre-Decisional Referrals to the Council of Proposed 
Federal Actions Determined To Be Environmentally Unsatisfactory (Part 
1504)

    CEQ proposed edits to part 1504, ``Pre-decisional Referrals to the 
Council of Proposed Federal Actions Determined to be Environmentally 
Unsatisfactory,'' to improve clarity, including grammatical 
corrections. CEQ also proposed to reference specifically EAs in this 
part. Although infrequent, agencies have made referrals to CEQ on EAs. 
CEQ also proposed a minor revision to the title of part 1504, striking 
``Predecision'' and inserting ``Pre-decisional.'' CEQ makes these 
changes in the final rule.
1. Purpose (Sec.  1504.1)
    Section 1504.1, ``Purpose,'' addresses the purpose of part 1504, 
including CEQ referrals by the EPA. Section 309 of the Clean Air Act 
(42 U.S.C. 7609) requires EPA to review and comment on certain proposed 
actions of other Federal agencies and to make those comments public. 
Where appropriate, EPA may exercise its authority under section 309(b) 
of the Clean Air Act and refer the matter to CEQ, as stated in 
paragraph (b). The final rule revises this paragraph for clarity, 
changing it from passive to active voice. Paragraph (c) provides that 
other Federal agencies also may prepare such reviews. In the NPRM, CEQ 
proposed to change ``may make'' to ``may produce'' in this paragraph. 
The final rule changes this phrase to ``may prepare'' since ``prepare'' 
is the commonly used verb in these regulations.
2. Criterial for Referral (Sec.  1504.2)
    CEQ proposed to change ``possible'' to ``practicable'' in the 
introductory paragraph of Sec.  1504.2, ``Criteria for referral.'' CEQ 
makes this change in the final rule as discussed in section II.A. 
Consistent with the NEPA statute, CEQ proposed to add economic and 
technical considerations to paragraph (g) of Sec.  1504.2, ``Criteria 
for referrals.'' CEQ includes this change in the final rule.
3. Procedure for Referrals and Response (Sec.  1504.3)
    In Sec.  1504.3, ``Procedure for referrals and response,'' CEQ 
proposed changes to simplify and modernize the referral process to 
ensure it is timely and efficient. CEQ proposed to change the language 
in this section from passive to active voice and make other clarifying 
edits to the language. CEQ includes these changes with some additional 
clarifying edits in the final rule. Specifically, in paragraphs (a)(1) 
and (2), CEQ changes ``advise'' and ``such advice'' to ``notify'' and 
``a notification'' respectively. CEQ proposed to eliminate the 
exception in paragraph (a)(2) for statements that do not contain 
adequate information to permit an assessment of the matter's 
environmental acceptability. CEQ removes this clause in the final rule. 
The referring agency should provide the lead agency and CEQ with as 
much information as possible, including identification of when the 
information is inadequate to permit an assessment. In paragraph (a)(4), 
CEQ changes ``such advice'' to ``the referring agency's views'' in the 
final rule to clarify what the referring agency is sending to CEQ.
    In paragraph (b), CEQ proposed to change ``commenting agencies'' to 
``participating agencies,'' a change CEQ proposed throughout the rule, 
and to add a timeframe for referrals of EAs. CEQ makes these changes in 
the final rule. CEQ proposed to strike from paragraph (c)(1) the clause 
requiring the referral request that no action be taken to implement the 
matter until CEQ takes

[[Page 43335]]

action. CEQ removes this clause in the final rule because it is 
unnecessarily limiting. Agencies should have the flexibility to 
determine what they are requesting of the lead agency when making a 
referral, which may include a request not to take any action on the 
matter.
    CEQ proposed to change ``material facts in controversy'' to 
``disputed material facts'' in paragraph (c)(2)(i) for clarity and to 
simplify paragraph (c)(2)(iii) to focus on the reasons for the 
referral, which may include that the matter is environmentally 
unsatisfactory. CEQ proposed to revise paragraph (d)(2) to emphasize 
that the lead agency's response should include both evidence and 
explanations, as appropriate. CEQ proposed to revise paragraph (e) to 
simplify the process and to provide direction to applicants regarding 
the submittal of their views to the CEQ. CEQ proposed to strike the 
reference to public meetings or hearings in paragraph (f)(3) to provide 
more flexibility to CEQ in how it obtains additional views and 
information, which could include a public meeting or hearing. However, 
there may be other, more effective mechanisms to collect such 
information, including through use of current technologies. CEQ makes 
these changes in the final rule.
    Finally, CEQ proposed to modify paragraph (h) to clarify that the 
referral process is not a final agency action that is judicially 
reviewable and to remove the requirement that referrals be conducted 
consistent with the APA where a statute requires that an action be 
determined on the record after an opportunity for a hearing. Where 
other statutes govern the referral process, those statutes continue to 
apply, and these regulations do not need to speculate about what 
process might be required. Therefore, CEQ eliminates this language in 
the final rule and replaces it with the clarification that the referral 
process does not create a private right of action because, among other 
considerations, there is no final agency action.

G. Revisions to NEPA and Agency Decision Making (Part 1505)

1. Remove and Reserve Agency Decisionmaking Procedures (Sec.  1505.1)
    In the NPRM, CEQ proposed to move the text of 40 CFR 1505.1, 
``Agency decisionmaking procedures,'' to Sec.  1507.3(b). As discussed 
further in section II.I.3, CEQ makes this change in the final rule and 
reserves Sec.  1505.1 for future use.
2. Record of Decision in Cases Requiring Environmental Impact 
Statements (Sec.  1505.2)
    CEQ proposed to redesignate the introductory paragraph of Sec.  
1505.2, ``Record of decision in cases requiring environmental impact 
statements,'' as paragraph (a) and revise it to require agencies to 
``timely publish'' a ROD. CEQ also proposed to clarify that the CEQ 
regulations allow for ``joint'' RODs by two or more Federal agencies; 
this change is also consistent with the OFD policy and E.O. 13807. 
Finally, CEQ proposed to remove references to OMB Circular A-95 as 
noted previously in section II.A.
    CEQ proposed clarifying edits to proposed paragraphs (a) and (c) 
(paragraphs (a)(1) and (3) in the final rule) to change from passive to 
active voice for clarity. The final rule makes these changes in 
paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (3) in the final rule. The final rule also 
removes ``all'' before ``alternatives'' in paragraph (a)(2) for 
consistency with the same change in Sec.  1502.14(a).
    CEQ proposed to include a requirement in proposed paragraph (d) to 
require agencies to respond to any comments on the submitted 
alternatives, information, and analyses section in the final EIS. As 
discussed in sections II.B.3 and II.E.1, CEQ does not include the 
proposed 30-day comment period in the final rule; therefore, CEQ is not 
including proposed Sec.  1505.2(d) in the final rule.
    In the NPRM, proposed paragraph (e) would require the ROD to 
include the decision maker's certification regarding consideration of 
the submitted alternatives, information, and analyses section, which 
proposed Sec.  1502.18 required. The final rule replaces what was 
proposed paragraph (e) with the language moved from proposed Sec.  
1502.18, ``Certification of alternatives, information, and analyses 
section,'' in paragraph (b). In the NPRM, Sec.  1502.18 stated that, 
based on the alternatives, information, and analyses section required 
under Sec.  1502.17, the decision maker for the lead agency must 
certify that the agency has considered such information and include the 
certification in the ROD under Sec.  1505.2(d) (as proposed). This 
provision also proposed a conclusive presumption that the agency has 
considered information summarized in that section because it is 
reasonable to presume the agency has considered such information based 
on the process to request and summarize public comments on the 
submitted alternatives, information, and analyses.
    CEQ modifies the proposed text of Sec.  1502.18 in the final rule 
and in paragraph (b) of Sec.  1505.2 to clarify that the decision 
maker's certification in the ROD is informed by the summary of 
submitted alternatives, information, and analyses in the final EIS and 
any other material in the record that the decision maker determines to 
be relevant. This includes both the draft and final EIS as well as any 
supporting materials incorporated by reference or appended to the 
document. The final rule also changes ``conclusive presumption'' to a 
``presumption'' and clarifies that the agency is entitled to a 
presumption that it has considered the submitted alternatives, 
information, and analyses, including the summary thereof in the final 
EIS. Establishing a rebuttable presumption will give appropriate weight 
to the process that culminates in the certification, while also 
allowing some flexibility in situations where essential information may 
have been inadvertently overlooked. The presumption and associated 
exhaustion requirement also will encourage commenters to provide the 
agency with all available information prior to the agency's decision, 
rather than disclosing information after the decision is made or in 
subsequent litigation. This is important for the decision-making 
process and efficient management of agency resources.
3. Implementing the Decision (Sec.  1505.3)
    CEQ proposed minor edits to Sec.  1505.3, ``Implementing the 
decision'' to change ``commenting'' agencies to ``participating'' in 
paragraph (c) and ``make available to the public'' to ``publish'' in 
paragraph (d). CEQ makes these changes in the final rule.

H. Revisions to Other Requirements of NEPA (Part 1506)

    CEQ proposed a number of edits to part 1506 to improve the NEPA 
process to make it more efficient and flexible, especially where 
actions involve third-party applicants. CEQ also proposed several edits 
for clarity. CEQ finalizes many of these proposed changes in the final 
rule with some additional clarifying edits.
1. Limitations on Actions During NEPA Process (Sec.  1506.1)
    CEQ proposed to add FONSIs to paragraph (a) of Sec.  1506.1, 
``Limitations on actions during NEPA process,'' to clarify existing 
practice and judicial determinations that the limitation on actions 
applies when an agency is preparing an EA as well as an EIS. CEQ 
proposed to consolidate paragraph (d) with paragraph (b) and revise the

[[Page 43336]]

language to provide additional clarity on what activities are allowable 
during the NEPA process. Specifically, CEQ proposed to eliminate 
reference to one specific agency, broadening the provision to all 
agencies and providing that this section does not preclude certain 
activities by an applicant to support an application of Federal, State, 
Tribal, or local permits or assistance. As an example of activities an 
applicant may undertake, CEQ proposed to add ``acquisition of interests 
in land,'' which includes acquisitions of rights-of-way and 
conservation easements. CEQ invited comment on whether it should make 
any additional changes to Sec.  1506.1, including whether there are 
circumstances under which an agency may authorize irreversible and 
irretrievable commitments of resources. CEQ finalizes this provision as 
proposed with minor grammatical changes, and simplifying the references 
in paragraphs (c) introductory text and (c)(2) from programmatic 
environmental impact ``statement'' to ``review.''
2. Elimination of Duplication With State, Tribal, and Local Procedures 
(Sec.  1506.2)
    CEQ proposed revisions to Sec.  1506.2, ``Elimination of 
duplication with State, Tribal, and local procedures'' to promote 
efficiency and reduce duplication between Federal and State, Tribal, 
and local requirements. These changes are consistent with the 
President's directive in E.O. 13807 to provide for agency use, to the 
maximum extent permitted by law, of environmental studies, analysis, 
and decisions in support of earlier Federal, State, Tribal, or local 
environmental reviews or authorization decisions. E.O. 13807, sec. 
5(e)(i)(C). CEQ proposed to revise paragraph (a) to acknowledge the 
increasing number of State, Tribal, and local governments conducting 
NEPA reviews pursuant to assignment from Federal agencies. See, e.g., 
23 U.S.C. 327, and 25 U.S.C. 4115 and 5389(a). CEQ makes this change in 
the final rule. The revision in paragraph (a) clarifies that Federal 
agencies are authorized to cooperate with such State, Tribal, and local 
agencies, and paragraph (b) requires cooperation to reduce duplication.
    CEQ proposed to add examples to paragraph (b) to encourage use of 
prior reviews and decisions and modify paragraph (c) to give agencies 
flexibility to determine whether to cooperate in fulfilling State, 
Tribal, or local EIS or similar requirements. CEQ includes these 
proposed changes in the final rule and reorders the language to provide 
additional clarity. Additionally, the final rule makes further changes 
to paragraph (b) to remove potential impediments for agency use of 
studies, analysis, and decisions developed by State, Tribal, and local 
government agencies. Some commenters stated that CEQ proposed to limit 
agency use to only environmental studies, analysis, and decisions and 
exclude socio-economic and other information. The final rule clarifies 
that agencies should make broad use of studies, analysis, and decisions 
prepared by State, Tribal, and local agencies, as appropriate based on 
other requirements including Sec.  1502.23. Finally, CEQ proposed to 
clarify in paragraph (d) that NEPA does not require reconciliation of 
inconsistencies between the proposed action and State, Tribal, or local 
plans or laws, although the EIS should discuss the inconsistencies. CEQ 
makes these revisions in the final rule.
3. Adoption (Sec.  1506.3)
    CEQ proposed to expand adoption to EAs, consistent with current 
practice by many agencies, and CE determinations and clarify the 
process for documenting the decision to adopt. CEQ includes these 
proposed changes in the final rule with additional revisions to align 
the language for consistency in each paragraph and better organize 
Sec.  1506.3 by grouping the provisions relating to EISs into paragraph 
(b), EAs in paragraph (c), and CE determinations in paragraph (d).
    Paragraph (a) includes the general requirement for adoption, which 
is that any adoption must meet the standard for an adequate EIS, EA, or 
CE determination, as appropriate, under the CEQ regulations. CEQ 
proposed to reference EAs in this paragraph. The final rule includes CE 
determinations as well as EAs and reorders the documents for 
consistency with the ordering of paragraphs (b) through (d)--EISs, EAs 
(including portions of EISs or EAs), and CE determinations.
    CEQ proposed clarifying edits in paragraph (b) and changed 
references from recirculation to republication consistent with this 
change throughout the rule. In the final rule, CEQ subdivides paragraph 
(b) into subordinate paragraphs (b)(1) and (2). Paragraph (b)(1) 
addresses EISs where the adopting agency is not a cooperating agency. 
CEQ moves the cooperating agency exception to republication to 
paragraph (b)(2). Consistent with the proposed rule, this paragraph 
also clarifies that the cooperating agency adopts such an EIS by 
issuing its own ROD.
    In the NPRM, proposed paragraph (f) would allow an agency to adopt 
another agency's determination that its CE applies to an action if the 
adopting agency's proposed action is substantially the same. CEQ 
includes this provision in paragraph (d) of the final rule with 
clarifying edits. The final rule provides agencies the flexibility to 
adopt another agency's determination that a CE applies to an action 
when the actions are substantially the same to address situations where 
a proposed action would result in a CE determination by one agency and 
an EA and FONSI by another agency. For example, this would be the case 
when two agencies are engaging in similar activities in similar areas 
like small-scale prescribed burns, ecological restoration, and small-
scale land management practices. Another example is when one agency's 
action may be a funding decision for a proposed project, and another 
agency's action is to consider a permit for the same project.
    To allow agencies to use one another's CEs without the agency that 
promulgated the CE having to take an action, CEQ also proposed a new 
Sec.  1507.3(e)(5), which would allow agencies to establish a process 
in their NEPA procedures to apply another agency's CE. CEQ notes that 
there was some confusion among commenters regarding the difference 
between the adoption of CEs under Sec.  1506.3 and the provision in 
Sec.  1507.3(f)(5) (proposed Sec.  1507.3(e)(5)).\97\ CEQ has made 
clarifying edits to address this confusion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \97\ For a discussion of the differences between these two 
provisions, see section I.3 of the Final Rule Response to Comments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The adoption process in Sec.  1506.3(d) first requires that an 
agency has applied a CE listed in its agency NEPA procedures. Then, the 
adopting agency must verify that its proposed action is substantially 
the same as the action for which it is adopting the CE determination. 
CEQ adds a sentence in Sec.  1507.3(f)(5) of the final rule to clarify 
that agencies may establish a separate process for using another 
agency's listed CE and applying the CE to its proposed actions. The 
final rule also requires the adopting agency to document the adoption. 
Agencies may publish, where appropriate, such documentation or other 
information relating to the adoption.
4. Combining Documents (Sec.  1506.4)
    CEQ proposed to amend Sec.  1506.4, ``Combining documents,'' to 
encourage agencies ``to the fullest extent practicable'' to combine 
their environmental documents with other

[[Page 43337]]

agency documents to reduce duplication and paperwork. For example, the 
Corps routinely combines EISs with feasibility reports, and agencies 
may use their NEPA documents to satisfy compliance with section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act under 36 CFR 800.8. CEQ includes 
the proposed revisions in the final rule with no changes.
5. Agency Responsibility for Environmental Documents (Sec.  1506.5)
    As discussed in the NPRM, CEQ proposed to revise Sec.  1506.5, 
``Agency responsibility for environmental documents,'' in response to 
ANPRM comments urging CEQ to allow greater flexibility for the project 
sponsor (including private entities) to participate in the preparation 
of NEPA documents under the supervision of the lead agency. CEQ 
proposed updates to give agencies more flexibility with respect to the 
preparation of environmental documents while continuing to require 
agencies to independently evaluate and take responsibility for those 
documents. Under the proposal, applicants and contractors would be able 
to assume a greater role in contributing information and material to 
the preparation of environmental documents, subject to the supervision 
of the agency. However, agencies would remain responsible for taking 
reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of information prepared by 
applicants and contractors. If a contractor or applicant prepares the 
document, proposed paragraph (c)(1) would require the decision-making 
agency official to provide guidance, participate in the preparation, 
independently evaluate the statement, and take responsibility for its 
content.
    In the final rule, CEQ retains these concepts, but reorganizes 
Sec.  1506.5 to better communicate the requirements. Specifically, 
paragraph (a) contains a clear statement that the Federal agency is 
ultimately responsible for the environmental document irrespective of 
who prepares it. While this is consistent with the 1978 regulations, 
CEQ provides this direct statement at the beginning of the section to 
respond to comments that suggested agencies would be handing over their 
responsibilities to project sponsors under the proposed rule.
    Paragraph (b) introductory text and its subordinate paragraphs 
capture the requirements when a project sponsor or contractor prepares 
an environmental document, consolidating requirements for EISs and EAs 
into one because there is no longer a distinction between the 
requirements for each document in this context. Paragraph (b) allows an 
agency to require an applicant to submit environmental information for 
the agency's use in preparing an environmental document or to direct an 
applicant or authorize a contractor to prepare an environmental 
document under the agency's supervision. As noted in the NPRM, CEQ 
intends these changes to improve communication between proponents of a 
proposal for agency action and the officials tasked with evaluating the 
effects of the action and reasonable alternatives, to improve the 
quality of NEPA documents and efficiency of the NEPA process.
    Paragraph (b)(1) requires agencies to provide guidance to the 
applicant or contractor and participate in the preparation of the NEPA 
document. Paragraph (b)(2) continues to require the agency to 
independently evaluate the information or environmental document and 
take responsibility for its accuracy, scope, and contents. Paragraph 
(b)(3) requires the agency to include the names and qualifications of 
the persons who prepared the environmental document. Adding 
``qualifications'' is consistent with Sec.  1502.18 and is important 
for transparency. For an EIS, this information would be included in the 
list of preparers as required by Sec.  1502.18, but agencies have 
flexibility on where to include such information in an EA. Paragraph 
(b)(4) requires contractors or applicants preparing EAs or EISs to 
submit a disclosure statement to the lead agency specifying any 
financial or other interest in the outcome of the action, but it need 
not include privileged or confidential trade secrets or other 
confidential business information. In the NPRM, CEQ had proposed to 
remove the requirement for a disclosure statement. In response to 
comments, CEQ is retaining this concept in the final rule, recognizing 
that most applicants will have such a financial interest. However, as 
discussed above, CEQ finds that it is appropriate to allow applicants 
to prepare documents for the sake of efficiency and because agencies 
retain responsibility to oversee and take responsibility for the final 
environmental document.
6. Public Involvement (Sec.  1506.6)
    CEQ proposed to update Sec.  1506.6, ``Public involvement,'' to 
give agencies greater flexibility to design and customize public 
involvement to best meet the specific circumstances of their proposed 
actions. The NPRM proposed revisions to paragraphs (b) and (c) to add 
``other opportunities for public engagement'' to recognize that there 
are other ways to engage with interested and affected parties besides 
hearings and meetings. CEQ finalizes these changes in the final rule 
but changes ``engagement'' to ``involvement'' consistent with the title 
of the section. Additionally, the final rule adds a sentence to these 
paragraphs to require agencies to consider interested and affected 
parties' access to electronic media, such as in rural locations or 
economically distressed areas. CEQ had proposed to state in a new 
paragraph (b)(3)(x) that notice may not be limited solely to electronic 
methods for actions occurring in an area with limited access to high-
speed internet. However, CEQ is including this more general statement 
in paragraph (b) as it is a consideration for notice generally. In 
paragraph (b)(1), CEQ proposed to change the requirement to mail notice 
in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) to the more general requirement to 
``notify'' to give agencies the flexibility to use email or other 
mechanisms to provide such notice. CEQ makes this change in the final 
rule. CEQ also eliminates the requirement in paragraph (b)(2) to 
maintain a list of organizations reasonably expected to be interested 
in actions with effects of national concern because such a requirement 
is unnecessarily prescriptive given that agencies may collect and 
organize contact information for organizations that have requested 
regular notice in another format given advances in technology. In the 
proposed rule, CEQ proposed to change paragraph (b)(3)(i) to modify 
State clearinghouses to State and local agencies, and change paragraph 
(b)(3)(ii) to affected Tribal governments. In the final rule, CEQ 
modifies paragraph (b)(3)(i) to include notice to State, Tribal, and 
local agencies, and paragraph (b)(3)(ii) to include notice to 
interested or affected State, Tribal, and local governments for 
consistency with Sec.  1501.9 and part 1503. CEQ proposed a new 
paragraph (b)(3)(x) to allow for notice through electronic media. CEQ 
includes this provision in the final rule, moving the language 
regarding consideration of access to paragraph (b), as noted 
previously.
    In addition to the changes described above, CEQ proposed to strike 
the mandatory criteria in paragraph (c) for consideration of when to 
hold or sponsor public hearings or meetings. CEQ is removing this 
language in the final rule because such criteria are unnecessarily 
limiting. Agencies consider many factors in determining the most 
appropriate mechanism for promoting public involvement, including the 
particular location of the proposed action (if one exists), the types 
of effects it may have, and the needs of interested and affected 
parties, and may design their outreach in a manner that

[[Page 43338]]

best engages with those parties. The flexibility to consider relevant 
factors is critical especially in light of unexpected circumstances, 
such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which may require agencies to adapt 
their outreach as required by State, Tribal, and local authorities and 
conditions.
    Finally, CEQ proposed to simplify paragraph (f) to require agencies 
to make EISs, comments and underlying documents available to the public 
consistent with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), removing the 
provisos regarding interagency memoranda and fees. Congress has amended 
FOIA numerous times since the enactment of NEPA, mostly recently by the 
FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, Public Law 114-185, 130 Stat. 538. 
Additionally, the revised paragraph (f) is consistent with the text of 
section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, including with regard to fees. CEQ makes 
these changes as proposed in the final rule.
7. Further Guidance (Sec.  1506.7)
    CEQ proposed to update and modernize Sec.  1506.7, ``Further 
guidance,'' to remove the specific references to handbooks, memoranda, 
and the 102 monitor, and replace it with a statement that CEQ may 
provide further guidance concerning NEPA and its procedures consistent 
with E.O. 13807 and E.O. 13891, ``Promoting the Rule of Law Through 
Improved Agency Guidance Documents.'' \98\ CEQ makes these changes in 
paragraph (a) in the final rule. This rule supersedes preexisting CEQ 
guidance and materials in many respects. CEQ intends to publish a 
separate notice in the Federal Register listing guidance it is 
withdrawing. CEQ will issue new guidance, as needed, consistent with 
the final rule and Presidential directives. In the interim, in any 
instances where an interpretation of the 1978 regulations is 
inconsistent with the new regulations or this preamble's interpretation 
of the new regulations, the new regulations and interpretations shall 
apply, and CEQ includes a new paragraph (b) in the final rule to 
provide this clarification. CEQ notes that guidance does not have the 
force and effect of law and is meant to provide clarity regarding 
existing law and policy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \98\ 84 FR 55235 (Oct. 15, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Proposals for Legislation (Sec.  1506.8)
    CEQ proposed to move the legislative EIS requirements from the 
definition of legislation in 40 CFR 1508.17 to paragraph (a) of Sec.  
1506.8, ``Proposals for legislation,'' and revise the section for 
clarity. As noted in the NPRM, agencies prepare legislative EISs for 
Congress when they are proposing specific actions. CEQ also invited 
comment on whether the legislative EIS requirement should be eliminated 
or modified because the President proposes legislation, and therefore 
it is inconsistent with the Recommendations Clause of the U.S. 
Constitution, which provides the President shall recommend for 
Congress' consideration ``such [m]easures as he shall judge necessary 
and expedient . . . .'' U.S. Const., art. II, Sec.  3. The President is 
not a Federal agency, 40 CFR 1508.12, and the proposal of legislation 
by the President is not an agency action. Franklin v. Mass., 505 U.S. 
788, 800-01 (1992).
    In the final rule, CEQ retains the provision, but removes the 
reference to providing ``significant cooperation and support in the 
development'' of legislation and the test for significant cooperation 
to more closely align this provision with the statute. The final rule 
clarifies that technical drafting assistance is not a legislative 
proposal under these regulations. Consistent with these edits, CEQ 
strikes the reference to the Wilderness Act. The mandate has 
expired.\99\ Under the Wilderness Act, a study was required to make a 
recommendation to the President. If the President agreed with the 
recommendation, the President then provided ``advice'' to Congress 
about making a wilderness determination. The President is not subject 
to NEPA in his direct recommendations to Congress, but agencies subject 
to the APA are subject to NEPA, as appropriate, concerning legislative 
proposals they develop. This avoids the constitutional issue. See 
Ashwander v. Tenn. Valley Auth., 297 U.S. 288, 347 (1936) (Brandeis, 
J., concurring); Rescue Army v. Mun. Court of L.A., 331 U.S. 549, 569 
(1947).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \99\ 16 U.S.C. 1132(b)-(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Proposals for Regulations (Sec.  1506.9)
    CEQ proposed to add a new Sec.  1506.9, ``Proposals for 
regulations,'' to address the analyses required for rulemakings and to 
promote efficiency and reduce duplication in the assessment of 
regulatory proposals. CEQ proposed criteria for agencies to identify 
analyses that could serve as the functional equivalent of the EIS. In 
response to comments, CEQ revises this section in the final rule. This 
section clarifies that one or more procedures and documentation 
prepared pursuant to other statutory or Executive order requirements 
may satisfy one or more requirements of the CEQ regulations. When a 
procedure or document satisfies one or more requirements of this 
subchapter, the agency may substitute it for the corresponding 
requirements in this subchapter and need not carry out duplicative 
procedures or documentation. Agencies must identify which corresponding 
requirements in this subchapter are satisfied and consult with CEQ to 
confirm such determinations.
    CEQ invited comments on analyses agencies are already conducting 
that, in whole or when aggregated, can serve as the functional 
equivalent of the EIS. Aspects of the cost-benefit analysis prepared 
pursuant to E.O. 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, or the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, may 
overlap with aspects of the CEQ regulations. Further, an agency may 
rely on the procedures implementing the requirements of a variety of 
statutes and Executive orders that could meet some or all of the 
requirements of this subchapter. CEQ does not expressly include 
specific analyses in the final rule that satisfy the requirements of 
the CEQ regulations. In all instances, agencies should clearly identify 
how and which specific parts of the analyses serve the purpose of NEPA 
compliance, including which requirements in the CEQ regulations are 
satisfied.
10. Filing Requirements (Sec.  1506.10)
    CEQ proposed to update Sec.  1506.10, ``Filing requirements,'' to 
remove the obsolete process for filing paper copies of EISs with EPA 
and EPA's delivery of a copy to CEQ, and instead provide for electronic 
filing, consistent with EPA's procedures. CEQ proposed this change to 
provide flexibility to adapt as EPA changes its processes. CEQ revises 
this section in the final rule, making the proposed changes as well as 
phrasing the language in active voice.
11. Timing of Agency Action (Sec.  1506.11)
    CEQ proposed to revise paragraph (a) of Sec.  1506.11, ``Timing of 
agency action,'' to clarify the timing of EPA's notices of availability 
of EISs. In paragraph (b), CEQ proposed to add a clause to acknowledge 
statutory authorities that provide for the issuance of a combined final 
EIS and ROD. See 23 U.S.C. 139(n)(2); 49 U.S.C. 304a(b). CEQ makes 
these changes in the final rule.
    In proposed paragraph (c), CEQ proposed to add introductory text 
and create subordinate paragraphs to address those situations where 
agencies may make an exception to the time provisions in paragraph (b). 
Specifically, paragraph (c)(1) addresses agencies with formal appeals 
processes. Paragraph (c)(2) provides exceptions for

[[Page 43339]]

rulemaking to protect public health or safety. Paragraph (d) addresses 
timing when an agency files the final EIS within 90 days of the draft 
EIS. Finally, paragraph (e) addresses when agencies may extend or 
reduce the time periods. The proposed rule made edits to clarify the 
language in these paragraphs without changing the substance of the 
provisions. CEQ includes these changes in the final rule and makes 
additional clarifying revisions.
12. Emergencies (Sec.  1506.12)
    Section 1506.12, ``Emergencies,'' addresses agency compliance with 
NEPA when an agency has to take an action with significant 
environmental effects during emergency circumstances. Over the last 40 
years, CEQ has developed significant experience with NEPA in the 
context of emergencies and disaster recoveries. Actions following 
Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, and Michael, and other natural disasters, 
have given CEQ the opportunity to respond to a variety of circumstances 
where alternative arrangements for complying with NEPA are necessary. 
CEQ has approved alternative arrangements to allow a wide range of 
proposed actions in emergency circumstances including catastrophic 
wildfires, threats to species and their habitat, economic crisis, 
infectious disease outbreaks, potential dam failures, and insect 
infestations.\100\ CEQ proposed to amend Sec.  1506.12, 
``Emergencies,'' to clarify that alternative arrangements are still 
meant to comply with section 102(2)(C)'s requirement for a ``detailed 
statement.'' This amendment is consistent with CEQ's longstanding 
position that it has no authority to exempt Federal agencies from 
compliance with NEPA, but that CEQ can appropriately provide for 
exceptions to specific requirements of CEQ's regulations to address 
extraordinary circumstances that are not addressed by agency 
implementing procedures previously approved by CEQ. See Emergencies 
Guidance, supra note 29. CEQ maintains a public description of all 
pending and completed alternative arrangements on its website.\101\ CEQ 
makes this change in the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \100\ In response to the economic crisis associated with the 
coronavirus outbreak, Executive Order 13927, titled ``Accelerating 
the Nation's Economic Recovery From the COVID-19 Emergency by 
Expediting Infrastructure Investments and Other Activities,'' was 
issued on June 4, 2020. 85 FR 35165. This Executive order directs 
agencies to identify planned or potential actions to facilitate the 
Nation's economic recovery, including identification of actions that 
may be subject to emergency treatment as alternative arrangements.
    \101\ https://ceq.doe.gov/nepa-practice/alternative_arrangements.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

13. Effective Date (Sec.  1506.13)
    Finally, CEQ proposed to modify Sec.  1506.13, ``Effective date,'' 
to clarify that these regulations would apply to all NEPA processes 
begun after the effective date, but agencies have the discretion to 
apply them to ongoing NEPA processes. CEQ also proposed to remove the 
1979 effective date from the introductory paragraph, and strike 40 CFR 
1506.13(a) referencing the 1973 guidance and 40 CFR 1506.13(b) 
regarding actions begun before January 1, 1970 because they are 
obsolete. This final rule makes these changes.

I. Revisions to Agency Compliance (Part 1507)

    CEQ proposed modifications to part 1507, which addresses agency 
compliance with NEPA, to consolidate provisions relating to agency 
procedures from elsewhere in the CEQ regulations, and add a new section 
to address the dissemination of information about agency NEPA programs. 
CEQ makes these changes in the final rule with some modifications to 
the proposed rule as discussed in the following sections.
1. Compliance (Sec.  1507.1)
    CEQ proposed a change to Sec.  1507.1, ``Compliance,'' to strike 
the second sentence regarding agency flexibility in adapting its 
implementing procedures to the requirements of other applicable laws 
for consistency with changes to paragraphs (a) and (b) of Sec.  1507.3, 
``Agency NEPA procedures.'' This change is also consistent with the 
direction of the President to Federal agencies to ``comply with the 
regulations issued by the Council except where such compliance would be 
inconsistent with statutory requirements.'' E.O. 11514, as amended by 
E.O. 11991, sec. 2(g). CEQ makes this change in the final rule. Under 
the final rule, Sec.  1507.1 requires all Federal agencies to comply 
with the CEQ regulations as set forth in parts 1500 through 1508.
2. Agency Capability To Comply (Sec.  1507.2)
    CEQ proposed edits to the introductory paragraph of Sec.  1507.2, 
``Agency capability to comply,'' to clarify its meaning, which is to 
allow agencies to use the resources (including personnel and financial 
resources) of other parties, including agencies and applicants, and to 
specifically require agencies to account for the contributions of these 
other parties in complying with NEPA. This section also requires 
agencies to have their own capacity to comply with NEPA and the 
implementing regulations. This includes staff with the expertise to 
independently evaluate environmental documents, including those 
prepared by applicants and contractors. CEQ makes these clarifying 
edits in the final rule.
    Additionally, CEQ proposed to revise paragraph (a) to make the 
senior agency official responsible for overall agency compliance with 
NEPA, including coordination, communication, and resolution of 
implementation issues. CEQ is finalizing this change. Under the final 
rule, the senior agency official is an official of assistant secretary 
rank or higher (or equivalent) with responsibilities consistent with 
the responsibilities of senior agency officials in E.O. 13807 to whom 
agencies elevate anticipated missed or extended permitting timetable 
milestones. The senior agency official is responsible for addressing 
disputes among lead and cooperating agencies and enforcing page and 
time limits. The senior agency official also is responsible for 
ensuring all environmental documents--even exceptionally lengthy ones--
are provided to Federal agency decision makers in a timely, readable, 
and useful format. See Sec. Sec.  1501.5(f), 1501.7(d), 1501.8(b)(6) 
and (c), 1501.10, 1502.7, 1507.2, 1508.1(dd).
    CEQ proposed to amend paragraph (c) to emphasize agency 
cooperation, which includes commenting on environmental documents on 
which an agency is cooperating. CEQ makes this change in the final 
rule. CEQ revises paragraph (d) in response to comments to strike the 
second sentence, which created confusion regarding the reach of section 
102(2)(E) of NEPA. Finally, CEQ proposed to add references to E.O. 
11991, which amended E.O. 11514, and E.O. 13807 in paragraph (f) to 
codify agencies' responsibility to comply with the orders. CEQ makes 
both of these changes in the final rule.
3. Agency NEPA Procedures (Sec.  1507.3)
    Agency NEPA procedures set forth the process by which agencies 
comply with NEPA and the CEQ regulations in the context of their 
particular programs and processes. In developing their procedures, 
agencies should strive to identify and apply efficiencies, such as use 
of applicable CEs, adoption of prior NEPA analyses, and incorporation 
by reference to prior relevant Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
analyses, wherever practicable. To facilitate effective and efficient 
procedures, CEQ

[[Page 43340]]

proposed to consolidate all of the requirements for agency NEPA 
procedures in Sec.  1507.3, as discussed in detail below.
    In the final rule, CEQ adds a new paragraph (a) to clarify the 
applicability of these regulations in the interim period between the 
effective date of the final rule and when the agencies complete updates 
to their agency NEPA procedures for consistency with these regulations. 
Consistent with Sec.  1506.13, ``Effective date,'' which makes the 
regulations applicable to NEPA reviews begun after the effective date 
of the final rule, paragraph (a) of Sec.  1507.3 requires agencies to 
apply these regulations to new reviews unless there is a clear and 
fundamental conflict with an applicable statute. For NEPA reviews in 
process that agencies began before the final rule's effective date, 
agencies may choose whether to apply the revised regulations or proceed 
under the 1978 regulations and their existing agency NEPA procedures. 
Agencies should clearly indicate to interested and affected parties 
which procedures it is applying for each proposed action. The final 
rule does not require agencies to withdraw their existing agency NEPA 
procedures upon the effective date, but agencies should conduct a 
consistency review of their procedures in order to proceed 
appropriately on new proposed actions.
    Paragraph (a) also provides that agencies' existing CEs are 
consistent with the subchapter. CEQ adds this language to ensure CEs 
remain available for agencies' use to ensure a smooth transition period 
while they work to update their existing agency procedures, including 
their CEs, as necessary. This change allows agencies to continue to use 
their existing CEs for ongoing activities as well as proposed actions 
that begin after the effective date of the CEQ final rule, and 
clarifies that revisions to existing CEs are not required within 12 
months of the publication date of the final rule. Agencies must still 
consider whether extraordinary circumstances are present and should 
rely upon any extraordinary circumstances listed in their agency NEPA 
procedures as an integral part of an agency's process for applying CEs.
    In paragraph (b) (proposed paragraph (a)), CEQ proposed to provide 
agencies the later of one year after publication of the final rule or 
nine months after the establishment of an agency to develop or revise 
proposed agency NEPA procedures, as necessary, to implement the CEQ 
regulations and eliminate any inconsistencies with the revised 
regulations. CEQ includes this sentence in the final rule with a 
correction to the deadline--the deadline is calculated from the 
effective date, not the publication date. CEQ notes that this provision 
references ``proposed procedures,'' and agencies need not finalize them 
by this date. The final rule strikes a balance between minimizing the 
disruption to ongoing environmental reviews while also requiring 
agencies to revise their procedures in a timely manner to ensure future 
reviews are consistent with the final rule. Agencies have the 
flexibility to address the requirements of the CEQ regulations as they 
relate to their programs and need not state them verbatim in their 
procedures. In addition, CEQ proposed to clarify that, except as 
otherwise provided by law or for agency efficiency, agency NEPA 
procedures shall not impose additional procedures or requirements 
beyond those set forth in the CEQ regulations. CEQ includes this 
language in the final rule, changing the order of the phrases, changing 
``provided by law'' to ``required by law'' to enhance clarity, and 
adding a cross-reference to paragraph (c), which references 
efficiencies. This change is consistent with the direction of the 
President to Federal agencies in E.O. 11514 to comply with the CEQ 
regulations issued except where such compliance would be inconsistent 
with statutory requirements. E.O. 11514, as amended by E.O. 11991, sec. 
2(g). Finally, the final rule eliminates the sentence from 40 CFR 
1507.3(a) prohibiting agencies from paraphrasing the CEQ regulations 
because it is unnecessarily limiting on agencies. Agencies have the 
flexibility to address the requirements of the CEQ regulations as they 
relate to their programs and need not state them verbatim in their 
procedures.
    Consistent with its proposal, the final rule requires agencies to 
develop or revise, as necessary, proposed procedures to implement these 
regulations. In the NPRM, CEQ proposed to subdivide 40 CFR 1507.3(a) 
into subordinate paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) for additional clarity 
because each of these paragraphs have an independent requirement. CEQ 
finalizes this change as paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) in the final rule. 
Paragraph (b)(1) addresses the requirement for agencies to consult with 
CEQ when developing or revising proposed procedures. Paragraph (b)(2) 
requires agencies to publish proposed agency NEPA procedures for public 
review and comment. After agencies address these comments, CEQ must 
determine that the agency NEPA procedures conform to and are consistent 
with NEPA and the CEQ regulations. CEQ proposed to eliminate the 
recommendation to agencies to issue explanatory guidance and the 
requirement to review their policies and procedures. CEQ makes this 
change in the final rule because it is redundant to the proposed 
language in paragraph (b) requiring agencies to update their procedures 
to implement the final rule.
    The NPRM proposed to move the provisions in Sec.  1505.1, ``Agency 
decision making procedures,'' to proposed Sec.  1507.3(b). The final 
rule moves these provisions to paragraph (c). As stated in the NPRM, 
consistent with the proposed edits to Sec.  1500.1, CEQ proposed to 
revise this paragraph to clarify that agencies should ensure decisions 
are made in accordance with the Act's procedural requirements and 
policy of integrating NEPA with other environmental reviews to promote 
efficient and timely decision making. CEQ includes these edits in the 
final rule, along with an additional edit to change passive to active 
voice. CEQ does not include proposed paragraph (b)(1) (40 CFR 
1505.1(a)) in the final rule because the phrase ``[i]mplementing 
procedures under section 102(2) of NEPA to achieve the requirements of 
section 101 and 102(1)'' could be read to suggest that agencies could 
interpret NEPA in a manner that would impose more burdens than the 
requirements of the final rule. Including this provision in the final 
rule would be inconsistent with the language in paragraph (b) that 
limits agency NEPA procedures to the requirements in these regulations 
unless otherwise required by law or for agency efficiency. Finally, CEQ 
corrects the reference in paragraph (c)(4) to EIS, changing it to 
``environmental documents'' consistent with the rest of the paragraph.
    CEQ proposed a new paragraph (b)(6) to direct agencies to set forth 
in their NEPA procedures requirements to combine their NEPA documents 
with other agency documents, especially where the same or similar 
analyses are required for compliance with other requirements. As stated 
in the NPRM, many agencies implement statutes that call for 
consideration of alternatives to the agency proposal, including the no 
action alternative, the effects of the agencies' proposal and 
alternatives, and public involvement. Agencies can use their NEPA 
procedures to align compliance with NEPA and these other statutory 
authorities to integrate NEPA's goals for informed decision making with 
agencies' specific statutory requirements. This approach is consistent 
with some agency practice. See, e.g., 36 CFR part 220; Forest Service 
Handbook 1909.15 (U.S.

[[Page 43341]]

Department of Agriculture Forest Service NEPA procedures). More 
agencies could use it to achieve greater efficiency and reduce 
unnecessary duplication. Additionally the NPRM proposed to allow 
agencies to designate analyses or processes that serve as the 
functional equivalent of NEPA compliance.
    CEQ includes this provision in the final rule at paragraph (c)(5) 
with revisions to clarify that agencies may designate and rely on one 
or more procedures or documents under other statutes or Executive 
orders as satisfying some or all of the requirements in the CEQ 
regulations. While courts have held that agencies do not need to 
conduct NEPA analyses under a number of statutes that are 
``functionally equivalent,'' including the Clean Air Act, the Ocean 
Dumping Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act,\102\ the final 
rule recognizes that agencies may substitute processes or documentation 
prepared pursuant to other statutes or Executive orders to satisfy one 
or more requirements in the CEQ regulations to reduce duplication. 
Agencies must identify the respective requirements in this subchapter 
that are satisfied by other statutes or Executive orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \102\ See Portland Cement Ass'n, 486 F.2d at 387 (finding an 
exemption from NEPA for Clean Air Act section 111); see also Envtl. 
Def. Fund, Inc, 489 F.2d at 1254-56 (concluding that the standards 
of FIFRA provide the functional equivalent of NEPA); Cellular Phone 
Taskforce, 205 F.3d at 94-95 (concluding that the procedures 
followed by the Federal Communications Commission were functionally 
compliant with NEPA's EA and FONSI requirements); W. Neb. Res. 
Council, 943 F.2d at 871-72 (concluding that EPA's procedures and 
analysis under the Safe Drinking Water Act were functionally 
equivalent to NEPA); Wyo. v. Hathaway, 525 F.2d 66, 71-72 (10th Cir. 
1975) (concluding that EPA need not prepare an EIS before cancelling 
or suspending registrations of three chemical toxins used to control 
coyotes under FIFRA); State of Ala. ex rel. Siegelman v. U.S. EPA, 
911 F.2d 499, 504-05 (11th Cir. 1990) (holding that EPA did not need 
to comply with NEPA when issuing a final operating permit under the 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act); Envtl. Def. Fund, Inc. v. 
Blum, 458 F. Supp. 650, 661-62 (D.D.C. 1978) (EPA need not prepare 
an EIS before granting an emergency exemption to a state to use an 
unregistered pesticide); State of Md. v. Train, 415 F. Supp. 116, 
121-22 (D. Md. 1976) (Ocean Dumping Act functional equivalent of 
NEPA). For further discussion, see section J.3 of the Final Rule 
Response to Comments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Furthermore, CEQ proposed to add a new paragraph to allow agencies 
to identify activities or decisions that are not subject to NEPA, 
consistent with Sec.  1501.1, in their agency NEPA procedures. CEQ adds 
this provision to paragraph (d) in the final rule. The final rule uses 
``should'' instead of ``may'' to encourage agencies to make these 
identifications in their agency NEPA procedures. The final rule also 
replaces ``actions'' with ``activities or decisions'' to avoid 
confusion with the definition of ``action'' in Sec.  1508.1(q). CEQ 
includes this list in the final rule consistent with the changes in 
Sec.  1501.1 as discussed in section II.C.1, with minor revisions to 
improve readability and a reordering of the provisions consistent with 
the reordering of the provisions in Sec.  1501.1.
    Paragraph (e) (proposed paragraph (d)) maintains much of the 
language from 40 CFR 1507.3(b). CEQ proposed to add parenthetical 
descriptions of the cross-references in proposed paragraph (d)(1), and 
CEQ includes these in the final rule at paragraph (e)(1). CEQ proposed 
to revise paragraph (d)(2)(ii), which requires agencies to identify CEs 
in their agency NEPA procedures, move the requirement for extraordinary 
circumstances from the definition of CEs in 40 CFR 1508.4, and require 
agencies to identify in their procedures when documentation of a CE 
determination is required. CEQ also proposed to add language to 
proposed paragraph (e) to codify existing agency practice to publish 
notices when an agency pauses an EIS or withdraws an NOI. CEQ includes 
this provision with the proposed revisions in the final rule at 
paragraph (f)(3). Finally, CEQ proposed to move from 40 CFR 
1502.9(c)(3) to proposed paragraph (d)(3) the requirement to include 
procedures for introducing a supplement into its formal administrative 
record and clarify that this includes EAs and EISs. CEQ includes this 
provision in the final rule at paragraph (e)(3).
    Paragraphs (f)(1) through (3) (proposed paragraphs (e)(1) through 
(3)) maintain much of the language from 40 CFR 1507.3(c) through (e). 
In proposed paragraph (e)(1), CEQ proposed to revise the language to 
active voice and encourage, rather than just allow, agencies to 
organize environmental documents in such a way as to make unclassified 
portions of environmental documents available to the public. CEQ makes 
these revisions in the final rule in paragraph (f)(1). CEQ also 
modifies paragraph (f)(2) to add a reference to the requirements of 
lead and cooperating agencies. CEQ adds this example consistent with 
the addition to Sec.  1506.11(b) referencing statutory provisions for 
combining a final EIS and ROD. This is also consistent with CEQ's goal 
of improving coordination between lead and cooperating agencies and 
providing efficient processes to allow for integration of the NEPA 
review with reviews conducted under other statutes. This allows for 
altering time periods to facilitate issuance of a combined FEIS and 
ROD. Additionally, CEQ proposed to move the language allowing agencies 
to adopt procedures to combine their EA process with their scoping 
process from 40 CFR 1501.7(b)(3) to paragraph (e)(4). CEQ makes this 
change in the final rule at paragraph (f)(4).
    Finally, CEQ proposed in paragraph (e)(5) to allow agencies to 
establish a process in their agency NEPA procedures to apply the CEs of 
other agencies. CEQ also invited comment on whether to set forth this 
process in these regulations. In the final rule, CEQ includes the 
provision to allow agencies to establish a process in paragraph (f)(5) 
with some changes. CEQ includes clarifying language to address the 
confusion commenters had as to differences between this section and 
adoption of a CE determination under Sec.  1506.3. An agency's process 
must provide for consultation with the agency that listed the CE in its 
NEPA procedures to ensure that the planned use of the CE is consistent 
with the originating agency's intent and practice.\103\ The process 
should ensure documentation of the consultation and identify to the 
public those CEs the agency may use for its proposed actions. 
Consistent with Sec.  1507.4, agencies could post such information on 
their websites. Then, an agency may apply the CE to its proposed 
actions, including proposed projects or activities or groups of 
proposed projects or activities.
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    \103\ The use of another agency's CE under a process in the 
agency's NEPA procedures is an option separate from the adoption, 
under Sec.  1506.3(f), of another agency's determination that its CE 
applies to a particular action that is substantially the same as the 
adopting agency's proposed action. An agency may adopt another 
agency's CE determination for a particular action regardless of 
whether its procedures provide a process for application of other 
agencies' CEs.
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4. Agency NEPA Program Information (Sec.  1507.4)
    CEQ proposed to add a new Sec.  1507.4, ``Agency NEPA program 
information,'' to provide the means of publishing information on 
ongoing NEPA reviews and agency records relating to NEPA reviews. CEQ 
is finalizing this provision as proposed with no changes. As stated in 
the NPRM, this provision requires agencies in their NEPA procedures to 
provide for a website or other means of publishing certain information 
on ongoing NEPA reviews and maintaining and permitting public access to 
agency records relating to NEPA reviews.
    Section 1507.4 promotes transparency and efficiency in the NEPA 
process, and improves interagency coordination by

[[Page 43342]]

ensuring that information is more readily available to other agencies 
and the public. As discussed in the NPRM, opportunities exist for 
agencies to combine existing geospatial data, including remotely sensed 
images, and analyses to streamline environmental review and better 
coordinate development of environmental documents for multi-agency 
projects, consistent with the OFD policy. One option involves creating 
a single NEPA application that facilitates consolidation of existing 
datasets and can run several relevant geographic information system 
(GIS) analyses to help standardize the production of robust analytical 
results. This application could have a public-facing component modeled 
along the lines of EPA's NEPAssist,\104\ which would aid prospective 
project sponsors with site selection and project design and increase 
public transparency. The application could link to the Permitting 
Dashboard to help facilitate project tracking and flexibilities under 
Sec. Sec.  1506.5 and 1506.6. CEQ invited comment on this proposal, 
including comment on whether additional regulatory changes could help 
facilitate streamlined GIS analysis to help agencies comply with NEPA. 
While some commenters supported the development of a single NEPA 
application, others identified challenges to ensuring databases are 
useful, as well as privacy and security concerns. CEQ did not receive 
sufficient comment to lead CEQ to make additional regulatory changes to 
facilitate streamlined GIS analysis to help agencies comply with NEPA, 
and the final rule does not contain any changes from the proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \104\ https://nepassisttool.epa.gov/nepassist/nepamap.aspx. See 
also the Marine Cadastre, which provides consolidated GIS 
information for offshore actions, https://marinecadastre.gov/.
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J. Revisions to Definitions (Part 1508)

    NEPA does not itself include a set of definitions provided by 
Congress. CEQ, in the 1978 regulations, established a set of 
definitions for NEPA and the CEQ regulations. In this final rule, CEQ 
has clarified or supplemented the definitions as discussed below and 
further described in the Final Rule Response to Comments at section K. 
As noted above, see Public Citizen, 541 U.S. at 757; Methow Valley, 490 
U.S. at 355 (citing Andrus, 442 U.S. at 358); Brand X, 545 U.S. at 980-
86; and Mead Corp., 533 U.S. at 227-30, CEQ has the authority to 
interpret NEPA. See, e.g., Barnhart v. Walton, 535 U.S. 212, 218 (2002) 
(``[S]ilence, after all, normally creates ambiguity. It does not 
resolve it.''). Existing NEPA case law inevitably rests directly on 
interpretive choices made in the 1978 regulations or on cases that 
themselves through some chain of prior cases also trace to the 1978 
regulations. Yet consistent with Chevron, CEQ's NEPA regulations are 
subject to change. See also Brand X, 545 U.S. 967.
    CEQ's intention to make use of its interpretive authority under 
Chevron is particularly applicable as to part 1508 where CEQ defines or 
revises key terms in the NEPA statute and the CEQ regulations. As a 
result, this confers on CEQ an even greater degree of latitude to 
elucidate the meaning of the statute's terms in these regulations--the 
same basic authority exercised by CEQ back in 1978 in the original form 
of the NEPA regulations. See, e.g., Demski v. U.S. Dep't of Labor, 419 
F.3d 488, 491 (6th Cir. 2005) (``In the absence of a congressional 
definition or an explicit delegation of congressional authority to the 
agency, we determine how the agency responsible for implementing the 
statute . . . understands the term, and, under Chevron . . . we 
determine whether such an understanding is a `reasonable 
interpretation' of the statute.'' (citing Chevron, 467 U.S. at 844)); 
London v. Polishook, 189 F.3d 196, 200 (2d Cir. 1999) (``[J]udicial 
deference does apply to the guidelines that [the] Department's Office 
of Labor-Management Standards Enforcement has developed and set out in 
its LMRDA Interpretive Manual Sec.  030.425--guidelines to which [the 
D.C. Circuit in Martoche] deferred in the absence of a clear definition 
of `political subdivision' in the Act or in its legislative 
history.''); Hawaii Gov't Employees Ass'n, Am. Fed'n of State, Cty. & 
Mun. Employees, Local 152 v. Martoche, 915 F.2d 718, 721 (D.C. Cir. 
1990) (``With some imprecision in the statutory text [as to an 
undefined term] and a nearly total lack of elucidation in the 
legislative history, the situation is squarely one in which Congress 
implicitly left a gap for the agency to fill.'') (internal citation and 
quotation marks omitted). See also Perez v. Commissioner, 144 T.C. 51, 
59 (2015); Saha Thai Steel Pipe (Pub.) Co. v. United States, 33 C.I.T. 
1541, 1547 (Ct. of Int'l Trade 2009).\105\ In promulgating new or 
revised definitions and other changes to the NEPA regulations, CEQ has 
considered the ordinary meaning of the terms used by Congress in the 
statute.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \105\ ``Although NEPA's statutory text specifies when an agency 
must comply with NEPA's procedural mandate; it is the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (`CEQ') regulations which dictate 
the how, providing the framework by which all [F]ederal agencies 
comply with NEPA.'' Dine' Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment 
v. Klein, 747 F. Supp. 2d 1234, 1248 (D. Colo. 2010) (emphasis in 
original).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed in the NPRM, CEQ proposed significant revisions to 
part 1508. CEQ proposed to move the operative language, which is 
regulatory language that provides instruction or guidance, included 
throughout the regulations in this section to the relevant substantive 
sections of the regulations. Consistent with this change, CEQ proposed 
to retitle part 1508 from ``Terminology and Index'' to ``Definitions.'' 
\106\ CEQ also proposed to clarify the definitions of a number of key 
NEPA terms in order to reduce ambiguity, both through modification of 
existing definitions and the addition of new definitions. CEQ proposed 
to eliminate individual section numbers for each term in favor of a 
single section of defined terms in the revised Sec.  1508.1. Finally, 
CEQ proposed to remove citations to the specific definition sections 
throughout the rule. CEQ makes these changes in the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \106\ CEQ has maintained an index in the Code of Federal 
Regulations, but this is not a part of the regulations. CEQ does not 
intend to continue to maintain such an index because it is no longer 
necessary given that the regulations are typically accessed 
electronically and the regulations' organization has been 
significantly improved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Act''
    CEQ proposed in paragraph (a) to add ``NEPA'' as a defined term 
with the same meaning as ``Act.'' CEQ makes this change in the final 
rule.
2. Definition of ``Affecting''
    CEQ did not propose to make any change to the defined term 
``affecting'' in paragraph (b). CEQ does not make any changes to this 
definition in the final rule.
3. New Definition of ``Authorization''
    CEQ proposed to define the term ``authorization'' in paragraph (c) 
to refer to the types of activities that might be required for 
permitting a proposed action, in particular infrastructure projects. 
This definition is consistent with the definition included in FAST-41 
and E.O. 13807. CEQ proposed to replace the word ``entitlement'' with 
``authorization'' throughout the rule. CEQ adds this definition and 
makes these changes in the final rule.
4. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Categorical Exclusion''
    CEQ proposed to revise the definition of ``categorical exclusion'' 
in paragraph (d) by inserting ``normally'' to clarify that there may be 
situations where an action may have significant effects on account of 
extraordinary circumstances.

[[Page 43343]]

CEQ also proposed to strike ``individually or cumulatively'' for 
consistency with the proposed revisions to the definition of 
``effects'' as discussed in this section. CEQ proposed conforming edits 
in Sec. Sec.  1500.4(a) and 1500.5(a). As noted in section II.I.3, CEQ 
proposed to move the requirement to provide for extraordinary 
circumstances in agency procedures to Sec.  1507.3(d)(2)(ii) (Sec.  
1507.3(e)(2)(ii) in the final rule). CEQ makes these changes in the 
final rule. CEQ notes that the definition of ``categorical exclusion'' 
only applies to those CEs created by an agency in its agency NEPA 
procedures and does not apply to ``legislative'' CEs created by 
Congress, which are governed by the terms of the specific statute and 
statutory interpretation of the agency charged with the implementation 
of the statute.
5. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Cooperating Agency''
    CEQ proposed to amend the definition of ``cooperating agency'' in 
paragraph (e) to make clear that a State, Tribal, or local agency may 
be a cooperating agency when the lead agency agrees, and to move the 
corresponding operative language allowing a State, Tribal, or local 
agency to become a cooperating agency with the lead agency's agreement 
to paragraph (a) of Sec.  1501.8, ``Cooperating agencies.'' CEQ also 
proposed to remove the sentence cross-referencing the cooperating 
agency section in part 1501 and stating that the selection and 
responsibilities of a cooperating agency are described there because it 
is unnecessary and does not define the term. CEQ makes these changes in 
the final rule.
6. Definition of ``Council''
    CEQ did not propose any changes to the definition of ``Council'' in 
paragraph (f). CEQ also invited comment on whether to update references 
to ``Council'' in the regulations to ``CEQ'' throughout the rule. CEQ 
did not receive sufficient comments on this proposal; therefore, CEQ 
does not make this change in the final rule.
7. Definition of ``Cumulative Impact'' and Clarifying the Meaning of 
``Effects''
    CEQ proposed to remove the definition of ``cumulative impact'' and 
revise the definition of ``effects'' in paragraph (g). As noted in the 
NPRM, many commenters to the ANPRM urged CEQ to refine the definition 
based on concerns that it creates confusion, and that the terms 
``indirect'' and ``cumulative'' have been interpreted expansively 
resulting in excessive documentation about speculative effects and 
leading to frequent litigation. Commenters also raised concerns that 
this has expanded the scope of NEPA analysis without serving NEPA's 
purpose of informed decision making. Commenters stressed that the focus 
of the effects analysis should be on those effects that are reasonably 
foreseeable, related to the proposed action under consideration, and 
subject to the agency's jurisdiction and control. Commenters also noted 
that NEPA practitioners often struggle with describing cumulative 
impacts despite a number of publications that address the topic.
    While NEPA refers to environmental impacts and environmental 
effects, it does not subdivide the terms into direct, indirect, or 
cumulative. Nor are the terms ``direct,'' ``indirect,'' or 
``cumulative'' included in the text of the statute. CEQ created those 
concepts and included them in the 1978 regulations.
    To address commenters' concerns and reduce confusion and 
unnecessary litigation, CEQ proposed to simplify the definition of 
effects by striking the specific references to direct, indirect, and 
cumulative effects and providing clarity on the bounds of effects 
consistent with the Supreme Court's holding in Public Citizen, 541 U.S. 
at 767-68. Under the proposed definition, effects must be reasonably 
foreseeable and have a reasonably close causal relationship to the 
proposed action or alternatives; a ``but for'' causal relationship is 
insufficient to make an agency responsible for a particular effect 
under NEPA. This close causal relationship is analogous to proximate 
cause in tort law. Id. at 767; see also Metro. Edison Co., 460 U.S. at 
774 (interpreting section 102 of NEPA to require ``a reasonably close 
causal relationship between a change in the physical environment and 
the effect at issue'' and stating ``[t]his requirement is like the 
familiar doctrine of proximate cause from tort law.''). CEQ sought 
comment on whether to include in the definition of effects the concept 
that the close causal relationship is ``analogous to proximate cause in 
tort law,'' and if so, how CEQ could provide additional clarity 
regarding the meaning of this phrase.
    In the final rule, CEQ revises the definition of effects consistent 
with the proposal, with some additional edits. First, to eliminate the 
circularity in the definition, CEQ changes the beginning of the 
definition from ``means effects of'' to ``means changes to the human 
environment from'' the proposed action or alternatives. This change 
also associates the definition of effects with the definition of human 
environment, which continues to cross-reference to the definition of 
effects in the final rule. It also makes clear that, when the 
regulations use the term ``effects,'' it means effects on the human 
environment. This responds to comments suggesting CEQ add ``on the 
human environment'' after ``effects'' in various sections of the rule.
    The final rule also consolidates the first two sentences of the 
definition to clarify that, for purposes of this definition, ``effects 
that occur'' at the ``same time and place as the proposed action or 
alternatives,'' or that ``are later in time or farther removed in 
distance'' must nevertheless be reasonably foreseeable and have a 
reasonably close causal relationship to the proposed action or 
alternatives. As a separate sentence that only referenced reasonable 
foreseeability, there was ambiguity as to whether a reasonably close 
causal relationship was required. Additionally, the final rule adds a 
clause to clarify that the consideration of time and place or distance 
are relative to the proposed action or alternatives.
    CEQ proposed to strike the definition of ``cumulative impact'' and 
the terms ``direct'' and ``indirect'' in order to focus agency time and 
resources on considering whether the proposed action causes an effect 
rather than on categorizing the type of effect. As stated in the NPRM, 
CEQ intends the revisions to simplify the definition to focus agencies 
on consideration of effects that are reasonably foreseeable and have a 
reasonably close causal relationship to the proposed action. In 
practice, agencies have devoted substantial resources to categorizing 
effects as direct, indirect, or cumulative, which, as noted above, are 
not terms referenced in the NEPA statute. CEQ eliminates these 
references in the final rule.
    To further assist agencies in their assessment of significant 
effects, CEQ also proposed to clarify that agencies should not consider 
effects significant if they are remote in time, geographically remote, 
or the result of a lengthy causal chain. See, e.g., Pub. Citizen, 541 
U.S. at 767-68 (``In particular, `courts must look to the underlying 
policies or legislative intent in order to draw a manageable line 
between those causal changes that may make an actor responsible for an 
effect and those that do not.' '' (quoting Metro. Edison Co., 460 U.S. 
at 774 n.7)); Metro. Edison Co., 460 U.S. at 774 (noting effects may 
not fall within section 102 of NEPA because ``the causal chain is too 
attenuated''). CEQ revises this sentence in the final rule to add 
``generally'' to reflect the fact that there may occasionally be a

[[Page 43344]]

circumstance where an effect that is remote in time, geographically 
remote, or the product of a lengthy causal chain is reasonably 
foreseeable and has a reasonably close causal relationship to the 
proposed action.
    Further, CEQ proposed to codify a key holding of Public Citizen 
relating to the definition of effects to make clear that effects do not 
include effects that the agency has no authority to prevent or that 
would happen even without the agency action, because they would not 
have a sufficiently close causal connection to the proposed action. For 
example, this would include effects that would constitute an 
intervening and superseding cause under familiar principles of tort 
law. See, e.g., Sierra Club v. FERC, 827 F.3d 36, 47-48 (D.C. Cir. 
2016) (NEPA case incorporating these principles) (``[C]ritical to 
triggering that chain of events is the intervening action of the 
Department of Energy in granting an export license. The Department's 
independent decision to allow exports--a decision over which the 
Commission has no regulatory authority--breaks the NEPA causal chain 
and absolves the Commission of responsibility to include in its NEPA 
analysis considerations that it `could not act on' and for which it 
cannot be `the legally relevant cause.''' (quoting Pub. Citizen, 541 
U.S. at 769)). As discussed in the NPRM, this clarification will help 
agencies better understand what effects they need to analyze and 
discuss, helping to reduce delays and paperwork with unnecessary 
analyses. CEQ includes this language in the final rule as proposed.
    In addition, CEQ proposed a change in position to state that 
analysis of cumulative effects, as defined in the 1978 regulations, is 
not required under NEPA. Categorizing and determining the geographic 
and temporal scope of such effects has been difficult and can divert 
agencies from focusing their time and resources on the most significant 
effects. Past CEQ guidance has not been successful in dispelling 
ambiguity. Excessively lengthy documentation that does not focus on the 
most meaningful issues for the decision maker's consideration can lead 
to encyclopedic documents that include information that is irrelevant 
or inconsequential to the decision-making process. Instead, agencies 
should focus their efforts on analyzing effects that are most likely to 
be potentially significant and effects that would occur as a result of 
the agency's decision, rather than effects that would be the result of 
intervening and superseding causes. Agencies are not expected to 
conduct exhaustive research on identifying and categorizing actions 
beyond the agency's control.
    CEQ intended the proposed elimination of the definition of 
cumulative impact to focus agencies on analysis of effects that are 
reasonably foreseeable and have a reasonably close causal relationship 
to the proposed action. Cumulative effects analysis has been 
interpreted so expansively as to undermine informed decision making, 
and led agencies to conduct analyses to include effects that are not 
reasonably foreseeable or do not have a reasonably close causal 
relationship to the proposed action or alternatives. CEQ also invited 
comment on whether to include an affirmative statement that 
consideration of indirect effects is not required; the final rule does 
not include additional direction to agencies specific to indirect 
effects.
    CEQ received many comments on cumulative effects. In the final 
rule, to provide further clarification, CEQ includes a new provision at 
paragraph (g)(3) that states that the analysis of effects shall be 
consistent with the definition of effects, and that cumulative impact, 
defined in 40 CFR 1508.7 (1978), is repealed. This language explains 
how agencies should apply the definition of effects with respect to 
environmental documents and other provisions in the final rule. 
Specifically, analyses are bound by the definition of effects as set 
forth in Sec.  1508.1(g)(1) and (2) and should not go beyond the 
definition of effects set forth in those two paragraphs. The final rule 
provides considerable flexibility to agencies to structure the analysis 
of effects based on the circumstances of their programs.
    In response to the NPRM, commenters stated that agencies would no 
longer consider the impacts of a proposed action on climate change. The 
rule does not preclude consideration of the impacts of a proposed 
action on any particular aspect of the human environment. The analysis 
of the impacts on climate change will depend on the specific 
circumstances of the proposed action. As discussed above, under the 
final rule, agencies will consider predictable trends in the area in 
the baseline analysis of the affected environment.
8. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Environmental Assessment''
    CEQ proposed to revise the definition of ``environmental 
assessment'' in paragraph (h), describing the purpose for the document 
and moving all of the operative language setting forth the requirements 
for an EA from the definition to proposed Sec.  1501.5. CEQ makes this 
change in the final rule.
9. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Environmental Document''
    CEQ proposed to remove the cross-references from the definition of 
``environmental document'' in paragraph (i). CEQ makes this change in 
the final rule.
10. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Environmental Impact Statement''
    CEQ proposed to change ``the Act'' to ``NEPA'' in the definition of 
``environmental impact statement'' in paragraph (j). CEQ makes this 
change in the final rule.
11. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Federal Agency''
    CEQ proposed to amend the definition of ``Federal agency'' in 
paragraph (k) to broaden it to include States, Tribes, and units of 
local government to the extent that they have assumed NEPA 
responsibilities from a Federal agency pursuant to statute. As stated 
in the NPRM, since the issuance of the CEQ regulations, Congress has 
authorized assumption of NEPA responsibilities in other contexts 
besides the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Public Law 
93-383, sec. 104(h), 88 Stat. 633, 640, 42 U.S.C. 5304. See, e.g., 
Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program, 23 U.S.C. 327. This 
change acknowledges these programs and helps clarify roles and 
responsibilities. CEQ makes this change and minor clarifying edits in 
the final rule.
12. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Finding of No Significant Impact''
    CEQ proposed to revise the definition of ``finding of no 
significant impact'' in paragraph (l) to insert the word 
``categorically'' into the phrase ``not otherwise excluded,'' change 
the cross-reference to the new section addressing CEs at Sec.  1501.4, 
and move the operative language requiring a FONSI to include an EA or a 
summary of it and allowing incorporation by reference of the EA to 
Sec.  1501.6, which addresses the requirements of a FONSI. CEQ makes 
these revisions in the final rule.
13. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Human Environment''
    CEQ proposed to change ``people'' to ``present and future 
generations of Americans'' consistent with section 101(a) of NEPA to 
the definition of human environment in paragraph (m). CEQ also proposed 
to move the operative language stating that economic or social effects 
by themselves

[[Page 43345]]

do not require preparation of an EIS to Sec.  1502.16(b), which is the 
section of the regulations that addresses when agencies should consider 
economic or social effects in an EIS. CEQ makes these changes in the 
final rule to assist agencies in understanding and implementing the 
statute and regulations.
14. Definition of ``Jurisdiction by Law''
    The NPRM did not propose any changes to the definition of 
jurisdiction by law in paragraph (n). CEQ did not revise this 
definition in the final rule.
15. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Lead Agency''
    CEQ proposed to amend the definition of lead agency in paragraph 
(o) to clarify that this term includes joint lead agencies, which are 
an acceptable practice. CEQ makes this change in the final rule.
16. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Legislation''
    CEQ proposed to move the operative language regarding the test for 
significant cooperation and the principle that only the agency with 
primary responsibility will prepare a legislative EIS to Sec.  1506.8. 
CEQ also proposed to strike the example of treaties, because the 
President is not a Federal agency, and therefore a request for 
ratification of a treaty would not be subject to NEPA. CEQ makes these 
changes in the final rule, striking the references to ``significant 
cooperation and support,'' in paragraph (p) to narrow the definition to 
comport with the NEPA statute, as discussed in section II.H.8.
17. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Major Federal Action''
    CEQ received many comments on the ANPRM requesting clarification of 
the definition of major Federal action. For example, CEQ received 
comments proposing that non-Federal projects should not be considered 
major Federal actions based on a very minor Federal role. Commenters 
also recommended that CEQ clarify the definition to exclude decisions 
where agencies do not have discretion to consider and potentially 
modify their actions based on the environmental review.
    CEQ proposed to amend the first sentence of the definition in 
paragraph (q) to clarify that an action meets the definition if it is 
subject to Federal control and responsibility, and it has effects that 
may be significant. CEQ proposed to replace ``major'' effects with 
``significant'' in this sentence to align with the NEPA statute. In the 
final rule, CEQ revises the definition to remove reference to 
significance. CEQ also revises the definition to remove the circularity 
in the definition, changing ``means an action'' to ``means an activity 
or decision'' that is subject to Federal control and responsibility.
i. Independent Meaning of ``Major''
    CEQ proposed to strike the second sentence of the definition, which 
provides ``Major reinforces but does not have a meaning independent of 
significantly.'' CEQ makes this change in the final rule. This is a 
change in position as compared to CEQ's earlier interpretation of NEPA 
and, in finalizing this change, CEQ intends to correct this 
longstanding misconstruction of the NEPA statute. The statutory aim of 
NEPA is to focus on ``major Federal actions significantly affecting the 
quality of the human environment,'' 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), rather than 
on non-major Federal actions that simply have some degree of Federal 
involvement. Under the 1978 regulations, however, the word ``major'' 
was rendered virtually meaningless.
    CEQ makes this change because all words of a statute must be given 
meaning consistent with longstanding principles of statutory 
interpretation. See, e.g., Bennett, 520 U.S. at 173 (``It is the 
cardinal principle of statutory construction . . . that it is our duty 
to give effect, if possible, to every clause and word of a statute . . 
. rather than to emasculate an entire section.'') (internal quotations 
and citations omitted) (quoting United States v. Menasche, 348 U.S. 
528, 538 (1955)). Although the 1978 regulations treated the terms 
``major'' and ``significantly'' as interchangeable, there is an 
important distinction between the two terms and how they apply in the 
NEPA process. ``Major'' refers to the type of action, including the 
role of the Federal agency and its control over any environmental 
impacts. ``Significant'' relates to the effects stemming from the 
action, including consideration of the affected area, resources, and 
the degree of the effects. In the statute, ``major'' occurs twice, and 
in both instances is a modifier of ``Federal action''--in section 
102(2)(C) in the phrase ``other major Federal actions significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment,'' and section 102(2)(D) 
in the phrase, ``any major Federal action funded under a program of 
grants to States.'' NEPA also uses ``significant'' or ``significantly'' 
twice as a modifier of the similar words ``affecting'' in section 
102(2)(C) and ``impacts'' in section 102(2)(D)(iv).
    The legislative history of NEPA also reflects that Congress used 
the term ``major'' independent of ``significantly,'' and provided that, 
for major actions, agencies should make a determination as to whether 
the proposal would have a significant environmental impact. 
Specifically, the Senate Report for the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (Senate Report) states, ``Each agency which proposes any 
major actions, such as project proposals, proposals for new 
legislation, regulations, policy statements, or expansion or revision 
of ongoing programs, shall make a determination as to whether the 
proposal would have a significant effect upon the quality of the human 
environment.'' S. Rep. No. 91-296, at 20 (1969) (emphasis added).\107\ 
Further, the Senate Report shows that OMB's predecessor, the Bureau of 
the Budget, submitted comments on the legislation to provide the views 
of the Executive Office of the President and recommended that Congress 
revise the text of the bill to include two separate modifiers: 
``major'' before Federal actions and ``significantly'' before affecting 
the quality of the human environment. See id. at 30 (Bureau of the 
Budget's markup returned to the Senate on July 7, 1969). The enacted 
legislation included these revisions. While CEQ followed the Eight 
Circuit's approach in Minnesota Public Interest Research Group v. Butz, 
498 F.2d 1314, 1321-22 (8th Cir. 1974), in the 1978 regulations, other 
courts had interpreted ``major'' and ``significantly'' as having 
independent meaning before CEQ issued its 1978 regulations. See NAACP 
v. Med. Ctr., Inc., 584 F.2d 619, 629 (3d Cir. 1978) (analyzing the 
Secretary's ministerial approval of a capital expenditure under a 
framework that first considered whether there had been agency action, 
and then whether that action was ``major''); Hanly v. Mitchell, 460 
F.2d 640, 644-45 (2d Cir. 1972) (``There is no doubt that the Act 
contemplates some agency action that does not require an impact 
statement because the action is minor and has so little effect on the 
environment as to be insignificant.'' (internal citations omitted)); 
Scherr v. Volpe, 466 F.2d 1027, 1033 (7th Cir. 1972) (finding that a 
highway project qualifies as major before turning to the second step of 
whether the project would have a significant effect); Julius v. City of 
Cedar Rapids, 349 F. Supp. 88, 90 (N.D. Iowa 1972) (finding that a lane 
widening project was not a major Federal action); Goose Hollow 
Foothills League v. Romney, 334 F. Supp. 877, 879 (D. Or. 1971) 
(discussing whether a proposed

[[Page 43346]]

building project was ``major''); SW Neighborhood Assembly v. Eckard, 
445 F. Supp. 1195, 1199 (D.D.C. 1978) (``The phrase `major Federal 
action' has been construed by the Courts to require an inquiry into 
such questions as the amount of federal funds expended by the action, 
the number of people affected, the length of time consumed, and the 
extent of government planning involved.'' (citing Hanly, 460 F.2d at 
644)); Nat. Res. Def. Council v. Grant, 341 F. Supp. 356, 366 (E.D.N.C. 
1972) (``Certainly, an administrative agency [such] as the Soil 
Conservation Service may make a decision that a particular project is 
not major, or that it does not significantly affect the quality of the 
human environment, and, that, therefore, the agency is not required to 
file an impact statement.''). Moreover, as discussed further below, 
over the past four decades, in a number of cases, courts have 
determined that NEPA does not apply to actions with minimal Federal 
involvement or funding. Under the revised definition, these would be 
non-major Federal actions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \107\ https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/laws-regulations/Senate-Report-on-NEPA.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the final rule, CEQ reorganizes the remainder of the definition 
of major Federal action into subordinate paragraphs. Paragraph (q)(1) 
provides a list of activities or decisions that are not included within 
the definition.
ii. Extraterritoriality
    In the NPRM, CEQ requested comment on whether to clarify that major 
Federal action does not include extraterritorial actions because NEPA 
does not apply extraterritorially, consistent with Kiobel v. Royal 
Dutch Petroleum Co., 569 U.S. 108, 115-16 (2013), in light of the 
ordinary presumption against extraterritorial application when a 
statute does not clearly indicate that extraterritorial application is 
intended by Congress. In the final rule, CEQ revises the definition of 
``Major Federal action'' in a new paragraph (q)(1)(i) to exclude 
extraterritorial activities or decisions, which mean activities or 
decisions with effects located entirely outside the jurisdiction of the 
United States.\108\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \108\ The Restatement of Foreign Relations Law provides that the 
areas within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States 
include ``its land, internal waters, territorial sea, the adjacent 
airspace, and other places over which the United States has 
sovereignty or some measure of legislative control.'' Restatement 
(Fourth) of Foreign Relations Law sec. 404 (2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Supreme Court has stated that ``[i]t is a longstanding 
principle of American law `that legislation of Congress, unless a 
contrary intent appears, is meant to apply only within the territorial 
jurisdiction of the United States.' '' EEOC v. Arabian Am. Oil Co. 
(Aramco), 499 U.S. 244, 248 (1991) (quoting Foley Bros. v. Filardo, 
Inc., 336 U.S. 281, 285 (1949)). During the past decade, the Supreme 
Court has considered the application of the presumption to a variety of 
Federal statutes.\109\ As the Supreme Court has stated, the presumption 
``rests on the perception that Congress ordinarily legislates with 
respect to domestic, not foreign matters.'' Morrison, 561 U.S. at 255 
(citing Smith v. United States, 507 U.S. 197, 204 n.5 (1993)). ``Thus, 
`unless there is the affirmative intention of the Congress clearly 
expressed' to give a statute extraterritorial effect, `we must presume 
it is primarily concerned with domestic conditions.' '' Morrison, 561 
U.S. at 255 (citing Aramco, 499 U.S. at 248). The Supreme Court has 
held, including in more recent decisions, that the presumption applies 
regardless of whether there is a risk of conflict between the U.S. 
statute and a foreign law. Morrison, 561 U.S. at 255 (citing Sale v. 
Haitian Ctrs. Council, Inc., 509 U.S. 155, 173-74 (1993)); RJR Nabisco, 
136 S. Ct. at 2100; see also Smith, 507 U.S. at 204 n.5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \109\ See RJR Nabisco, Inc. v. European Cmty., 136 S. Ct. 2090 
(2016) (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act); Kiobel, 
569 U.S. at 115-16 (Alien Tort Statute); Morrison v. Nat'l Austl. 
Bank Ltd., 561 U.S. 247, 255 (2010) (Securities and Exchange Act of 
1934); WesternGeco LLC v. ION Geophysical Corp., 138 S. Ct. 2129 
(2018) (Patent Act).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Supreme Court has established a two-step framework for 
analyzing whether the presumption against extraterritoriality applies 
to a Federal statute.\110\ Under this framework, the first step is to 
ask whether the presumption against extraterritoriality has been 
rebutted because ``the statute gives a clear, affirmative indication 
that it applies extraterritorially.'' RJR Nabisco, 136 S. Ct. at 2101. 
If the presumption has not been rebutted, the second step is to 
determine whether the case involves a domestic application of the 
statute, and courts have done this by looking to the statute's 
``focus.'' \111\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \110\ See RJR Nabisco, 136 S. Ct. at 2101 (citing Morrison, 561 
U.S. at 267 n.9; Kiobel, 569 U.S. 108); see also WesternGeco LLC, 
138 S. Ct. 2129.
    \111\ Id. (``If the conduct relevant to the statute's focus 
occurred in the United States, then the case involves a permissible 
domestic application even if other conduct occurred abroad; but if 
the conduct relevant to the focus occurred in a foreign country, 
then the case involves an impermissible extraterritorial application 
regardless of any other conduct that occurred in U.S. territory.''). 
This two-step framework for analyzing extraterritoriality issues is 
also reflected in the Restatement of Foreign Relations Law. See 
Restatement (Fourth) of Foreign Relations Law sec. 404 (2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the two-step framework, CEQ has determined that because the 
legislative history and statutory text of section 102(2)(C) gives no 
clear indication that it applies extraterritorially, the presumption 
against extraterritoriality has not been rebutted. The plain language 
of section 102(2)(C) does not require it to be applied to actions 
occurring outside the jurisdiction of the United States.\112\ The only 
reference in the Act to international considerations is in section 
102(2)(F), which refers to ``international cooperation'' and the 
``worldwide and long-range character of environmental problems,'' and 
directs agencies to ``where consistent with the foreign policy of the 
United States, lend appropriate support to initiatives, resolutions, 
and programs designed to maximize international cooperation'' to 
protect the environment. 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(F). International 
cooperation is inherently voluntary and not part of the mandatory 
analysis required under the statute, and this provision does not 
indicate in any way that the requirements of section 102(2)(C) to 
prepare detailed statements applies outside of U.S. territorial 
jurisdiction. The limited legislative history of section 102(2)(C) 
similarly does not include discussion of application of the 
requirements of section 102(2)(C) to extraterritorial actions.\113\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \112\ Section 102(2)(C) directs Federal agencies to provide a 
detailed statement for major Federal actions significantly affecting 
the quality of the human environment, and requires the responsible 
official to consult with and obtain the comments of Federal agencies 
with jurisdiction or special expertise, as well as to make copies of 
the statement and comments and views of Federal, state and local 
agencies available to the President, CEQ and the public. 42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C). Nothing in the text states that this section was 
intended to require the preparation of detailed statements for 
actions located outside the United States.
    \113\ See also Nat. Res. Def. Council v. Nuclear Regulatory 
Comm'n, 647 F. 2d 1345, 1367 (D.C. Cir. 1981) (``NEPA's legislative 
history illuminates nothing in regard to extraterritorial 
application.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the two-step framework, CEQ has also considered the purpose 
of section 102(2)(C), which is to ensure that a Federal agency, as part 
of its decision making process, considers the potential environmental 
impacts of proposed actions. The focus of congressional concern is the 
proposed action and its potential environmental effects. The effects of 
a proposed action may occur both within U.S. territorial jurisdiction 
as well as outside that jurisdiction. To the extent effects of a 
proposed action occur entirely outside the territorial jurisdiction of 
the United States, the application of section 102(2)(C) would not be 
permissible, consistent with the Supreme Court's holding that where the 
conduct relevant to the statute's focus occurred in the United States, 
then ``the case involves a

[[Page 43347]]

permissible domestic application even if other conduct occurred abroad; 
but if the conduct relevant to the focus occurred in a foreign country, 
then the case involves an impermissible extraterritorial application 
regardless of any other conduct that occurred in U.S. territory.'' RJR 
Nabisco, 136 S. Ct. at 2101. Therefore, CEQ provides in paragraph 
(q)(1)(i) of the final rule that NEPA does not apply to ``agency 
activities or decisions with effects located entirely outside of the 
jurisdiction of the United States.''
iii. Non-Discretionary Activities or Decisions
    In the NPRM, CEQ proposed to clarify that the definition does not 
include non-discretionary activities or decisions made in accordance 
with the agency's statutory authority. The Supreme Court has held that 
analysis of a proposed action's effects under NEPA is not required 
where an agency has limited statutory authority and ``simply lacks the 
power to act on whatever information might be contained in the EIS.'' 
Pub. Citizen, 541 U.S. at 768; see also South Dakota, 614 F.2d at 1193 
(holding that the Department of the Interior's issuance of a mineral 
patent that was a ministerial act did not come within NEPA); Milo Cmty. 
Hosp. v. Weinberger, 525 F.2d 144, 148 (1st Cir. 1975) (NEPA analysis 
of impacts not required when agency was under a statutory duty to take 
the proposed action of terminating a hospital). CEQ includes this 
clarification in paragraph (q)(1)(ii).
iv. Final Agency Action and Failure To Act
    CEQ proposed to strike the statement that major Federal action 
includes a failure to act and instead clarify that the definition 
excludes activities or decisions that do not result in final agency 
action under the APA. The basis for including only final agency actions 
is the statutory text of the APA, which provides a right to judicial 
review of all ``final agency action[s] for which there is no other 
adequate remedy in a court.'' 5 U.S.C. 704. CEQ includes this 
clarification in paragraph (q)(1)(iii) of the final rule and includes 
``or other statute that also includes a finality requirement'' because 
CEQ recognizes that other statutes may also contain finality 
requirements beyond those of the APA. As the NPRM noted, NEPA applies 
when agencies are considering a proposal for decision. In the case of a 
``failure to act,'' there is no proposed action and therefore there are 
no alternatives that the agency may consider. S. Utah Wilderness All., 
542 U.S. at 70-73. Judicial review is available only when an agency 
fails to take a discrete action it is required to take. Id. In omitting 
the reference to a failure to act from the definition of ``major 
Federal action,'' CEQ does not contradict the definition of ``agency 
action'' under the APA at 5 U.S.C. 551(13), and recognizes that the APA 
may compel agency action that is required but has been unreasonably 
withheld. If an agency is compelled to take such agency action, it 
should prepare a NEPA analysis at that time, as appropriate.
v. Enforcement Actions
    In the final rule, CEQ moves the exclusion of judicial or 
administrative civil or criminal enforcement actions from 40 CFR 
1508.18(a) to paragraph (q)(1)(iv) of Sec.  1508.1. CEQ did not propose 
changes to this language in the NPRM. In the final rule, CEQ moves this 
language and revises it consistent with the format of the list in 
paragraph (q)(1).
vi. General Revenue Sharing Funds
    CEQ proposed to strike the specific reference to the State and 
Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 from 40 CFR 1508.18(a) and clarify 
that general revenue sharing funds do not meet the definition of major 
Federal action because the agency has no discretion. CEQ includes this 
change in paragraph (q)(1)(v) in the final rule.
vii. Minimal Federal Funding or Involvement
    CEQ proposed to clarify that non-Federal projects with minimal 
Federal funding or minimal Federal involvement such that the agency 
cannot control the outcome of the project are not major Federal 
actions. The language in paragraph (q)(1)(vi) of the final rule is 
consistent with the holdings of relevant circuit court cases that have 
addressed this issue. See Rattlesnake Coal. v. U.S. EPA, 509 F.3d 1095, 
1101 (9th Cir. 2007) (Federal funding comprising six percent of the 
estimated implementation budget not enough to federalize implementation 
of entire project); New Jersey Dep't of Envtl. Prot. & Energy v. Long 
Island Power Auth., 30 F.3d 403, 417 (3d Cir. 1994) (``Federal approval 
of a private party's project, where that approval is not required for 
the project to go forward, does not constitute a major Federal 
action.''); United States v. S. Fla. Water Mgmt. Dist., 28 F.3d 1563, 
1572 (11th Cir. 1994) (``The touchstone of major [F]ederal activity 
constitutes a [F]ederal agency's authority to influence nonfederal 
activity. `The [F]ederal agency must possess actual power to control 
the nonfederal activity.' '' (quoting Sierra Club v. Hodel, 848 F.2d 
1068, 1089 (10th Cir. 1988), overruled on other grounds by Vill. of Los 
Ranchos de Albuquerque v. Marsh, 956 F.2d 970 (10th Cir. 1992)); 
Sugarloaf Citizens Ass'n v. FERC, 959 F.2d 508, 512 (4th Cir. 1992); 
Save Barton Creek Ass'n v. Fed. Highway Admin., 950 F.2d 1129, 1134-35 
(5th Cir. 1992); Macht v. Skinner, 916 F.2d 13, 20 (D.C. Cir. 1990) 
(funding for planning and studies not enough to federalize a project); 
Vill. of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque v. Barnhart, 906 F.2d 1477, 1482 
(10th Cir. 1990); Sierra Club v. Penfold, 857 F.2d 1307, 1314 (9th Cir. 
1998) (finding that the Bureau of Land Management's review of Notice 
mines, which do not require agency approval before commencement of 
mining, is ``only a marginal [F]ederal action rather than a major 
action''); Winnebago Tribe of Neb. v. Ray, 621 F. 2d 269, 272 (8th Cir. 
1980) (``Factual or veto control, however, must be distinguished from 
legal control or `enablement''' (citing Med. Ctr., Inc., 584 F.2d 
619)); Atlanta Coal. on the Transp. Crisis v. Atlanta Reg'l Comm'n, 599 
F.2d 1333, 1347 (5th Cir. 1979); Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. HUD, 
541 F. Supp. 2d 1091, 1099 (D. Ariz. 2008), aff'd, Ctr. for Biological 
Diversity v. HUD, No. 09-16400, 359 Fed. Appx. 781, 2009 WL 4912592 
(9th Cir. Nov. 25, 2009) (unreported); see also Touret v. NASA, 485 F. 
Supp. 2d 38 (D.R.I. 2007).
    As discussed in the NPRM, in these circumstances, there is no 
practical reason for an agency to conduct a NEPA analysis because the 
agency could not influence the outcome of its action to address the 
effects of the project. For example, this might include a very small 
percentage of Federal funding provided only to help design an 
infrastructure project that is otherwise funded through private or 
local funds. This change would help to reduce costs and delays by more 
clearly defining the kinds of actions that are appropriately within the 
scope of NEPA. The final rule includes these criteria in paragraph 
(q)(1)(vi) to make clear that these projects are ones where the agency 
does not exercise sufficient control and responsibility over the 
outcome of the project.
    CEQ expects that agencies will further define these non-major 
actions, for which the agency does not exercise sufficient control and 
responsibility over the outcome of the project, in their agency NEPA 
procedures pursuant to Sec.  1507.3(d)(4). For example, agencies that 
exercise trust responsibilities over activities or decisions that occur 
on or involve land held in trust by the United

[[Page 43348]]

States for the benefit of an Indian Tribe, or are held in fee subject 
to a restriction against alienation, may define those activities or 
decisions that involve minimal Federal funding or involvement. In such 
circumstances, the Federal Government does not exercise sufficient 
control and responsibility over the effects of actions on Indian lands, 
and a ``but for'' causal relationship of requiring Federal approval for 
such actions is insufficient to make an agency responsible for any 
particular effects from such actions.
    In the NPRM, CEQ also invited comment on whether there should be a 
threshold (percentage or dollar figure) for ``minimal Federal 
funding,'' and if so, what would be an appropriate threshold and the 
basis for such a threshold. CEQ did not receive sufficient information 
to establish such a threshold in the final rule.
viii. Loans and Loan Guarantees
    CEQ also proposed to exclude loans, loan guarantees, and other 
forms of financial assistance where the Federal agency does not 
exercise sufficient control and responsibility over the effects of the 
action. CEQ includes this in the final rule in paragraph (q)(1)(vii), 
changing ``action'' to ``such assistance'' to remove the ambiguity with 
the use of the defined term in the definition. CEQ proposed to also 
exclude the farm ownership and operating loan guarantees provided by 
the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 1925 and 1941 through 1949, and the business loan 
guarantee programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA), 15 
U.S.C. 636(a), 636(m), and 695 through 697f. CEQ includes these as 
examples of loan guarantees in paragraph (q)(1)(vii) and makes one 
correction to the citation to SBA's business loan guarantee programs, 
changing the final section cited from 697f to 697g.
    By guaranteeing loans, FSA is not lending Federal funds; a 
``guaranteed loan'' under FSA regulations is defined in 7 CFR 761.2(b) 
as a ``loan made and serviced by a lender for which the Agency has 
entered into a Lender's Agreement and for which the Agency has issued a 
Loan Guarantee.'' The FSA loan guarantees are limited statutorily to an 
amount not to exceed $1.75 million (with allowance for inflation). See 
7 U.S.C. 1925 and 1943. For fiscal year 2019, the average loan amount 
for a guaranteed operating loan is $289,393; and the average for a 
guaranteed farm ownership loan is $516,859.\114\ The relatively modest 
amounts of these loan guarantees suggest that these are not ``major'' 
within the meaning of the NEPA statute and for that reason CEQ makes 
this result clear in a specific application of its definition of 
``major Federal action.'' In determining whether Federal funding 
federalizes a non-Federal action, courts have considered whether the 
proportion of Federal funds in relation to funds from other sources is 
``significant.'' See, e.g., Ka Makani `O Kohala Ohana Inc. v. Dep't of 
Water Supply, 295 F.3d 955, 960 (9th Cir. 2002) (``While significant 
[F]ederal funding can turn what would otherwise be a [S]tate or local 
project into a major Federal action, consideration must be given to a 
great disparity in the expenditures forecast for the [S]tate [and 
county] and [F]ederal portions of the entire program. . . . In the 
present case, the sum total of all of the [F]ederal funding that was 
ever offered . . . is less than two percent of the estimated total 
project cost.'' (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks and 
citation omitted)); Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Coleman, 518 F.2d 
323, 329 (9th Cir. 1975) (holding Federal funding amounting to 10 
percent of the total project cost not adequate to federalize project 
under NEPA); Sancho v. Dep't of Energy, 578 F. Supp. 2d 1258, 1266-68 
(D. Haw. 2008) (Federal provision of less than 10 percent of project 
costs not sufficient to federalize project); Landmark West! v. U.S. 
Postal Serv., 840 F. Supp. 994, 1009 (S.D.N.Y. 1993), aff'd, 41 F.3d 
1500 (2d Cir. 1994) (holding U.S. Postal Service's role in private 
development of new skyscraper was not sufficient to federalize the 
project).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \114\ See Executive Summary for Farm Loan Programs in Fiscal 
Year 2019, https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/Farm-Loan-Programs/pdfs/program-data/FY2019_Executive_Summary.pdf. See generally https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/program-data/index.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Furthermore, FSA loan guarantee programs do not provide any Federal 
funding to the participating borrower. Rather, FSA's role is limited to 
providing a guaranty to the private lender; no Federal funds are 
expended unless the borrower defaults on the private third-party loan, 
and the lender is unable to recover its debt through foreclosure of its 
collateral. In the event of default, the guarantee is paid to the 
lender, not to lender's borrower. FSA rarely makes guaranteed loan loss 
claim payments because delinquency rates are very low, ranging from 
between 0.98 and 1.87 percent from 2005 to 2019, and 1.62 percent in 
2019.\115\ The FSA guaranteed loan loss rates have ranged between 0.2 
and 0.6 percent during the same time period.\116\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \115\ See Guaranteed Loan Executive Summary, as of FY 2019, 
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/Farm-Loan-Programs/pdfs/program-data/FLP_Guaranteed_Loan_Servicing_Executive_Summary.pdf.
    \116\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For purposes of triggering NEPA, ``[t]he mere possibility of 
[F]ederal funding in the future is too tenuous to convert a local 
project into [F]ederal action.'' Pres. Pittsburgh v. Conturo, 2011 U.S. 
Dist. LEXIS 101756, at *13 (W.D. Pa. 2011). Indeed, in Sancho, the 
court observed that ``analysis of the `major Federal action' 
requirement in NEPA must focus upon [F]ederal funds that have already 
been distributed. Federal funds that have only been budgeted or 
allocated toward a project cannot be considered because they are not an 
`irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources.' '' Sancho, 
578 F. Supp. 2d at 1267 (internal citation omitted). The court further 
stated that ``[t]he expectation of receiving future funds will not 
transform a local or state project into a federal project. . . . 
Regardless of the percentage, consideration of the budgeted future 
federal funds is not ripe for consideration in the `major Federal 
action' analysis.'' Id. Other district courts have also found that, to 
federalize a project, the Federal funding must be more than ``the 
passive deferral of a payment'' and must be provided ``primarily to 
directly further a policy goal of the funding agency.'' Hamrick v. GSA, 
107 F. Supp. 3d 910, 926 (C.D. Ill. 2015) (citing Landmark West!, 840 
F. Supp. at 1007).
    FSA's role is to protect the financial interests of the United 
States, and its relationship is with the lender not the borrower. 7 CFR 
762.103(a). FSA's involvement is primarily to ensure the financial 
stability of the loan and ensure proper loan servicing by the lender. 
Therefore, the context of these FSA regulations does not involve NEPA 
and is not compliance-driven but only meant to ensure that, in the 
event of a default, the loan proceeds are disbursed by the lender, used 
properly, and that the project is completed and operating so as to 
produce income necessary for the loan to be repaid.
    If a lender violates one of FSA's regulations, FSA's only remedy is 
not to pay the loss claim in the event of a liquidation. FSA does not 
possess control or actual decision-making authority over the lender's 
issuance of the loan, the funded facility, or operations of the 
borrower. Courts have

[[Page 43349]]

recognized Federal agencies do not have sufficient control over loan 
guarantees to trigger NEPA. See, e.g., Ctr. for Biological Diversity, 
541 F. Supp. 2d 1091, aff'd, Ctr. for Biological Diversity, No. 08-
16400, 359 F. Appx. 781 (``The agencies guarantee loans issued by 
private lenders to qualified borrowers, but do not approve or undertake 
any of the development projects at issue. The agencies' loan guarantees 
have such a remote and indirect relationship to the watershed problems 
allegedly stemming from the urban development that they cannot be held 
to be a legal cause of any effects on the protected species for 
purposes of either the ESA or the NEPA.'' Ctr. for Biological 
Diversity, No. 08-16400, 359 F. Appx. at 783). ``The [F]ederal agency 
must possess actual power to control the nonfederal activity.'' Hodel, 
848 F.2d at 1089, overruled on other grounds by Vill. of Los Ranchos de 
Albuquerque v. Marsh, 956 F.2d 970.
    SBA's business loan programs include general business loan programs 
(7(a) Program), authorized by section 7(a) of the Small Business Act, 
15 U.S.C. 636(a); the microloan demonstration loan program (Microloan 
Program), authorized by section 7(m) of the Small Business Act, 15 
U.S.C. 636(m); and the development company program (504 Program), which 
is a jobs-creation program, authorized by Title V of the Small Business 
Investment Act of 1958, 15 U.S.C. 695-697g. Under all of these 
programs, SBA does not recruit or work with the borrower, or service 
the loan unless, following a default in payment, the lender has 
collected all that it can under the loan.
    Under the 7(a) Program, SBA guarantees a percentage of the loan 
amount extended by a commercial lender to encourage such lenders to 
make loans to eligible small businesses. The lender seeks and receives 
the guaranty, not the applicant small business. In over 80 percent of 
loans stemming from the 7(a) Program, the lender approves the loan 
without SBA's prior review and approval through the 7(a) Program's 
Preferred Lender Program (``PLP program'').\117\ Further, SBA does not 
expend Federal funds unless there is a default by the borrower in 
paying the loan; in such cases, SBA reimburses the lender in accordance 
with SBA's guarantee percentage. The maximum amount for a standard loan 
under the 7(a) program is $5 million, while various 7(a) loans have 
lesser maximum amounts of $500,000 or less.\118\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \117\ Pursuant to the Small Business Act, under the PLP program, 
SBA delegates responsibility to experienced and qualified lenders to 
issue an SBA guarantee on a loan without prior approval by SBA. The 
PLP program is defined as a ``program established by the 
Administrator . . . under which a written agreement between the 
lender and the Administration delegates to the lender . . . complete 
authority to make and close loans with a guarantee from the 
Administration without obtaining the prior specific approval of the 
Administration . . . .'' 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(2)(C)(iii). Thus, PLP 
program lenders have delegated authority to make SBA-guaranteed 
loans without any approval from SBA.
    \118\ 15 U.S.C. 636(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the Microloan Program, recipient entities can obtain loans, 
up to $50,000, for certain, limited purposes. SBA provides funds to 
designated intermediary lenders, which are non-profit, community-based 
organizations. Each of the lenders has its own lending and credit 
requirements, and the lenders extend the microloan financing. 
Recipients only may use the funds for working capital, inventory or 
supplies, furniture or fixtures, or machinery or equipment. They cannot 
purchase real estate or pay existing debt.
    Under the 504 Program, small businesses can obtain long-term, 
fixed-rate financing to acquire or improve capital assets. Certified 
Development Companies (CDCs), which are private, mostly non-profit, 
corporations certified by SBA to promote local and community economic 
development, implement the program. Typically, a 504 Program project is 
funded by three sources: (1) A loan, secured with a senior lien, from a 
private-sector lender for 50 percent of the project costs; (2) an 
equity contribution from the borrower of at least 10 percent of the 
project costs; and (3) a loan covering up to 40 percent of the total 
costs, which is funded by proceeds from the sale to investors of an 
SBA-guaranteed debenture issued by a CDC.\119\ The 504's Premier 
Certified Lender Program (``PCLP program'') provides for only limited 
SBA review of eligibility, and SBA delegates the responsibility to CDCs 
to issue an SBA guarantee of debenture for eligible loans without prior 
approval by SBA. 15 U.S.C. 697e.\120\ Under the 504 program, the 
maximum loan amount is $5 million, although small manufacturers or 
certain energy projects, including energy efficiency or renewable 
generation projects, may qualify for a $5.5 million debenture.\121\ SBA 
does not expend Federal funds unless there is a default by the borrower 
in paying the debenture-funded loan, in which case SBA pays the 
outstanding balance owed on the debenture to the investors. SBA expends 
Federal funds on its loan guarantee programs only when expected losses 
from defaults exceed expected fee collections. Section 7(a) and 504 
loan program delinquency rates are 0.8 percent and 0.7 percent as of 
July 2019 respectively.\122\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \119\ In the 504 program, SBA guarantees payments of debentures, 
which are bonds sold to investors. The proceeds from the sale of the 
debentures are used to fund the underlying loans to borrowers.
    \120\ Congress has mandated that guaranteed loans made by PCLPs 
shall not include SBA ``review of decisions by the lender involving 
creditworthiness, loan closing, or compliance with legal 
requirements imposed by law or regulation.'' 15 U.S.C. 697e(e)(2).
    \121\ 15 U.S.C. 696(2)(A).
    \122\ See SBA Fiscal Year 2019 Agency Financial Report at 22, 
available at https://www.sba.gov/document/report--agency-financial-report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ has determined that FSA and SBA do not have sufficient control 
and responsibility over the underlying activities to meet the 
definition of major Federal action. The issuance of loan guarantees to 
a non-Federal lender to back a percentage of a loan that the lender 
decides to make to a private, third-party borrower is insufficient 
control or authority over the underlying project. See Rattlesnake 
Coal., 509 F.3d at 1102 (``The United States must maintain decision 
making authority over the local plan in order for it to become a major 
[F]ederal action.''); Ka Makani, 295 F.3d at 961 (``Because the final 
decision-making power remained at all times with [the State agency], we 
conclude that the [Federal agency] involvement was not sufficient to 
constitute `major [F]ederal action.' '' (quoting Barnhart, 906 F.2d at 
1482)); S. Fla. Water Mgmt. Dist., 28 F.3d at 1572 (``The [F]ederal 
agency must possess actual power to control the nonfederal activity.'' 
(citation omitted)).
    CEQ also invited comment on whether any other types of financial 
instruments should be considered non-major Federal actions and the 
basis for such exclusion. CEQ did not receive sufficient comments to 
make any additional changes to the definition of major Federal action 
with respect to other financial instruments.
ix. Other Changes to Major Federal Action
    In the final rule, paragraphs (q)(2) and (3) include the examples 
of activities and decisions that are in 40 CFR 1508.18(a) and (b). CEQ 
invited comment on whether it should change ``partly'' to 
``predominantly'' in paragraph (q)(2) for consistency with the edits to 
the introductory text regarding ``minimal Federal funding.'' CEQ does 
not make this change in the final rule. CEQ notes that ``continuing'' 
activities in paragraph (q)(2) refers to situations where a major 
Federal action remains to occur, consistent with Sec.  1502.9(d) and 
Norton v. Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. 542 U.S. at 73.

[[Page 43350]]

    CEQ proposed to insert ``implementation of'' before ``treaties'' in 
proposed paragraph (q)(2)(i) to clarify that the major Federal action 
is not the treaty itself, but rather an agency's action to implement 
that treaty. CEQ makes this change in Sec.  1508.1(q)(3)(i) of the 
final rule and clarifies that this includes an agency's action to 
implement a treaty pursuant to statute or regulation. CEQ also changes 
``pursuant to'' to ``under'' the APA and adds a reference to ``other 
statutes'' after the APA. While agencies conduct the rulemaking process 
pursuant to the APA, they also may do so under the authority of the 
specific statutes.
    CEQ proposed to strike ``guide'' from proposed paragraph (q)(2)(ii) 
because guidance is non-binding. CEQ makes this change in the final 
rule in Sec.  1508.1(q)(3)(ii).
    Finally, CEQ invited comment in the NPRM on whether CEQ should 
further revise the definition of ``major Federal action'' to exclude 
other per se categories of activities or to further address what NEPA 
analysts have called ``the small handle problem.'' \123\ CEQ did not 
receive sufficient information to make any additional changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \123\ See Daniel R. Mandelker et al., NEPA Law and Litigation, 
sec. 8:20 (2d ed. 2019) (``This problem is sometimes called the 
`small handle' problem because [F]ederal action may be only be a 
`small handle' on a non[-F]ederal project.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

18. Definition of ``Matter''
    The NPRM did not propose any changes to the definition of matter in 
paragraph (r). CEQ did not revise this definition in the final rule.
19. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Mitigation''
    CEQ proposed to amend the definition of ``mitigation'' to define 
the term and clarify that NEPA does not require adoption of any 
particular mitigation measure, consistent with Methow Valley, 490 U.S. 
at 352-53. In Methow Valley, the Supreme Court held that NEPA and the 
CEQ regulations require ``that mitigation be discussed in sufficient 
detail to ensure that environmental consequences have been fairly 
evaluated,'' but do not establish ``a substantive requirement that a 
complete mitigation plan be actually formulated and adopted'' before 
the agency can make its decision. Id. at 352.
    CEQ also proposed to amend the definition of ``mitigation'' to make 
clear that mitigation must have a nexus to the effects of the proposed 
action, is limited to those actions that have an effect on the 
environment, and does not include actions that do not have an effect on 
the environment. This change will make the NEPA process more effective 
by clarifying that mitigation measures must actually be designed to 
mitigate the effects of the proposed action. This amended definition is 
consistent with CEQ's Mitigation Guidance, supra note 29.
    Under that guidance, if an agency believes that the proposed action 
will provide net environmental benefits through use of compensatory 
mitigation, the agency should incorporate by reference the documents 
that demonstrate that the proposed mitigation will be new or in 
addition to actions that would occur under the no-action alternative, 
and the financial, legal, and management commitments for the 
mitigation. Use of well-established mitigation banks and similar 
compensatory mitigation legal structures should provide the necessary 
substantiation for the agency's findings on the effectiveness (nexus to 
effects of the action, proportionality, and durability) of the 
mitigation. Other actions may be effectively mitigated through use of 
environmental management systems that provide a structure of procedures 
and policies to systematically identify, evaluate, and manage 
environmental impacts of an action during its implementation.\124\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \124\ See Council on Environmental Quality, Aligning National 
Environmental Policy Act Processes with Environmental Management 
Systems (Apr. 2007), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-publications/NEPA_EMS_Guide_final_Apr2007.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ makes the proposed changes in the final rule with minor edits 
to improve clarity. Specifically, CEQ replaces ``reasonably foreseeable 
impacts to the human environment'' with ``effects'' to more precisely 
refer to the defined term ``effects.'' In response to comments, CEQ 
also adds ``or alternatives'' after ``proposed action'' to clarify that 
mitigation measures mean measures to avoid, minimize, or compensate for 
effects caused by a proposed action or its alternatives. CEQ also 
replaces ``the effects of a proposed action'' with ``those effects'' to 
reduce wordiness and provide additional clarity.
20. Definition of ``NEPA Process''
    The NPRM did not propose any changes to the definition of NEPA 
process in paragraph (t). CEQ did not revise this definition in the 
final rule.
21. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Notice of Intent''
    CEQ proposed to revise the definition of ``notice of intent'' in 
paragraph (u) to move the operative requirements for what agencies must 
include in the notices to Sec.  1501.9(d) and add the word ``public'' 
to clarify that the NOI is a public notice. CEQ makes these changes in 
the final rule.
22. New Definition of ``Page''
    CEQ proposed a new definition of ``page'' in paragraph (v) to 
provide a word count (500 words) for a more standard functional 
definition of ``page'' for page count and other NEPA purposes. CEQ adds 
this definition as proposed to the final rule. As discussed in the 
NPRM, this change updates NEPA for modern electronic publishing and 
internet formatting, in which the number of words per page can vary 
widely depending on format. It also ensures some uniformity in document 
length while allowing unrestricted use of the graphic display of 
quantitative information, tables, photos, maps, and other geographic 
information that can provide a much more effective means of conveying 
information about environmental effects. This change supports the 
original CEQ page limits as a means of ensuring that environmental 
documents are readable and useful to decision makers.
23. New Definition of ``Participating Agency''
    CEQ proposed to add the concept of a participating agency to the 
CEQ regulations in paragraph (w). CEQ proposed to define participating 
agency consistent with the definition in FAST-41 and 23 U.S.C. 139. CEQ 
proposed to add participating agencies to Sec.  1501.7(i) regarding the 
schedule and replace the term ``commenting'' agencies with 
``participating'' agencies throughout. CEQ adds this definition as 
proposed to the final rule.
24. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Proposal''
    CEQ proposed clarifying edits to the definition of proposal in 
paragraph (x) and to strike the operative language regarding timing of 
an EIS because it is already addressed in Sec.  1502.5. CEQ makes these 
changes in the final rule.
25. New Definition of ``Publish and Publication''
    CEQ proposed to define publish and publication in paragraph (y) to 
provide agencies with the flexibility to make environmental reviews and 
information available to the public by electronic means. The 1978 
regulations predate personal computers and a wide range of technologies 
now used by agencies such as the modern internet and GIS mapping tools. 
To ensure that agencies do not exclude the affected public from the 
NEPA process due to a lack of resources (often referred to as the 
``digital

[[Page 43351]]

divide''), the definition retains a provision for printed environmental 
documents where necessary for effective public participation. CEQ adds 
this definition as proposed in the final rule.
26. New Definition of ``Reasonable Alternatives''
    Several ANPRM commenters asked CEQ to include a new definition of 
``reasonable alternatives'' in the regulations with emphasis on how 
technical and economic feasibility should be evaluated. CEQ proposed a 
new definition of ``reasonable alternatives'' in paragraph (z) to 
provide that reasonable alternatives must be technically and 
economically feasible and meet the purpose and need of the proposed 
action. See, e.g., Vt. Yankee, 435 U.S. at 551 (``alternatives must be 
bounded by some notion of feasibility''). CEQ also proposed to define 
reasonable alternatives as ``a reasonable range of alternatives'' to 
codify Questions 1a and 1b in the Forty Questions, supra note 2. 
Agencies are not required to give detailed consideration to 
alternatives that are unlikely to be implemented because they are 
infeasible, ineffective, or inconsistent with the purpose and need for 
agency action.
    Finally, CEQ proposed to clarify that a reasonable alternative must 
also consider the goals of the applicant when the agency's action 
involves a non-Federal entity. These changes will help reduce paperwork 
and delays by helping to clarify the range of alternatives that 
agencies must consider. Where the agency action is in response to an 
application for permit or other authorization, the agency should 
consider the applicant's goals based on the agency's statutory 
authorization to act, as well as other congressional directives, in 
defining the proposed action's purpose and need. CEQ adds this 
definition as proposed in the final rule.
27. New Definition of ``Reasonably Foreseeable''
    CEQ received comments on the ANPRM requesting that the regulations 
provide a definition of ``reasonably foreseeable.'' CEQ proposed to 
define ``reasonably foreseeable'' in paragraph (aa) consistent with the 
ordinary person standard--that is what a person of ordinary prudence in 
the position of the agency decision maker would consider in reaching a 
decision. Sierra Club v. Marsh, 976 F.2d 763, 767 (1st Cir. 1992). CEQ 
adds this definition as proposed in the final rule.
28. Definition of ``Referring Agency''
    CEQ proposed a grammatical edit to the definition of referring 
agency in paragraph (bb). CEQ makes this change in the final rule.
29. Definition of ``Scope''
    CEQ proposed to move the operative language from paragraph (cc), 
which tells agencies how to determine the scope of an EIS, to Sec.  
1501.9(e). CEQ makes this change in the final rule.
30. New Definition of ``Senior Agency Official''
    CEQ proposed to define the new term ``senior agency official'' in 
paragraph (dd) to provide for agency officials that are responsible for 
the agency's NEPA compliance. As reflected in comments, implementation 
of NEPA can require significant agency resources. Without senior agency 
official leadership and effective management of NEPA reviews, the 
process can be lengthy, costly, and subject to uncertainty and delays. 
CEQ seeks to advance efficiencies to ensure that agencies use their 
limited resources to effectively consider environmental impacts and 
support timely and informed decision making by the Federal Government. 
CEQ adds this definition with some changes in the final rule. 
Specifically, CEQ does not include the phrase ``and representing agency 
analysis of the effects of agency actions on the human environmental in 
agency decision-making processes'' because the duties and 
responsibilities of the ``senior agency official,'' including 
representing the agency, are discussed in various provisions of the 
subchapter. See Sec. Sec.  1501.5(f), 1501.7(d), 1501.8(b)(6) and (c), 
1501.10, 1502.7, 1507.2.
31. Definition of ``Special Expertise''
    The NPRM did not propose any changes to the definition of special 
expertise in paragraph (ee). CEQ did not revise this definition in the 
final rule.
32. Striking the Definition of ``Significantly''
    Because 40 CFR 1508.27 did not define ``significantly,'' but rather 
set out factors for agencies to consider in assessing whether a 
particular effect is significant, CEQ proposed to strike this 
definition and discuss significance in Sec.  1501.3(b), as described in 
section II.C.3. CEQ makes this change in the final rule.
33. Clarifying the Meaning of ``Tiering''
    CEQ proposed to amend the definition of ``tiering'' in paragraph 
(ff) to make clear that agencies may use EAs at the programmatic stage 
as well as the subsequent stages. This clarifies that agencies have 
flexibility in structuring programmatic NEPA reviews and associated 
tiering. CEQ proposed to move the operative language describing how any 
agency determines when and how to tier from 40 CFR 1508.28 to Sec.  
1501.11(b). CEQ makes these changes in the final rule.

K. CEQ Guidance Documents

    In the proposed rule, CEQ stated that if the proposal was adopted 
as a final rule, it would supersede any previous CEQ NEPA guidance and 
handbooks. With this final rule, CEQ clarifies that it will provide 
notice in the Federal Register listing withdrawn guidance. CEQ will 
issue updated or new guidance consistent with Presidential directives. 
CEQ also intends to update the Citizen's Guide to NEPA.\125\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \125\ Supra note 29.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

A. Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    E.O. 12866 \126\ directs agencies to assess all costs and benefits 
of available regulatory alternatives, and if regulation is necessary, 
to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits, including 
potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, 
and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity. E.O. 13563 
\127\ reaffirms E.O. 12866, and directs agencies to use a process that 
provides for public participation in developing rules; promotes 
coordination, simplification, and harmonization; and reduces burdens 
and maintains flexibility.
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    \126\ 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993).
    \127\ 76 FR 3821 (Jan. 21, 2011).
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    Section 3(f) of E.O. 12866 sets forth the four categories of 
regulatory action that meet the definition of a significant regulatory 
action. The first category includes rules that have an annual effect on 
the economy of $100 million or adversely affect in a material way the 
economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the 
environment, public health or safety, or State, Tribal, or local 
governments or communities. Some commenters stated that this rulemaking 
would have such an effect, and therefore CEQ should have prepared a 
regulatory impact statement. Commenters noted, for example, proposed 
changes to the definition of effects, alternatives analysis, and 
overall effect on the number of Federal actions subject to NEPA as 
examples of impacts

[[Page 43352]]

contributing to an impact of over $100 million on the public.
    CEQ agrees that this an economically significant action. However, 
many of the changes made in this rule codify long-standing practices 
and case law that have developed since CEQ issued the 1978 regulations. 
Under OMB Circular A-4, ``Regulatory Analysis'' (Sept. 17, 2003),\128\ 
the ``no action'' baseline is ``what the world will be like if the 
proposed rule is not adopted.'' Changes to the regulations based on 
long-standing guidance and Supreme Court case law would be included in 
the baseline for the rule; therefore, their codification would generate 
marginal cost savings. Similarly, changes that clarify or otherwise 
improve the ability to interpret and implement the regulations would 
have little to no quantifiable impact. The appendix to the Regulatory 
Impact Analysis for the Final Rule, Update to the Regulations 
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act \129\ (``RIA Appendix'') provides a summary of the 
anticipated economic and environmental impacts associated with the 
changes in the final rule. In evaluating economic and environmental 
impacts, CEQ has considered the statute and Supreme Court case law, and 
the 1978 regulations. As discussed throughout Section II and the Final 
Rule Response to Comments, CEQ has made revisions to better align the 
regulations with the statute, codify Supreme Court case law and current 
agency practice, improve the timeliness and efficiency of the NEPA 
process, and make other changes to improve the clarity and readability 
of the regulations.
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    \128\ 68 FR 58366 (Oct. 10, 2003).
    \129\ The Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Final Rule, Update 
to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act is available under ``Supporting 
Documents'' in the docket on regulations.gov under docket ID CEQ-
2019-0003.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The revisions to CEQ's regulations are anticipated to significantly 
lower administrative costs as a result of changes to reduce unnecessary 
paperwork. Government-wide, the average number of pages for a final EIS 
is approximately 661 pages. The final rule includes numerous changes to 
reduce the duplication of paperwork and establishes presumptive page 
limits for EAs of 75 pages, and for EISs of 150 pages (or 300 pages for 
proposals of unusual scope or complexity).\130\ However, agencies may 
request longer page limits with approval from a senior agency official 
and include additional material as appendices. The final rule also 
makes numerous changes to improve the efficiency of the NEPA process 
and establishes presumptive time limits for EAs of one year and for 
EISs of two years, which may be extended with approval of a senior 
agency official. CEQ expects the final rule to reduce the length of EAs 
and EISs, and the time for completing and these analyses, and to lower 
administrative costs government-wide.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \130\ The 1978 regulations recommended the same page limits for 
EISs but did not include provisions requiring agencies to meet those 
page limits. 40 CFR 1502.7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A total of 1,276 EISs were completed from 2010 through 2018, and 
the median EIS completion time was 3.5 years with only 257 EISs 
completed in 2 years or less.\131\ Based on the efficiencies and 
presumptive time limit for EISs in the final rule, the length of time 
to complete the 1019 EISs that took longer than 2 years could be 
reduced by 58 percent, assuming a 2-year completion time for all of 
those actions. Applying this potential time savings to the total 
administrative cost to prepare those EISs taking in excess of 2 years 
could result in roughly $744 million in savings over the 9-year time 
period for an annualized savings of roughly $83 million (2016 adjusted 
dollars).\132\ The amount of time required to prepare an EIS does not 
necessarily correlate with the total cost. However, for those EISs 
taking over two years to prepare, comparing the anticipated time 
savings with the respective administrative costs provides insight into 
the potential cost savings that an agency may generate under the final 
rule. Additionally, CEQ notes that there may be cost savings related to 
the preparation of EAs and application of CEs. While the cost of these 
actions is significantly lower, agencies conduct such reviews in much 
larger numbers than EISs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \131\ See Council on Environmental Quality, EIS Timeline Data 
Excel Workbook, (June 12, 2020), https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/nepa-practice/CEQ_EIS_Timeline_Data_2020-6-12.xlsx.
    \132\ This calculation uses the mid-point ($1.125 million) of 
the $250,000 to $2 million cost range found in the NEPA Task Force 
report and assumes a 58 percent reduction in costs for those EISs 
taking longer than 2 years. NEPA Task Force Report, supra, note 28. 
This number is similar to the cost data from the Department of 
Energy, which found a median EIS cost of $1.4 million. GAO NEPA 
Report, supra, note 91.
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    Agencies have not routinely tracked costs of completing NEPA 
analyses.\133\ With implementation of this final rule, in particular 
Sec.  1502.11(g), agencies will be required to provide the estimated 
total cost of preparing an EIS. CEQ expects this will begin to address 
the data gap that currently exists relating to the administrative costs 
of NEPA compliance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \133\ As noted above, a 2014 U.S. Government Accountability 
Office report found that Federal agencies do not routinely track 
data on the cost of completing NEPA analyses, and that the cost can 
vary considerably, depending on the complexity and scope of the 
project. GAO NEPA Report, supra note 91.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CEQ expects these and other changes in the final rule to catalyze 
economic benefits by expediting some reviews, including through 
improved coordination and management and less focus on non-significant 
impacts. Commenters from industry on both the ANPRM and proposed rule 
frequently discussed that delays under the 1978 regulations resulted in 
higher costs; however, these costs are difficult to quantify. One 
estimate in 2015 found that the cost of a 6-year delay in 
infrastructure projects across the electricity transmission, power 
generation, inland waterways, roads and bridges, rail, and water (both 
drinking and wastewater) sectors is $3.7 trillion,\134\ which was 
subsequently updated to $3.9 trillion in 2018.\135\ There may be 
underlying permits and consultations (e.g., the Endangered Species Act) 
and other issues that contribute to a delay and therefore allocating a 
portion of the cost to the NEPA process would be challenging.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \134\ Two Years, Not Ten, supra note 4.
    \135\ Press Release, Common Good, Common Good Updates the Cost 
of US Infrastructure Delays Costs Have Risen $200 Billion Over Five 
Years to Nearly $3.9 Trillion (May 2018), https://www.commongood.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Two-Years-Update.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NEPA is a procedural statute requiring agencies to disclose and 
consider potential environmental effects in their decision-making 
processes. The final rule does not alter any substantive environmental 
law or regulation such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and 
the Endangered Species Act. Under the final rule, agencies will 
continue to consider all significant impacts to the environment. 
Although some may view the changes in the final rule as reducing the 
number or scope of analyses, CEQ has determined that, using a baseline 
of the statutory requirements of NEPA and Supreme Court case law, there 
are no adverse environmental impacts (see RIA Appendix).
    OMB has determined that this final rule is an economically 
significant regulatory action because it may have an annual effect on 
the economy of $100 million or more associated with lower 
administrative costs and reduced paperwork and delays in the 
environmental review process. This rule sets forth the government-wide 
process for implementing NEPA in a consistent and coordinated manner. 
The rule will also require agencies to update their existing NEPA 
procedures for

[[Page 43353]]

consistency with the changes set forth in this final rule.

B. Executive Order 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs

    Under E.O. 13771,\136\ agencies must identify for elimination two 
prior regulations for every one regulation issued, and promulgate 
regulations consistent with a regulatory budget. This rule is a 
deregulatory action under E.O. 13771 and OMB's guidance implementing 
E.O. 13771, titled ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory 
Costs'' (April 5, 2017).\137\ CEQ anticipates that the changes made in 
this rule will reduce unnecessary paperwork and expedite some reviews 
through improved coordination and management.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \136\ 82 FR 9339 (Feb. 3, 2017).
    \137\ Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/memoranda/2017/M-17-21-OMB.pdf.
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C. Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 13272, Proper 
Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq., and E.O. 13272 \138\ require agencies to assess the impacts of 
proposed and final rules on small entities. Under the RFA, small 
entities include small businesses, small organizations, and small 
governmental jurisdictions. An agency must prepare a regulatory 
flexibility analysis at the proposed and final rule stages unless it 
determines and certifies that the rule, if promulgated, would not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. 5 U.S.C. 605(b). An agency need not perform an analysis of 
small entity impacts when a rule does not directly regulate small 
entities. See Mid-Tex Electric Coop., Inc. v. FERC, 773 F.2d 327 (D.C. 
Cir. 1985). This rule does not directly regulate small entities. 
Rather, it applies to Federal agencies and sets forth the process for 
their compliance with NEPA. As noted above, NEPA is a procedural 
statute requiring agencies to disclose and consider potential 
environmental effects in their decision-making processes, and does not 
alter any substantive environmental law or regulation. Under the final 
rule, agencies will continue to consider all significant impacts to the 
environment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \138\ 67 FR 53461 (Aug. 16, 2002).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A few commenters asserted that the rule would impact small 
entities, including small businesses that provide services relating to 
the preparation of NEPA documents, outdoor recreation businesses, and 
other related small businesses. To the extent that the rule may affect 
small entities, this rulemaking will make the NEPA process more 
efficient and consistent and clarify the procedural requirements, which 
CEQ expects to directly benefit Federal agencies and indirectly benefit 
all other entities engaged in the process, including applicants seeking 
a Federal permit and those engaged in NEPA compliance activities. In 
addition, CEQ expects that small businesses and farmers seeking SBA or 
FSA guaranteed loans will indirectly benefit from the clarifying 
revisions in the final rule to the definition of major Federal action. 
Accordingly, CEQ hereby certifies that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

D. Congressional Review Act

    Before a rule can take effect, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) 
requires agencies to submit to the House of Representatives, Senate, 
and Comptroller General a report containing a copy of the rule and a 
statement identifying whether it is a ``major rule.'' 5 U.S.C. 801. OMB 
determines if a final rule constitutes a major rule. The CRA defines a 
major rule as any rule that the Administrator of OMB's Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs finds has resulted in or is likely 
to result in--(A) an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or 
more; (B) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual 
industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic 
regions, or (C) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, 
investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United 
States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in 
domestic and export markets. 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    OMB has determined that this final rule is a major rule for 
purposes of the Congressional Review Act. CEQ will submit a report, 
including the final rule, to both houses of Congress and the Government 
Accountability Office for review.

E. National Environmental Policy Act

    Under the CEQ regulations, major Federal actions may include 
regulations. When CEQ issued regulations in 1978, it prepared a 
``special environmental assessment'' for illustrative purposes pursuant 
to E.O. 11991. 43 FR at 25232. The NPRM for the 1978 regulations stated 
``the impacts of procedural regulations of this kind are not 
susceptible to detailed analysis beyond that set out in the 
assessment.'' Id. Similarly, in 1986, while CEQ stated in the final 
rule that there were ``substantial legal questions as to whether 
entities within the Executive Office of the President are required to 
prepare environmental assessments,'' it also prepared a special 
environmental assessment. 51 FR at 15619. The special environmental 
assessment issued in 1986 made a finding of no significant 
environmental impact, and there was no finding made for the assessment 
of the 1978 regulations.
    Some commenters expressed the view that CEQ failed to comply with 
NEPA when publishing the proposed rule that precedes this final rule, 
and CEQ should have prepared an EA or EIS. The commenters stated that 
section 102(2)(C) of NEPA requires environmental review of major 
Federal actions. By not conducting an environmental review under NEPA, 
commenters stated that CEQ violated its own regulations and past 
practices in prior regulations. Other commenters stated that NEPA 
review was required if the proposed rule ``created the possibility'' of 
significant impacts on the environment. They asserted that the proposed 
rule was a ``sweeping re-write'' of the 1978 regulations that would 
alter Federal agencies' consideration of environmental effects of 
proposed projects. Aspects of the proposed rule that were referenced in 
this regard include expanded use of CEs, narrow definitions of 
significance and effects, weakened alternatives analysis, and reduced 
public participation and agency accountability. Commenters asserted 
that the consequence of these changes is truncated analysis, a less 
informed public, and less mitigation.
    CEQ disagrees with commenters. CEQ prepared a special assessment on 
its prior rules for illustrative purposes. Those long-prior voluntary 
decisions do not forever establish that CEQ has an obligation to apply 
the CEQ's regulations to changes to those regulations. As noted above, 
CEQ has the authority to promulgate and revise its regulations 
consistent with Chevron and other applicable case law.
    This rule would not authorize any activity or commit resources to a 
project that may affect the environment. Similar to the 1978 
regulations, these regulations do not concern any particular 
environmental media, nor are the regulations tied to a specific 
environmental setting. Rather, these regulations apply generally to 
Federal actions affecting the environment. No action under the 
regulations or specific issue or problem is singled out for special 
consideration. See Council on Environmental Quality, Special

[[Page 43354]]

Environmental Assessment of Regulations Proposed Under E.O. 11991 to 
Implement the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act, p. 6 (1978). Further, as stated by CEQ when it proposed the 
regulations in 1978, procedural rules of this kind are not susceptible 
to detailed analysis. 43 FR at 25232.
    Even if CEQ were required to prepare an EA, it likely would result 
in a FONSI. CEQ has reviewed the changes made in this final rule and 
determined that they would not result in environmental impacts. See RIA 
Appendix. For reasons explained in the respective areas of this 
preamble and further summarized in the RIA Appendix, CEQ disagrees that 
the clarifications and changes to the processes that Federal agencies 
follow when relying on CEs, analyzing alternatives, and engaging the 
public will themselves result in any environmental impacts, let alone 
potentially significant impacts. This thorough review, in combination 
with the aforementioned circumstances of the special environmental 
assessments prepared for the 1978 and 1986 regulations, and the 
procedural nature of these regulations, reinforces CEQ's view that an 
EA is neither required nor necessary.
    Moreover, preparing an EA for the final rule would not meaningfully 
inform CEQ or the public. The clarifications and changes in the final 
rule are entirely procedural and will help to inform the processes used 
by Federal agencies to evaluate the environmental effects of their 
proposed actions in the future.
    For reasons explained in the respective areas of this preamble and 
further summarized in the RIA Appendix, CEQ disagrees that changes 
relating to CEs, analysis of alternatives, public participation, and 
agency responsibilities will have environmental impacts, let alone 
potentially significant ones.
    In addition, commenters referenced several court opinions in 
support of their view that an agency's interpretation of a statute can 
be subject to NEPA review when that interpretation can lead to 
subsequent, significant effects on the environment, including Citizens 
for Better Forestry v. U.S. Dep't of Agric., 481 F. Supp. 2d 1059 (N.D. 
Cal. 2007) and Sierra Club v. Bosworth, 510 F. 3d 1016 (9th Cir. 2007). 
Commenters stated that CEQ was required to request comment on the 
appropriate scope of the environmental review of the proposed rule and 
then prepare, and notice for public comment, an EIS before or in tandem 
with its publication.
    The circumstances in this rule are distinctly different from the 
case law referenced by commenters. Citizens for Better Forestry 
pertains to the misapplication of an existing CE, where the court found 
that the agency improperly expanded the scope of an existing CE when 
applying it to a National Forest Management Act rulemaking. 481 F. 
Supp. at 1086. In Sierra Club v. Bosworth, the court agreed with 
previous cases finding that the promulgation of agency NEPA procedures, 
including the establishment of new CEs, did not itself require 
preparation of an EA or EIS, but that agencies need only comply with 
CEQ regulations setting forth procedural requirements, including 
consultation with CEQ, and Federal Register publication for public 
comment (40 CFR 1507.3). 510 F.3d at 1022. The court, however, found 
that the record relied on by the U.S. Forest Service to develop and 
justify a CE was deficient. Id. at 1026-30. Neither of the 
circumstances in those cases is comparable to the circumstances of this 
rule. Further, in another relevant case, Heartwood v. U.S. Forest 
Service, the court found that neither NEPA nor the CEQ regulations 
required the agency to conduct an EA or an EIS prior to the 
promulgation of its procedures creating a CE. 230 F.3d 947, 954-55 (7th 
Cir. 2000).
    This rule serves as the primary regulation from which agencies 
develop procedures to implement the statute. To prepare an EIS, as some 
commenters had requested, would necessitate that CEQ apply the 1978 
regulations to a rule that revises those same regulations. There is no 
indication that the statute contemplated such circumstances, and CEQ is 
not aware of other examples in law where the revisions to procedural 
rules were subject to the requirements of the rule that those same 
rules replaced. Further, the 1978 regulations do not require agencies 
to prepare a NEPA analysis before establishing or updating agency 
procedures for implementing NEPA. Since this rule would not authorize 
any activity or commit resources to a project that may affect the 
environment, preparation of an environmental review is not required.

F. Endangered Species Act

    Under the ESA, the promulgation of regulations can be a 
discretionary agency action subject to section 7 of the ESA. CEQ has 
determined that updating its regulations implementing the procedural 
provisions of NEPA has ``no effect'' on listed species and critical 
habitat. Therefore, ESA section 7 consultation is not required.
    Commenters stated that consultation with the Fish and Wildlife 
Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service is required because 
the rule may affect or may adversely affect species listed under the 
ESA. In support of this point, commenters referenced proposed changes 
to the definition of ``effects'' and ``significantly,'' development of 
alternatives, and obligations for agencies to obtain information. 
Commenters noted that a programmatic consultation may be appropriate 
where an agency promulgates regulations that may affect endangered 
species. Other commenters believe that the rule is contrary to section 
7(a)(1) of ESA, which imposes a specific obligation upon all federal 
agencies to carry out programs to conserve endangered and threatened 
species. Commenters stated that the proposed changes eliminate or 
otherwise weaken requirements pertaining to the assessment of impacts 
and, in doing so, CEQ fails to satisfy responsibilities under section 
7(a)(1).
    CEQ disagrees that the aforementioned regulatory changes ``may 
affect'' listed species or critical habitat. Initially, it is important 
to note that commenters are conflating ESA and NEPA. As courts have 
stated numerous times, these are two different statutes with different 
standards and definitions and, in fact, different underlying policies. 
As discussed in section II.B.1, the Supreme Court has stated that NEPA 
is a procedural statute. In contrast, the ESA is principally focused on 
imposing substantive duties on Federal agencies and the public. 
Regardless of how definitions or other procedures under NEPA are 
changed under this regulation or any other regulatory process, it will 
not change the requirements for Federal agencies under the ESA or its 
implementing regulations.
    This rulemaking is procedural in nature, and therefore does not 
make any final determination regarding the level of NEPA analysis 
required for particular actions. CEQ's approach is consistent with the 
approach taken by other Federal agencies that similarly make 
determinations of no effect on listed species and critical habitat when 
establishing or updating agency NEPA procedures. CEQ also notes that 
neither the 1978 regulations nor the 1986 amendments indicate that CEQ 
consulted under ESA section 7(a)(2). Setting aside the procedural 
nature of this rule, CEQ reviewed it to determine if it ``may affect'' 
listed species or their designated critical habitat. CEQ has closely 
reviewed the impacts of all the changes made to the 1978 regulations, 
as summarized in the RIA Appendix and described in greater detail in 
the

[[Page 43355]]

respective responses to comments. None of the changes to the 1978 
regulations are anticipated to have environmental impacts, including 
potential effects to listed species and critical habitat. For example, 
under Sec.  1501.3 of the final rule, agencies should continue to 
consider listed species and designated habitat when making a 
determination of significance with respect to the level of NEPA review.
    Contrary to several comments, the final rule does not ignore 
cumulative effects on listed species. Rather, the final rule includes a 
definition of effects that comports with Supreme Court case law to 
encompass all effects that are reasonably foreseeable and have a 
reasonably close causal relationship to the proposed action or 
alternatives. In general, the changes improve the timeliness and 
efficiency of the NEPA process while retaining requirements to analyze 
all activities and environmental impacts covered within the scope of 
the statute. To the extent the rule modifies the 1978 regulations, the 
changes do not diminish the quality and depth of environmental review 
relative to the baseline, which is defined as how NEPA is conducted 
under applicable Supreme Court case law.
    Neither the ESA regulations nor the ESA Section 7 Consultation 
Handbook (1998) require the action agency to request concurrence from 
the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service for 
determinations that an action will have no effect on listed species or 
their critical habitat. The final rule does not change the obligations 
of Federal agencies under the ESA; as noted above, importantly, all of 
the requirements under section 7 and associated implementing 
regulations and policies continue to apply regardless of whether NEPA 
analysis is triggered or the form of the NEPA documentation. For the 
aforementioned reasons, CEQ has determined that the final rule will 
have no effect on ESA listed species and designated critical habitat.
    To the extent commenters imply that, under the authority of ESA 
section 7(a)(1), CEQ can regulate Federal action agencies with regard 
to the ESA, this is not accurate. For example, CEQ does not have the 
authority, under the guise of NEPA, to dictate to Federal action 
agencies that they may only choose an alternative that has the most 
conservation value for listed species or designated critical habitat.
    All Federal agencies continue to be subject to the ESA and its 
requirements. Further, as described in detail in the RIA Appendix and 
in Final Rule Response to Comments on specific changes, none of the 
changes to the 1978 regulations are anticipated to have environmental 
impacts, including potential effects to listed species and critical 
habitat. In general, the changes improve the timeliness and efficiency 
of the NEPA process while retaining requirements to analyze all 
environmental impacts covered within the ambit of the statute. CEQ 
notes that the rulemaking is procedural in nature, and therefore does 
not make any final determination regarding the level of NEPA analysis 
required for particular actions.

G. Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    E.O. 13132 requires agencies to develop an accountable process to 
ensure meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have federalism 
implications.\139\ Policies that have federalism implications include 
regulations that have substantial direct effects on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. This rule does not have federalism implications because it 
applies to Federal agencies, not States. However, CEQ notes that States 
may elect to assume NEPA responsibilities under Federal statutes. CEQ 
received comments in response to the NPRM from a number of States, 
including those that have assumed NEPA responsibilities, and considered 
these comments in development of the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \139\ Supra note 75.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

H. Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    E.O. 13175 requires agencies to have a process to ensure meaningful 
and timely input by Tribal officials in the development of policies 
that have Tribal implications.\140\ Such policies include regulations 
that have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on 
the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian Tribes. While the rule is not a regulatory policy 
that has Tribal implications, the rule does, in part, respond to Tribal 
government comments concerning Tribal sovereign rights, interests, and 
the expertise of Tribes in the NEPA process and the CEQ regulations 
implementing NEPA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \140\ Supra note 69.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters stated that it is inaccurate for CEQ to conclude 
that the rule ``is not a regulatory policy that has Tribal 
implications,'' under E.O. 13175. Commenters noted that NEPA uniquely 
and substantially impacts Tribes, and Tribal lands are ordinarily held 
in Federal trust. Commenters also stated that through NEPA and its 
implementing regulations, Tribes often engage with the Federal agency 
on projects located within the Tribes' ancestral lands, including on 
projects that may affect cultural resources, sacred sites, and other 
resources. Commenters noted Tribal nations routinely participate in the 
NEPA process as participating, cooperating, or sometimes lead agencies. 
Further, the proposed regulations specifically contain provisions that 
explicitly reference Tribal nations.
    Commenters stated that consultation is required by the Presidential 
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies on 
Tribal Consultation dated November 5, 2009,\141\ which supplements E.O. 
13175 and requested formal consultation and additional meetings in 
their region with CEQ on the proposed rule. Commenters stated that the 
Tribal meetings CEQ held were insufficient in number or capacity for 
meaningful consultation. Other commenters stated that consultation 
should start at the outset of the process, and some reference comments 
provided on the need for consultation during the ANPRM process. Some 
commenters stated that CEQ should withdraw the proposed rule, and 
others asked that CEQ postpone or extend the comment period for the 
rulemaking in order to engage in consultation with Tribal governments 
in order to make the regulatory framework more responsive to Tribal 
needs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \141\ 74 FR 57881 (Nov. 9, 2009).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final rule does not meet the criteria in E.O. 13175 that 
require government-to-government consultation. This rule does not 
impose substantial direct compliance costs on Tribal governments 
(section 5(b)) and does not preempt Tribal law (section 5(c)). However, 
CEQ solicited and received numerous Tribal governmental and 
organizational public comments during the rulemaking process. The 
comments received through the ANPRM informed the development of CEQ's 
proposed rule. For the proposed rule, CEQ provided for a 60-day public 
comment period, which is consistent with the length of the comment 
period provided by CEQ for the original 1978 proposed regulations, as 
well as the APA and E.O. 12866. CEQ notified all

[[Page 43356]]

Tribal leaders of federally recognized Tribes by email or mail of the 
proposed rule and invited comments. CEQ conducted additional Tribal 
outreach to solicit comments from Tribal leaders and members through 
three listening sessions held in Denver, Colorado, Anchorage, Alaska, 
and Washington, DC. CEQ made information to aid the Tribes and the 
public's review available on its websites at www.whitehouse.gov/ceq and 
www.nepa.gov, including a redline version of the proposed changes, a 
presentation on the proposed rule, and other background information.
    One commenter argued that CEQ made a ``substantive'' decision to 
forego Tribal consultation that it must support with substantial 
evidence in the administrative record under the APA. While compliance 
with E.O. 13175 is not subject to judicial review, the final rule 
explains how CEQ received meaningful and timely input from Tribal 
leaders and members.
    In its ANPRM, CEQ included a specific question regarding the 
representation of Tribal governments in the NEPA process. See ANPRM 
Question 18 (``Are there ways in which the role of [T]ribal governments 
in the NEPA process should be clarified in CEQ's NEPA regulations, and 
if so, how?''). More generally, CEQ's ANPRM sought the views of Tribal 
governments and others on regulatory revisions that CEQ could propose 
to improve Tribal participation in Federal NEPA processes. See ANPRM 
Question 2 (``Should CEQ's NEPA regulations be revised to make the NEPA 
process more efficient by better facilitating agency use of 
environmental studies, analysis, and decisions conducted in earlier 
Federal, State, Tribal or local environmental reviews or authorization 
decisions, and if so, how?''). As discussed in section II.A, CEQ is 
amending its regulations in the final rule to further support 
coordination with Tribal governments and agencies and analysis of a 
proposed action's potential effects on Tribal lands, resources, or 
areas of historic significance as an important part of Federal agency 
decision making.

I. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    E.O. 12898 requires agencies to make achieving environmental 
justice part of their missions by identifying and addressing, as 
appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or 
environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on 
minority populations and low-income populations.\142\ CEQ has analyzed 
this final rule and determined that it would not cause 
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental 
effects on minority populations and low-income populations. This rule 
would set forth implementing regulations for NEPA; it is in the agency 
implementation of NEPA when conducting reviews of proposed agency 
actions where agencies can consider, as needed, environmental justice 
issues.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \142\ 59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters disagreed with CEQ's determination that the 
proposed rule would not cause disproportionately high and adverse human 
health or environmental effects on minority populations and low-income 
populations. Commenters stated NEPA's mandate to consider environmental 
effects, E.O. 12898, agency guidance, and case law establish that 
agencies cannot ignore the impacts of their actions on low-income and 
minority communities, and that CEQ is relinquishing its responsibility 
to oversee compliance with E.O. 12898 and NEPA. Further, commenters 
contended that CEQ's failure to analyze how the proposed rule and its 
implementation would affect E.O. 12898's mandates would render the 
regulations arbitrary and capricious, and exceed the agency's statutory 
authority.
    Commenters stated that CEQ provided no explanation or analysis of 
how the development and implementation of this rule would affect 
implementation of E.O. 12898 and, consequently, environmental justice 
communities. Commenters noted the fundamental proposed changes to 
nearly every step of the NEPA review process will disproportionately 
impact environmental justice communities and will reduce or limit 
opportunities for such communities to understand the effects of 
proposed projects and to participate in the NEPA review process.
    NEPA is a procedural statute that does not presuppose any 
particular substantive outcomes. In addition, CEQ has reviewed the 
changes in this final rule and has determined that they would not 
result in environmental impacts. See RIA Appendix. CEQ disagrees that 
the final rule will have disproportionately high and adverse human 
health or environmental effects on minority populations and low-income 
population. Rather, the final rule modernizes and clarifies the 
procedures that NEPA contemplates. Among other things, this will give 
agencies greater flexibility to design and customize public involvement 
to best address the specific circumstances of their proposed actions. 
The final rule expands the already wide range of tools agencies may use 
when providing notice to potentially affected communities and inviting 
public involvement. CEQ has made further changes to Sec.  1506.6 in the 
final rule to clarify that agencies should consider the public's access 
to electronic media when selecting appropriate methods for providing 
public notice and involvement. The final rule also better informs the 
public by extending the scoping period so that it may occur prior to 
publication of the NOI, where appropriate, and increasing the 
specificity of the NOI.
    Commenters also raised concerns that CEQ did not follow the E.O. 
12898 directive to ensure that environmental justice communities can 
meaningfully participate in public processes and Federal agency 
decision making, including making public information and hearings 
``readily accessible.'' Commenters stated that CEQ failed to follow 
this directive in designing its rulemaking process, and in fact, 
excluded environmental justice communities from the process. Further, 
commenters stated that, over 20 years ago, CEQ acknowledged that 
traditional notice and comment procedures may be insufficient to engage 
environmental justice communities. These barriers may range from agency 
failure to provide translation of documents to the scheduling of 
meetings at times and in places that are not convenient to working 
families. Commenters stated that CEQ failed to mention environmental 
justice communities in its opening statement during the Washington, DC 
hearing.
    Commenters also stated that CEQ failed to take note of the 
thousands of comments submitted in response to the ANPRM raising 
concerns about the health and environment of environmental justice 
communities that could come from limiting opportunities to gain access 
to information about projects and to comment. Commenters stated that if 
CEQ's rulemaking process was more inclusive and expansive it would 
enable some valuable clarifications in the regulations of how 
environmental justice impacts should be taken more definitively into 
account in NEPA reviews. Commenters also stated that the proposed rule 
changes show no particular interest in better clarifying this important 
aspect of environmental review, and show no evidence of interest in 
bettering environmental justice impact assessment.
    In response to the ANPRM, CEQ received over 12,500 comments, 
including from those representing

[[Page 43357]]

environmental justice organizations. The diverse range of public 
comments informed CEQ's development of the proposed rule to improve 
interagency coordination in the environmental review process, promote 
earlier public involvement, increase transparency, and enhance the 
participation of States, Tribes, and localities.
    In issuing the NPRM, CEQ took a number of further actions to hear 
from the public and to encourage all interested stakeholders to submit 
comments. These actions included notifying and inviting comment from 
all federally recognized Tribes and over 400 interested groups, 
including States, localities, environmental organizations, trade 
associations, NEPA practitioners, and other interested members of the 
public, representing a broad range of diverse views. Additionally, CEQ 
made information to aid the public's review available on its websites 
at www.whitehouse.gov/ceq and www.nepa.gov, including a redline version 
of the proposed changes to the regulations, along with a presentation 
on the proposed rule and other background information.
    CEQ engaged in extensive public outreach with the benefit of modern 
technologies and rulemaking procedures. CEQ held two public hearings 
each with morning, afternoon, and evening sessions, in Denver, Colorado 
on February 11, 2020, and in Washington, DC on February 25, 2020. Both 
hearings had diverse representation from stakeholders, including many 
speaking on behalf of environmental justice communities or about their 
concerns. CEQ also attended the National Environmental Justice Advisory 
Committee (NEJAC) meeting in Jacksonville, Florida to brief NEJAC 
members and the public on the proposed rule and to answer questions. 
CEQ also conducted additional public outreach to solicit comments and 
receive input, including Tribal engagement in Denver, Colorado, 
Anchorage, Alaska and Washington, DC.

J. Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

    Agencies must prepare a Statement of Energy Effects for significant 
energy actions under E.O. 13211.\143\ This final rule is not a 
``significant energy action'' because it is not likely to have a 
significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of 
energy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \143\ 66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

K. Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform

    Under section 3(a) E.O. 12988,\144\ agencies must review their 
proposed regulations to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguities, 
draft them to minimize litigation, and provide a clear legal standard 
for affected conduct. Section 3(b) provides a list of specific issues 
for review to conduct the reviews required by section 3(a). CEQ has 
conducted this review and determined that this final rule complies with 
the requirements of E.O. 12988.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \144\ 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

L. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Section 201 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1531) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their 
regulatory actions on State, Tribal, and local governments, and the 
private sector to the extent that such regulations incorporate 
requirements specifically set forth in law. Before promulgating a rule 
that may result in the expenditure by a State, Tribal, or local 
government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million, 
adjusted annually for inflation, in any one year, an agency must 
prepare a written statement that assesses the effects on State, Tribal, 
and local governments and the private sector. 2 U.S.C. 1532. This final 
rule applies to Federal agencies and would not result in expenditures 
of $100 million or more for State, Tribal, and local governments, in 
the aggregate, or the private sector in any 1 year. This action also 
does not impose any enforceable duty, contain any unfunded mandate, or 
otherwise have any effect on small governments subject to the 
requirements of 2 U.S.C. 1531-38.

M. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not impose any new information collection 
burden that would require additional review or approval by OMB under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

List of Subjects

40 CFR Parts 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504, 1505, 1506, 1507, and 1508

    Administrative practice and procedure, Environmental impact 
statements, Environmental protection, Natural resources.

40 CFR Part 1515

    Freedom of information.

40 CFR Part 1516

    Privacy.

40 CFR Part 1517

    Sunshine Act.

40 CFR Part 1518

    Accounting, Administrative practice and procedure, Environmental 
impact statements.

Mary B. Neumayr,
Chairman.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, and under the authority of 
42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 7609; E.O. 11514, 
35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as amended by E.O. 11991, 
42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; and E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 
CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369, the Council on Environmental Quality amends 
chapter V in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PARTS 1500 THROUGH 1508 [DESIGNATED AS SUBCHAPTER A]

0
1. Designate parts 1500 through 1508 as subchapter A and add a heading 
for newly designated subchapter A to read as follows:

Subchapter A--National Environmental Policy Act Implementing 
Regulations

0
2. Revise part 1500 to read as follows:

PART 1500--PURPOSE AND POLICY

Sec.
1500.1 Purpose and policy.
1500.2 [Reserved].
1500.3 NEPA compliance.
1500.4 Reducing paperwork.
1500.5 Reducing delay.
1500.6 Agency authority.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; and 
E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1500.1  Purpose and policy.

    (a) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural 
statute intended to ensure Federal agencies consider the environmental 
impacts of their actions in the decision-making process. Section 101 of 
NEPA establishes the national environmental policy of the Federal 
Government to use all practicable means and measures to foster and 
promote the general welfare, create and maintain conditions under which 
man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, 
economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of 
Americans. Section 102(2) of NEPA establishes the procedural 
requirements to carry out the policy stated in section 101 of NEPA. In

[[Page 43358]]

particular, it requires Federal agencies to provide a detailed 
statement on proposals for major Federal actions significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment. The purpose and 
function of NEPA is satisfied if Federal agencies have considered 
relevant environmental information, and the public has been informed 
regarding the decision-making process. NEPA does not mandate particular 
results or substantive outcomes. NEPA's purpose is not to generate 
paperwork or litigation, but to provide for informed decision making 
and foster excellent action.
    (b) The regulations in this subchapter implement section 102(2) of 
NEPA. They provide direction to Federal agencies to determine what 
actions are subject to NEPA's procedural requirements and the level of 
NEPA review where applicable. The regulations in this subchapter are 
intended to ensure that relevant environmental information is 
identified and considered early in the process in order to ensure 
informed decision making by Federal agencies. The regulations in this 
subchapter are also intended to ensure that Federal agencies conduct 
environmental reviews in a coordinated, consistent, predictable and 
timely manner, and to reduce unnecessary burdens and delays. Finally, 
the regulations in this subchapter promote concurrent environmental 
reviews to ensure timely and efficient decision making.


Sec.  1500.2  [Reserved]


Sec.  1500.3  NEPA compliance.

    (a) Mandate. This subchapter is applicable to and binding on all 
Federal agencies for implementing the procedural provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (NEPA or the Act), except where compliance 
would be inconsistent with other statutory requirements. The 
regulations in this subchapter are issued pursuant to NEPA; the 
Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970, as amended (Pub. L. 91-
224, 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.); section 309 of the Clean Air Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 7609); Executive Order 11514, Protection and 
Enhancement of Environmental Quality (March 5, 1970), as amended by 
Executive Order 11991, Relating to the Protection and Enhancement of 
Environmental Quality (May 24, 1977); and Executive Order 13807, 
Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review 
and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects (August 15, 2017). 
The regulations in this subchapter apply to the whole of section 102(2) 
of NEPA. The provisions of the Act and the regulations in this 
subchapter must be read together as a whole to comply with the law.
    (b) Exhaustion. (1) To ensure informed decision making and reduce 
delays, agencies shall include a request for comments on potential 
alternatives and impacts, and identification of any relevant 
information, studies, or analyses of any kind concerning impacts 
affecting the quality of the human environment in the notice of intent 
to prepare an environmental impact statement (Sec.  1501.9(d)(7) of 
this chapter).
    (2) The draft and final environmental impact statements shall 
include a summary of all alternatives, information, and analyses 
submitted by State, Tribal, and local governments and other public 
commenters for consideration by the lead and cooperating agencies in 
developing the draft and final environmental impact statements (Sec.  
1502.17 of this chapter).
    (3) For consideration by the lead and cooperating agencies, State, 
Tribal, and local governments and other public commenters must submit 
comments within the comment periods provided, and comments shall be as 
specific as possible (Sec. Sec.  1503.1 and 1503.3 of this chapter). 
Comments or objections of any kind not submitted, including those based 
on submitted alternatives, information, and analyses, shall be 
forfeited as unexhausted.
    (4) Informed by the submitted alternatives, information, and 
analyses, including the summary in the final environmental impact 
statement (Sec.  1502.17 of this chapter) and the agency's response to 
comments in the final environmental impact statement (Sec.  1503.4 of 
this chapter), together with any other material in the record that he 
or she determines relevant, the decision maker shall certify in the 
record of decision that the agency considered all of the alternatives, 
information, and analyses, and objections submitted by States, Tribal, 
and local governments and other public commenters for consideration by 
the lead and cooperating agencies in developing the environmental 
impact statement (Sec.  1505.2(b) of this chapter).
    (c) Review of NEPA compliance. It is the Council's intention that 
judicial review of agency compliance with the regulations in this 
subchapter not occur before an agency has issued the record of decision 
or taken other final agency action. It is the Council's intention that 
any allegation of noncompliance with NEPA and the regulations in this 
subchapter should be resolved as expeditiously as possible. Consistent 
with their organic statutes, and as part of implementing the exhaustion 
provisions in paragraph (b) of this section, agencies may structure 
their procedures to include an appropriate bond or other security 
requirement.
    (d) Remedies. Harm from the failure to comply with NEPA can be 
remedied by compliance with NEPA's procedural requirements as 
interpreted in the regulations in this subchapter. It is the Council's 
intention that the regulations in this subchapter create no presumption 
that violation of NEPA is a basis for injunctive relief or for a 
finding of irreparable harm. The regulations in this subchapter do not 
create a cause of action or right of action for violation of NEPA, 
which contains no such cause of action or right of action. It is the 
Council's intention that any actions to review, enjoin, stay, vacate, 
or otherwise alter an agency decision on the basis of an alleged NEPA 
violation be raised as soon as practicable after final agency action to 
avoid or minimize any costs to agencies, applicants, or any affected 
third parties. It is also the Council's intention that minor, non-
substantive errors that have no effect on agency decision making shall 
be considered harmless and shall not invalidate an agency action.
    (e) Severability. The sections of this subchapter are separate and 
severable from one another. If any section or portion therein is stayed 
or determined to be invalid, or the applicability of any section to any 
person or entity is held invalid, it is the Council's intention that 
the validity of the remainder of those parts shall not be affected, 
with the remaining sections to continue in effect.


Sec.  1500.4  Reducing paperwork.

    Agencies shall reduce excessive paperwork by:
    (a) Using categorical exclusions to define categories of actions 
that normally do not have a significant effect on the human environment 
and therefore do not require preparation of an environmental impact 
statement (Sec.  1501.4 of this chapter).
    (b) Using a finding of no significant impact when an action not 
otherwise excluded will not have a significant effect on the human 
environment and therefore does not require preparation of an 
environmental impact statement (Sec.  1501.6 of this chapter).
    (c) Reducing the length of environmental documents by means such as 
meeting appropriate page limits (Sec. Sec.  1501.5(f) and 1502.7 of 
this chapter).

[[Page 43359]]

    (d) Preparing analytic and concise environmental impact statements 
(Sec.  1502.2 of this chapter).
    (e) Discussing only briefly issues other than significant ones 
(Sec.  1502.2(b) of this chapter).
    (f) Writing environmental impact statements in plain language 
(Sec.  1502.8 of this chapter).
    (g) Following a clear format for environmental impact statements 
(Sec.  1502.10 of this chapter).
    (h) Emphasizing the portions of the environmental impact statement 
that are useful to decision makers and the public (e.g., Sec. Sec.  
1502.14 and 1502.15 of this chapter) and reducing emphasis on 
background material (Sec.  1502.1 of this chapter).
    (i) Using the scoping process, not only to identify significant 
environmental issues deserving of study, but also to deemphasize 
insignificant issues, narrowing the scope of the environmental impact 
statement process accordingly (Sec.  1501.9 of this chapter).
    (j) Summarizing the environmental impact statement (Sec.  1502.12 
of this chapter).
    (k) Using programmatic, policy, or plan environmental impact 
statements and tiering from statements of broad scope to those of 
narrower scope, to eliminate repetitive discussions of the same issues 
(Sec. Sec.  1501.11 and 1502.4 of this chapter).
    (l) Incorporating by reference (Sec.  1501.12 of this chapter).
    (m) Integrating NEPA requirements with other environmental review 
and consultation requirements (Sec.  1502.24 of this chapter).
    (n) Requiring comments to be as specific as possible (Sec.  1503.3 
of this chapter).
    (o) Attaching and publishing only changes to the draft 
environmental impact statement, rather than rewriting and publishing 
the entire statement when changes are minor (Sec.  1503.4(c) of this 
chapter).
    (p) Eliminating duplication with State, Tribal, and local 
procedures, by providing for joint preparation of environmental 
documents where practicable (Sec.  1506.2 of this chapter), and with 
other Federal procedures, by providing that an agency may adopt 
appropriate environmental documents prepared by another agency (Sec.  
1506.3 of this chapter).
    (q) Combining environmental documents with other documents (Sec.  
1506.4 of this chapter).


Sec.  1500.5  Reducing delay.

    Agencies shall reduce delay by:
    (a) Using categorical exclusions to define categories of actions 
that normally do not have a significant effect on the human environment 
(Sec.  1501.4 of this chapter) and therefore do not require preparation 
of an environmental impact statement.
    (b) Using a finding of no significant impact when an action not 
otherwise excluded will not have a significant effect on the human 
environment (Sec.  1501.6 of this chapter) and therefore does not 
require preparation of an environmental impact statement.
    (c) Integrating the NEPA process into early planning (Sec.  1501.2 
of this chapter).
    (d) Engaging in interagency cooperation before or as the 
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is prepared, 
rather than awaiting submission of comments on a completed document 
(Sec. Sec.  1501.7 and 1501.8 of this chapter).
    (e) Ensuring the swift and fair resolution of lead agency disputes 
(Sec.  1501.7 of this chapter).
    (f) Using the scoping process for an early identification of what 
are and what are not the real issues (Sec.  1501.9 of this chapter).
    (g) Meeting appropriate time limits for the environmental 
assessment and environmental impact statement processes (Sec.  1501.10 
of this chapter).
    (h) Preparing environmental impact statements early in the process 
(Sec.  1502.5 of this chapter).
    (i) Integrating NEPA requirements with other environmental review 
and consultation requirements (Sec.  1502.24 of this chapter).
    (j) Eliminating duplication with State, Tribal, and local 
procedures by providing for joint preparation of environmental 
documents where practicable (Sec.  1506.2 of this chapter) and with 
other Federal procedures by providing that agencies may jointly prepare 
or adopt appropriate environmental documents prepared by another agency 
(Sec.  1506.3 of this chapter).
    (k) Combining environmental documents with other documents (Sec.  
1506.4 of this chapter).
    (l) Using accelerated procedures for proposals for legislation 
(Sec.  1506.8 of this chapter).


Sec.  1500.6  Agency authority.

    Each agency shall interpret the provisions of the Act as a 
supplement to its existing authority and as a mandate to view policies 
and missions in the light of the Act's national environmental 
objectives, to the extent consistent with its existing authority. 
Agencies shall review their policies, procedures, and regulations 
accordingly and revise them as necessary to ensure full compliance with 
the purposes and provisions of the Act as interpreted by the 
regulations in this subchapter. The phrase ``to the fullest extent 
possible'' in section 102 of NEPA means that each agency of the Federal 
Government shall comply with that section, consistent with Sec.  1501.1 
of this chapter. Nothing contained in the regulations in this 
subchapter is intended or should be construed to limit an agency's 
other authorities or legal responsibilities.

0
3. Revise part 1501 to read as follows:

PART 1501--NEPA AND AGENCY PLANNING

Sec.
1501.1 NEPA thresholds.
1501.2 Apply NEPA early in the process.
1501.3 Determine the appropriate level of NEPA review.
1501.4 Categorical exclusions.
1501.5 Environmental assessments.
1501.6 Findings of no significant impact.
1501.7 Lead agencies.
1501.8 Cooperating agencies.
1501.9 Scoping.
1501.10 Time limits.
1501.11 Tiering.
1501.12 Incorporation by reference.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., 
p. 902, as amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 
123; and E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1501.1  NEPA thresholds.

    (a) In assessing whether NEPA applies or is otherwise fulfilled, 
Federal agencies should determine:
    (1) Whether the proposed activity or decision is expressly exempt 
from NEPA under another statute;
    (2) Whether compliance with NEPA would clearly and fundamentally 
conflict with the requirements of another statute;
    (3) Whether compliance with NEPA would be inconsistent with 
Congressional intent expressed in another statute;
    (4) Whether the proposed activity or decision is a major Federal 
action;
    (5) Whether the proposed activity or decision, in whole or in part, 
is a non-discretionary action for which the agency lacks authority to 
consider environmental effects as part of its decision-making process; 
and
    (6) Whether the proposed action is an action for which another 
statute's requirements serve the function of agency compliance with the 
Act.
    (b) Federal agencies may make determinations under this section in 
their agency NEPA procedures (Sec.  1507.3(d) of this chapter) or on an 
individual basis, as appropriate.

[[Page 43360]]

    (1) Federal agencies may seek the Council's assistance in making an 
individual determination under this section.
    (2) An agency shall consult with other Federal agencies concerning 
their concurrence in statutory determinations made under this section 
where more than one Federal agency administers the statute.


Sec.  1501.2  Apply NEPA early in the process.

    (a) Agencies should integrate the NEPA process with other planning 
and authorization processes at the earliest reasonable time to ensure 
that agencies consider environmental impacts in their planning and 
decisions, to avoid delays later in the process, and to head off 
potential conflicts.
    (b) Each agency shall:
    (1) Comply with the mandate of section 102(2)(A) of NEPA to utilize 
a systematic, interdisciplinary approach which will ensure the 
integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental 
design arts in planning and in decision making which may have an impact 
on man's environment, as specified by Sec.  1507.2(a) of this chapter.
    (2) Identify environmental effects and values in adequate detail so 
the decision maker can appropriately consider such effects and values 
alongside economic and technical analyses. Whenever practicable, 
agencies shall review and publish environmental documents and 
appropriate analyses at the same time as other planning documents.
    (3) Study, develop, and describe appropriate alternatives to 
recommended courses of action in any proposal that involves unresolved 
conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources as 
provided by section 102(2)(E) of NEPA.
    (4) Provide for actions subject to NEPA that are planned by private 
applicants or other non-Federal entities before Federal involvement so 
that:
    (i) Policies or designated staff are available to advise potential 
applicants of studies or other information foreseeably required for 
later Federal action.
    (ii) The Federal agency consults early with appropriate State, 
Tribal, and local governments and with interested private persons and 
organizations when their involvement is reasonably foreseeable.
    (iii) The Federal agency commences its NEPA process at the earliest 
reasonable time (Sec. Sec.  1501.5(d) and 1502.5(b) of this chapter).


Sec.  1501.3  Determine the appropriate level of NEPA review.

    (a) In assessing the appropriate level of NEPA review, Federal 
agencies should determine whether the proposed action:
    (1) Normally does not have significant effects and is categorically 
excluded (Sec.  1501.4);
    (2) Is not likely to have significant effects or the significance 
of the effects is unknown and is therefore appropriate for an 
environmental assessment (Sec.  1501.5); or
    (3) Is likely to have significant effects and is therefore 
appropriate for an environmental impact statement (part 1502 of this 
chapter).
    (b) In considering whether the effects of the proposed action are 
significant, agencies shall analyze the potentially affected 
environment and degree of the effects of the action. Agencies should 
consider connected actions consistent with Sec.  1501.9(e)(1).
    (1) In considering the potentially affected environment, agencies 
should consider, as appropriate to the specific action, the affected 
area (national, regional, or local) and its resources, such as listed 
species and designated critical habitat under the Endangered Species 
Act. Significance varies with the setting of the proposed action. For 
instance, in the case of a site-specific action, significance would 
usually depend only upon the effects in the local area.
    (2) In considering the degree of the effects, agencies should 
consider the following, as appropriate to the specific action:
    (i) Both short- and long-term effects.
    (ii) Both beneficial and adverse effects.
    (iii) Effects on public health and safety.
    (iv) Effects that would violate Federal, State, Tribal, or local 
law protecting the environment.


Sec.  1501.4  Categorical exclusions.

    (a) For efficiency, agencies shall identify in their agency NEPA 
procedures (Sec.  1507.3(e)(2)(ii) of this chapter) categories of 
actions that normally do not have a significant effect on the human 
environment, and therefore do not require preparation of an 
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
    (b) If an agency determines that a categorical exclusion identified 
in its agency NEPA procedures covers a proposed action, the agency 
shall evaluate the action for extraordinary circumstances in which a 
normally excluded action may have a significant effect.
    (1) If an extraordinary circumstance is present, the agency 
nevertheless may categorically exclude the proposed action if the 
agency determines that there are circumstances that lessen the impacts 
or other conditions sufficient to avoid significant effects.
    (2) If the agency cannot categorically exclude the proposed action, 
the agency shall prepare an environmental assessment or environmental 
impact statement, as appropriate.


Sec.  1501.5  Environmental assessments.

    (a) An agency shall prepare an environmental assessment for a 
proposed action that is not likely to have significant effects or when 
the significance of the effects is unknown unless the agency finds that 
a categorical exclusion (Sec.  1501.4) is applicable or has decided to 
prepare an environmental impact statement.
    (b) An agency may prepare an environmental assessment on any action 
in order to assist agency planning and decision making.
    (c) An environmental assessment shall:
    (1) Briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis for 
determining whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or a 
finding of no significant impact; and
    (2) Briefly discuss the purpose and need for the proposed action, 
alternatives as required by section 102(2)(E) of NEPA, and the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, and 
include a listing of agencies and persons consulted.
    (d) For applications to the agency requiring an environmental 
assessment, the agency shall commence the environmental assessment as 
soon as practicable after receiving the application.
    (e) Agencies shall involve the public, State, Tribal, and local 
governments, relevant agencies, and any applicants, to the extent 
practicable in preparing environmental assessments.
    (f) The text of an environmental assessment shall be no more than 
75 pages, not including appendices, unless a senior agency official 
approves in writing an assessment to exceed 75 pages and establishes a 
new page limit.
    (g) Agencies may apply the following provisions to environmental 
assessments:
    (1) Section 1502.21 of this chapter--Incomplete or unavailable 
information;
    (2) Section 1502.23 of this chapter--Methodology and scientific 
accuracy; and
    (3) Section 1502.24 of this chapter--Environmental review and 
consultation requirements.


Sec.  1501.6  Findings of no significant impact.

    (a) An agency shall prepare a finding of no significant impact if 
the agency

[[Page 43361]]

determines, based on the environmental assessment, not to prepare an 
environmental impact statement because the proposed action will not 
have significant effects.
    (1) The agency shall make the finding of no significant impact 
available to the affected public as specified in Sec.  1506.6(b) of 
this chapter.
    (2) In the following circumstances, the agency shall make the 
finding of no significant impact available for public review for 30 
days before the agency makes its final determination whether to prepare 
an environmental impact statement and before the action may begin:
    (i) The proposed action is or is closely similar to one that 
normally requires the preparation of an environmental impact statement 
under the procedures adopted by the agency pursuant to Sec.  1507.3 of 
this chapter; or
    (ii) The nature of the proposed action is one without precedent.
    (b) The finding of no significant impact shall include the 
environmental assessment or incorporate it by reference and shall note 
any other environmental documents related to it (Sec.  1501.9(f)(3)). 
If the assessment is included, the finding need not repeat any of the 
discussion in the assessment but may incorporate it by reference.
    (c) The finding of no significant impact shall state the authority 
for any mitigation that the agency has adopted and any applicable 
monitoring or enforcement provisions. If the agency finds no 
significant impacts based on mitigation, the mitigated finding of no 
significant impact shall state any enforceable mitigation requirements 
or commitments that will be undertaken to avoid significant impacts.


Sec.  1501.7  Lead agencies.

    (a) A lead agency shall supervise the preparation of an 
environmental impact statement or a complex environmental assessment 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, Tribal, or local agencies, including at least 
one Federal agency, may act as joint lead agencies to prepare an 
environmental impact statement or environmental assessment (Sec.  
1506.2 of this chapter).
    (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 will be the lead agency and which will 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 or 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, Tribal, or local agency or 
private person substantially affected by the absence of lead agency 
designation, may make a written request to the senior agency officials 
of 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 in a lead agency designation within 45 days, 
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; and
    (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) Any potential lead agency may file a response within 20 days 
after a request is filed with the Council. As soon as possible, but not 
later than 20 days after receiving the request and all responses to it, 
the Council shall determine which Federal agency will be the lead 
agency and which other Federal agencies will be cooperating agencies.
    (g) To the extent practicable, if a proposal will require action by 
more than one Federal agency and the lead agency determines that it 
requires preparation of an environmental impact statement, the lead and 
cooperating agencies shall evaluate the proposal in a single 
environmental impact statement and issue a joint record of decision. To 
the extent practicable, if a proposal will require action by more than 
one Federal agency and the lead agency determines that it requires 
preparation of an environmental assessment, the lead and cooperating 
agencies should evaluate the proposal in a single environmental 
assessment and, where appropriate, issue a joint finding of no 
significant impact.
    (h) With respect to cooperating agencies, the lead agency shall:
    (1) Request the participation of each cooperating agency in the 
NEPA process at the earliest practicable time.
    (2) Use the environmental analysis and proposals of cooperating 
agencies with jurisdiction by law or special expertise, to the maximum 
extent practicable.
    (3) Meet with a cooperating agency at the latter's request.
    (4) Determine the purpose and need, and alternatives in 
consultation with any cooperating agency.
    (i) The lead agency shall develop a schedule, setting milestones 
for all environmental reviews and authorizations required for 
implementation of the action, in consultation with any applicant and 
all joint lead, cooperating, and participating agencies, as soon as 
practicable.
    (j) If the lead agency anticipates that a milestone will be missed, 
it shall notify appropriate officials at the responsible agencies. As 
soon as practicable, the responsible agencies shall elevate the issue 
to the appropriate officials of the responsible agencies for timely 
resolution.


Sec.  1501.8  Cooperating agencies.

    (a) The purpose of this section is to emphasize agency cooperation 
early in the NEPA process. Upon request of the lead agency, any Federal 
agency with jurisdiction by law shall be a cooperating agency. In 
addition, upon request of the lead agency, any other Federal agency 
with special expertise with respect to any environmental issue may be a 
cooperating agency. A State, Tribal, or local agency of similar 
qualifications may become a cooperating agency by agreement with the 
lead agency. An agency may request that the lead agency designate it a 
cooperating agency, and a Federal agency may appeal a denial of its 
request to the Council, in accordance with Sec.  1501.7(e).
    (b) Each cooperating agency shall:
    (1) Participate in the NEPA process at the earliest practicable 
time.
    (2) Participate in the scoping process (described in Sec.  1501.9).
    (3) On request of the lead agency, assume responsibility for 
developing information and preparing environmental analyses, including 
portions of the environmental impact statement or environmental 
assessment concerning which the cooperating agency has special 
expertise.
    (4) On request of the lead agency, make available staff support to 
enhance

[[Page 43362]]

the lead agency's interdisciplinary capability.
    (5) Normally use its own funds. To the extent available funds 
permit, the lead agency shall fund those major activities or analyses 
it requests from cooperating agencies. Potential lead agencies shall 
include such funding requirements in their budget requests.
    (6) Consult with the lead agency in developing the schedule (Sec.  
1501.7(i)), meet the schedule, and elevate, as soon as practicable, to 
the senior agency official of the lead agency any issues relating to 
purpose and need, alternatives, or other issues that may affect any 
agencies' ability to meet the schedule.
    (7) Meet the lead agency's schedule for providing comments and 
limit its comments to those matters for which it has jurisdiction by 
law or special expertise with respect to any environmental issue 
consistent with Sec.  1503.2 of this chapter.
    (8) To the maximum extent practicable, jointly issue environmental 
documents with the lead agency.
    (c) In response to a lead agency's request for assistance in 
preparing the environmental documents (described in paragraph (b)(3), 
(4), or (5) of this section), a cooperating agency may reply that other 
program commitments preclude any involvement or the degree of 
involvement requested in the action that is the subject of the 
environmental impact statement or environmental assessment. The 
cooperating agency shall submit a copy of this reply to the Council and 
the senior agency official of the lead agency.


Sec.  1501.9  Scoping.

    (a) Generally. Agencies shall use an early and open process to 
determine the scope of issues for analysis in an environmental impact 
statement, including identifying the significant issues and eliminating 
from further study non-significant issues. Scoping may begin as soon as 
practicable after the proposal for action is sufficiently developed for 
agency consideration. Scoping may include appropriate pre-application 
procedures or work conducted prior to publication of the notice of 
intent.
    (b) Invite cooperating and participating agencies. As part of the 
scoping process, the lead agency shall invite the participation of 
likely affected Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies and 
governments, the proponent of the action, and other likely affected or 
interested persons (including those who might not be in accord with the 
action), unless there is a limited exception under Sec.  1507.3(f)(1) 
of this chapter.
    (c) Scoping outreach. As part of the scoping process the lead 
agency may hold a scoping meeting or meetings, publish scoping 
information, or use other means to communicate with those persons or 
agencies who may be interested or affected, which the agency may 
integrate with any other early planning meeting. Such a scoping meeting 
will often be appropriate when the impacts of a particular action are 
confined to specific sites.
    (d) Notice of intent. As soon as practicable after determining that 
a proposal is sufficiently developed to allow for meaningful public 
comment and requires an environmental impact statement, the lead agency 
shall publish a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement in the Federal Register, except as provided in Sec.  
1507.3(f)(3) of this chapter. An agency also may publish notice in 
accordance with Sec.  1506.6 of this chapter. The notice shall include, 
as appropriate:
    (1) The purpose and need for the proposed action;
    (2) A preliminary description of the proposed action and 
alternatives the environmental impact statement will consider;
    (3) A brief summary of expected impacts;
    (4) Anticipated permits and other authorizations;
    (5) A schedule for the decision-making process;
    (6) A description of the public scoping process, including any 
scoping meeting(s);
    (7) A request for identification of potential alternatives, 
information, and analyses relevant to the proposed action (see Sec.  
1502.17 of this chapter); and
    (8) Contact information for a person within the agency who can 
answer questions about the proposed action and the environmental impact 
statement.
    (e) Determination of scope. As part of the scoping process, the 
lead agency shall determine the scope and the significant issues to be 
analyzed in depth in the environmental impact statement. To determine 
the scope of environmental impact statements, agencies shall consider:
    (1) Actions (other than unconnected single actions) that may be 
connected actions, which means that they are closely related and 
therefore should be discussed in the same impact statement. Actions are 
connected if they:
    (i) Automatically trigger other actions that may require 
environmental impact statements;
    (ii) Cannot or will not proceed unless other actions are taken 
previously or simultaneously; or
    (iii) Are interdependent parts of a larger action and depend on the 
larger action for their justification.
    (2) Alternatives, which include the no action alternative; other 
reasonable courses of action; and mitigation measures (not in the 
proposed action).
    (3) Impacts.
    (f) Additional scoping responsibilities. As part of the scoping 
process, the lead agency shall:
    (1) Identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues that are 
not significant or have been covered by prior environmental review(s) 
(Sec.  1506.3 of this chapter), narrowing the discussion of these 
issues in the statement to a brief presentation of why they will not 
have a significant effect on the human environment or providing a 
reference to their coverage elsewhere.
    (2) Allocate assignments for preparation of the environmental 
impact statement among the lead and cooperating agencies, with the lead 
agency retaining responsibility for the statement.
    (3) Indicate any public environmental assessments and other 
environmental impact statements that are being or will be prepared and 
are related to but are not part of the scope of the impact statement 
under consideration.
    (4) Identify other environmental review, authorization, and 
consultation requirements so the lead and cooperating agencies may 
prepare other required analyses and studies concurrently and integrated 
with the environmental impact statement, as provided in Sec.  1502.24 
of this chapter.
    (5) Indicate the relationship between the timing of the preparation 
of environmental analyses and the agencies' tentative planning and 
decision-making schedule.
    (g) Revisions. An agency shall revise the determinations made under 
paragraphs (b), (c), (e), and (f) of this section if substantial 
changes are made later in the proposed action, or if significant new 
circumstances or information arise which bear on the proposal or its 
impacts.


Sec.  1501.10  Time limits.

    (a) To ensure that agencies conduct NEPA reviews as efficiently and 
expeditiously as practicable, Federal agencies should set time limits 
appropriate to individual actions or types of actions (consistent with 
the time intervals required by Sec.  1506.11 of this chapter).
    (b) To ensure timely decision making, agencies shall complete:
    (1) Environmental assessments within 1 year unless a senior agency 
official of the lead agency approves a longer

[[Page 43363]]

period in writing and establishes a new time limit. One year is 
measured from the date of agency decision to prepare an environmental 
assessment to the publication of an environmental assessment or a 
finding of no significant impact.
    (2) Environmental impact statements within 2 years unless a senior 
agency official of the lead agency approves a longer period in writing 
and establishes a new time limit. Two years is measured from the date 
of the issuance of the notice of intent to the date a record of 
decision is signed.
    (c) The senior agency official may consider the following factors 
in determining time limits:
    (1) Potential for environmental harm.
    (2) Size of the proposed action.
    (3) State of the art of analytic techniques.
    (4) Degree of public need for the proposed action, including the 
consequences of delay.
    (5) Number of persons and agencies affected.
    (6) Availability of relevant information.
    (7) Other time limits imposed on the agency by law, regulations, or 
Executive order.
    (d) The senior agency official may set overall time limits or 
limits for each constituent part of the NEPA process, which may 
include:
    (1) Decision on whether to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (if not already decided).
    (2) Determination of the scope of the environmental impact 
statement.
    (3) Preparation of the draft environmental impact statement.
    (4) Review of any comments on the draft environmental impact 
statement from the public and agencies.
    (5) Preparation of the final environmental impact statement.
    (6) Review of any comments on the final environmental impact 
statement.
    (7) Decision on the action based in part on the environmental 
impact statement.
    (e) The agency may designate a person (such as the project manager 
or a person in the agency's office with NEPA responsibilities) to 
expedite the NEPA process.
    (f) State, Tribal, or local agencies or members of the public may 
request a Federal agency to set time limits.


Sec.  1501.11  Tiering.

    (a) Agencies should tier their environmental impact statements and 
environmental assessments when it would eliminate repetitive 
discussions of the same issues, focus on the actual issues ripe for 
decision, and exclude from consideration issues already decided or not 
yet ripe at each level of environmental review. Tiering may also be 
appropriate for different stages of actions.
    (b) When an agency has prepared an environmental impact statement 
or environmental assessment for a program or policy and then prepares a 
subsequent statement or assessment on an action included within the 
entire program or policy (such as a project- or site-specific action), 
the tiered document needs only to summarize and incorporate by 
reference the issues discussed in the broader document. The tiered 
document shall concentrate on the issues specific to the subsequent 
action. The tiered document shall state where the earlier document is 
available.
    (c) Tiering is appropriate when the sequence from an environmental 
impact statement or environmental assessment is:
    (1) From a programmatic, plan, or policy environmental impact 
statement or environmental assessment to a program, plan, or policy 
statement or assessment of lesser or narrower scope or to a site-
specific statement or assessment.
    (2) From an environmental impact statement or environmental 
assessment on a specific action at an early stage (such as need and 
site selection) to a supplement (which is preferred) or a subsequent 
statement or assessment at a later stage (such as environmental 
mitigation). Tiering in such cases is appropriate when it helps the 
lead agency to focus on the issues that are ripe for decision and 
exclude from consideration issues already decided or not yet ripe.


Sec.  1501.12  Incorporation by reference.

    Agencies shall incorporate material, such as planning studies, 
analyses, or other relevant information, into environmental documents 
by reference when the effect will be to cut down on bulk without 
impeding agency and public review of the action. Agencies shall cite 
the incorporated material in the document and briefly describe its 
content. Agencies may not incorporate material by reference unless it 
is reasonably available for inspection by potentially interested 
persons within the time allowed for comment. Agencies shall not 
incorporate by reference material based on proprietary data that is not 
available for review and comment.

0
4. Revise part 1502 to read as follows:

PART 1502--ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Sec.
1502.1 Purpose of environmental impact statement.
1502.2 Implementation.
1502.3 Statutory requirements for statements.
1502.4 Major Federal actions requiring the preparation of 
environmental impact statements.
1502.5 Timing.
1502.6 Interdisciplinary preparation.
1502.7 Page limits.
1502.8 Writing.
1502.9 Draft, final, and supplemental statements.
1502.10 Recommended format.
1502.11 Cover.
1502.12 Summary.
1502.13 Purpose and need.
1502.14 Alternatives including the proposed action.
1502.15 Affected environment.
1502.16 Environmental consequences.
1502.17 Summary of submitted alternatives, information, and 
analyses.
1502.18 List of preparers.
1502.19 Appendix.
1502.20 Publication of the environmental impact statement.
1502.21 Incomplete or unavailable information.
1502.22 Cost-benefit analysis.
1502.23 Methodology and scientific accuracy.
1502.24 Environmental review and consultation requirements.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; and 
E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1502.1  Purpose of environmental impact statement.

    The primary purpose of an environmental impact statement prepared 
pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of NEPA is to ensure agencies consider 
the environmental impacts of their actions in decision making. It shall 
provide full and fair discussion of significant environmental impacts 
and shall inform decision makers and the public of reasonable 
alternatives that would avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance 
the quality of the human environment. Agencies shall focus on 
significant environmental issues and alternatives and shall reduce 
paperwork and the accumulation of extraneous background data. 
Statements shall be concise, clear, and to the point, and shall be 
supported by evidence that the agency has made the necessary 
environmental analyses. An environmental impact statement is a document 
that informs Federal agency decision making and the public.

[[Page 43364]]

Sec.  1502.2  Implementation.

    (a) Environmental impact statements shall not be encyclopedic.
    (b) Environmental impact statements shall discuss impacts in 
proportion to their significance. There shall be only brief discussion 
of other than significant issues. As in a finding of no significant 
impact, there should be only enough discussion to show why more study 
is not warranted.
    (c) Environmental impact statements shall be analytic, concise, and 
no longer than necessary to comply with NEPA and with the regulations 
in this subchapter. Length should be proportional to potential 
environmental effects and project size.
    (d) Environmental impact statements shall state how alternatives 
considered in it and decisions based on it will or will not achieve the 
requirements of sections 101 and 102(1) of NEPA as interpreted in the 
regulations in this subchapter and other environmental laws and 
policies.
    (e) The range of alternatives discussed in environmental impact 
statements shall encompass those to be considered by the decision 
maker.
    (f) Agencies shall not commit resources prejudicing selection of 
alternatives before making a final decision (see also Sec.  1506.1 of 
this chapter).
    (g) Environmental impact statements shall serve as the means of 
assessing the environmental impact of proposed agency actions, rather 
than justifying decisions already made.


Sec.  1502.3  Statutory requirements for statements.

    As required by section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, environmental impact 
statements are to be included in every Federal agency recommendation or 
report on proposals for legislation and other major Federal actions 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.


Sec.  1502.4  Major Federal actions requiring the preparation of 
environmental impact statements.

    (a) Agencies shall define the proposal that is the subject of an 
environmental impact statement based on the statutory authorities for 
the proposed action. Agencies shall use the criteria for scope (Sec.  
1501.9(e) of this chapter) to determine which proposal(s) shall be the 
subject of a particular statement. Agencies shall evaluate in a single 
environmental impact statement proposals or parts of proposals that are 
related to each other closely enough to be, in effect, a single course 
of action.
    (b) Environmental impact statements may be prepared for 
programmatic Federal actions, such as the adoption of new agency 
programs. When agencies prepare such statements, they should be 
relevant to the program decision and timed to coincide with meaningful 
points in agency planning and decision making.
    (1) When preparing statements on programmatic actions (including 
proposals by more than one agency), agencies may find it useful to 
evaluate the proposal(s) in one of the following ways:
    (i) Geographically, including actions occurring in the same general 
location, such as body of water, region, or metropolitan area.
    (ii) Generically, including actions that have relevant 
similarities, such as common timing, impacts, alternatives, methods of 
implementation, media, or subject matter.
    (iii) By stage of technological development including Federal or 
federally assisted research, development or demonstration programs for 
new technologies that, if applied, could significantly affect the 
quality of the human environment. Statements on such programs should be 
available before the program has reached a stage of investment or 
commitment to implementation likely to determine subsequent development 
or restrict later alternatives.
    (2) Agencies shall as appropriate employ scoping (Sec.  1501.9 of 
this chapter), tiering (Sec.  1501.11 of this chapter), and other 
methods listed in Sec. Sec.  1500.4 and 1500.5 of this chapter to 
relate programmatic and narrow actions and to avoid duplication and 
delay. Agencies may tier their environmental analyses to defer detailed 
analysis of environmental impacts of specific program elements until 
such program elements are ripe for final agency action.


Sec.  1502.5  Timing.

    An agency should commence preparation of an environmental impact 
statement as close as practicable to the time the agency is developing 
or receives a proposal so that preparation can be completed in time for 
the final statement to be included in any recommendation or report on 
the proposal. The statement shall be prepared early enough so that it 
can serve as an important practical contribution to the decision-making 
process and will not be used to rationalize or justify decisions 
already made (Sec. Sec.  1501.2 of this chapter and 1502.2). For 
instance:
    (a) For projects directly undertaken by Federal agencies, the 
agency shall prepare the environmental impact statement at the 
feasibility analysis (go/no-go) stage and may supplement it at a later 
stage, if necessary.
    (b) For applications to the agency requiring an environmental 
impact statement, the agency shall commence the statement as soon as 
practicable after receiving the application. Federal agencies should 
work with potential applicants and applicable State, Tribal, and local 
agencies and governments prior to receipt of the application.
    (c) For adjudication, the final environmental impact statement 
shall normally precede the final staff recommendation and that portion 
of the public hearing related to the impact study. In appropriate 
circumstances, the statement may follow preliminary hearings designed 
to gather information for use in the statements.
    (d) For informal rulemaking, the draft environmental impact 
statement shall normally accompany the proposed rule.


Sec.  1502.6  Interdisciplinary preparation.

    Agencies shall prepare environmental impact statements using an 
interdisciplinary approach that will ensure the integrated use of the 
natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts (section 
102(2)(A) of NEPA). The disciplines of the preparers shall be 
appropriate to the scope and issues identified in the scoping process 
(Sec.  1501.9 of this chapter).


Sec.  1502.7  Page limits.

    The text of final environmental impact statements (paragraphs 
(a)(4) through (6) of Sec.  1502.10) shall be 150 pages or fewer and, 
for proposals of unusual scope or complexity, shall be 300 pages or 
fewer unless a senior agency official of the lead agency approves in 
writing a statement to exceed 300 pages and establishes a new page 
limit.


Sec.  1502.8  Writing.

    Agencies shall write environmental impact statements in plain 
language and may use appropriate graphics so that decision makers and 
the public can readily understand such statements. Agencies should 
employ writers of clear prose or editors to write, review, or edit 
statements, which shall be based upon the analysis and supporting data 
from the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts.


Sec.  1502.9  Draft, final, and supplemental statements.

    (a) Generally. Except for proposals for legislation as provided in 
Sec.  1506.8 of this chapter, agencies shall prepare environmental 
impact statements in two stages and, where necessary,

[[Page 43365]]

supplement them, as provided in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
    (b) Draft environmental impact statements. Agencies shall prepare 
draft environmental impact statements in accordance with the scope 
decided upon in the scoping process (Sec.  1501.9 of this chapter). The 
lead agency shall work with the cooperating agencies and shall obtain 
comments as required in part 1503 of this chapter. To the fullest 
extent practicable, the draft statement must meet the requirements 
established for final statements in section 102(2)(C) of NEPA as 
interpreted in the regulations in this subchapter. If a draft statement 
is so inadequate as to preclude meaningful analysis, the agency shall 
prepare and publish a supplemental draft of the appropriate portion. At 
appropriate points in the draft statement, the agency shall discuss all 
major points of view on the environmental impacts of the alternatives 
including the proposed action.
    (c) Final environmental impact statements. Final environmental 
impact statements shall address comments as required in part 1503 of 
this chapter. At appropriate points in the final statement, the agency 
shall discuss any responsible opposing view that was not adequately 
discussed in the draft statement and shall indicate the agency's 
response to the issues raised.
    (d) Supplemental environmental impact statements. Agencies:
    (1) Shall prepare supplements to either draft or final 
environmental impact statements if a major Federal action remains to 
occur, and:
    (i) The agency makes substantial changes to the proposed action 
that are relevant to environmental concerns; or
    (ii) There are significant new circumstances or information 
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action 
or its impacts.
    (2) May also prepare supplements when the agency determines that 
the purposes of the Act will be furthered by doing so.
    (3) Shall prepare, publish, and file a supplement to a statement 
(exclusive of scoping (Sec.  1501.9 of this chapter)) as a draft and 
final statement, as is appropriate to the stage of the statement 
involved, unless the Council approves alternative procedures (Sec.  
1506.12 of this chapter).
    (4) May find that changes to the proposed action or new 
circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns are not 
significant and therefore do not require a supplement. The agency 
should document the finding consistent with its agency NEPA procedures 
(Sec.  1507.3 of this chapter), or, if necessary, in a finding of no 
significant impact supported by an environmental assessment.


Sec.  1502.10  Recommended format.

    (a) Agencies shall use a format for environmental impact statements 
that will encourage good analysis and clear presentation of the 
alternatives including the proposed action. Agencies should use the 
following standard format for environmental impact statements unless 
the agency determines that there is a more effective format for 
communication:
    (1) Cover.
    (2) Summary.
    (3) Table of contents.
    (4) Purpose of and need for action.
    (5) Alternatives including the proposed action (sections 
102(2)(C)(iii) and 102(2)(E) of NEPA).
    (6) Affected environment and environmental consequences (especially 
sections 102(2)(C)(i), (ii), (iv), and (v) of NEPA).
    (7) Submitted alternatives, information, and analyses.
    (8) List of preparers.
    (9) Appendices (if any).
    (b) If an agency uses a different format, it shall include 
paragraphs (a)(1) through (8) of this section, as further described in 
Sec. Sec.  1502.11 through 1502.19, in any appropriate format.


Sec.  1502.11  Cover.

    The cover shall not exceed one page and include:
    (a) A list of the responsible agencies, including the lead agency 
and any cooperating agencies.
    (b) The title of the proposed action that is the subject of the 
statement (and, if appropriate, the titles of related cooperating 
agency actions), together with the State(s) and county(ies) (or other 
jurisdiction(s), if applicable) where the action is located.
    (c) The name, address, and telephone number of the person at the 
agency who can supply further information.
    (d) A designation of the statement as a draft, final, or draft or 
final supplement.
    (e) A one-paragraph abstract of the statement.
    (f) The date by which the agency must receive comments (computed in 
cooperation with EPA under Sec.  1506.11 of this chapter).
    (g) For the final environmental impact statement, the estimated 
total cost to prepare both the draft and final environmental impact 
statement, including the costs of agency full-time equivalent (FTE) 
personnel hours, contractor costs, and other direct costs. If 
practicable and noted where not practicable, agencies also should 
include costs incurred by cooperating and participating agencies, 
applicants, and contractors.


Sec.  1502.12  Summary.

    Each environmental impact statement shall contain a summary that 
adequately and accurately summarizes the statement. The summary shall 
stress the major conclusions, areas of disputed issues raised by 
agencies and the public, and the issues to be resolved (including the 
choice among alternatives). The summary normally will not exceed 15 
pages.


Sec.  1502.13  Purpose and need.

    The statement shall briefly specify the underlying purpose and need 
for the proposed action. When an agency's statutory duty is to review 
an application for authorization, the agency shall base the purpose and 
need on the goals of the applicant and the agency's authority.


Sec.  1502.14  Alternatives including the proposed action.

    The alternatives section should present the environmental impacts 
of the proposed action and the alternatives in comparative form based 
on the information and analysis presented in the sections on the 
affected environment (Sec.  1502.15) and the environmental consequences 
(Sec.  1502.16). In this section, agencies shall:
    (a) Evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, and, 
for alternatives that the agency eliminated from detailed study, 
briefly discuss the reasons for their elimination.
    (b) Discuss each alternative considered in detail, including the 
proposed action, so that reviewers may evaluate their comparative 
merits.
    (c) Include the no action alternative.
    (d) Identify the agency's preferred alternative or alternatives, if 
one or more exists, in the draft statement and identify such 
alternative in the final statement unless another law prohibits the 
expression of such a preference.
    (e) Include appropriate mitigation measures not already included in 
the proposed action or alternatives.
    (f) Limit their consideration to a reasonable number of 
alternatives.


Sec.  1502.15  Affected environment.

    The environmental impact statement shall succinctly describe the 
environment of the area(s) to be affected or created by the 
alternatives under consideration, including the reasonably foreseeable 
environmental trends and planned actions in the area(s). The 
environmental impact statement may

[[Page 43366]]

combine the description with evaluation of the environmental 
consequences (Sec.  1502.16), and it shall be no longer than is 
necessary to understand the effects of the alternatives. Data and 
analyses in a statement shall be commensurate with the importance of 
the impact, with less important material summarized, consolidated, or 
simply referenced. Agencies shall avoid useless bulk in statements and 
shall concentrate effort and attention on important issues. Verbose 
descriptions of the affected environment are themselves no measure of 
the adequacy of an environmental impact statement.


Sec.  1502.16  Environmental consequences.

    (a) The environmental consequences section forms the scientific and 
analytic basis for the comparisons under Sec.  1502.14. It shall 
consolidate the discussions of those elements required by sections 
102(2)(C)(i), (ii), (iv), and (v) of NEPA that are within the scope of 
the statement and as much of section 102(2)(C)(iii) of NEPA as is 
necessary to support the comparisons. This section should not duplicate 
discussions in Sec.  1502.14. The discussion shall include:
    (1) The environmental impacts of the proposed action and reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed action and the significance of those 
impacts. The comparison of the proposed action and reasonable 
alternatives shall be based on this discussion of the impacts.
    (2) Any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided should 
the proposal be implemented.
    (3) The relationship between short-term uses of man's environment 
and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity.
    (4) Any irreversible or irretrievable commitments of resources that 
would be involved in the proposal should it be implemented.
    (5) Possible conflicts between the proposed action and the 
objectives of Federal, regional, State, Tribal, and local land use 
plans, policies and controls for the area concerned. (Sec.  1506.2(d) 
of this chapter)
    (6) Energy requirements and conservation potential of various 
alternatives and mitigation measures.
    (7) Natural or depletable resource requirements and conservation 
potential of various alternatives and mitigation measures.
    (8) Urban quality, historic and cultural resources, and the design 
of the built environment, including the reuse and conservation 
potential of various alternatives and mitigation measures.
    (9) Means to mitigate adverse environmental impacts (if not fully 
covered under Sec.  1502.14(e)).
    (10) Where applicable, economic and technical considerations, 
including the economic benefits of the proposed action.
    (b) Economic or social effects by themselves do not require 
preparation of an environmental impact statement. However, when the 
agency determines that economic or social and natural or physical 
environmental effects are interrelated, the environmental impact 
statement shall discuss and give appropriate consideration to these 
effects on the human environment.


Sec.  1502.17  Summary of submitted alternatives, information, and 
analyses.

    (a) The draft environmental impact statement shall include a 
summary that identifies all alternatives, information, and analyses 
submitted by State, Tribal, and local governments and other public 
commenters during the scoping process for consideration by the lead and 
cooperating agencies in developing the environmental impact statement.
    (1) The agency shall append to the draft environmental impact 
statement or otherwise publish all comments (or summaries thereof where 
the response has been exceptionally voluminous) received during the 
scoping process that identified alternatives, information, and analyses 
for the agency's consideration.
    (2) Consistent with Sec.  1503.1(a)(3) of this chapter, the lead 
agency shall invite comment on the summary identifying all submitted 
alternatives, information, and analyses in the draft environmental 
impact statement.
    (b) The final environmental impact statement shall include a 
summary that identifies all alternatives, information, and analyses 
submitted by State, Tribal, and local governments and other public 
commenters for consideration by the lead and cooperating agencies in 
developing the final environmental impact statement.


Sec.  1502.18  List of preparers.

    The environmental impact statement shall list the names, together 
with their qualifications (expertise, experience, professional 
disciplines), of the persons who were primarily responsible for 
preparing the environmental impact statement or significant background 
papers, including basic components of the statement. Where possible, 
the environmental impact statement shall identify the persons who are 
responsible for a particular analysis, including analyses in background 
papers. Normally the list will not exceed two pages.


Sec.  1502.19  Appendix.

    If an agency prepares an appendix, the agency shall publish it with 
the environmental impact statement, and it shall consist of:
    (a) Material prepared in connection with an environmental impact 
statement (as distinct from material that is not so prepared and is 
incorporated by reference (Sec.  1501.12 of this chapter)).
    (b) Material substantiating any analysis fundamental to the impact 
statement.
    (c) Material relevant to the decision to be made.
    (d) For draft environmental impact statements, all comments (or 
summaries thereof where the response has been exceptionally voluminous) 
received during the scoping process that identified alternatives, 
information, and analyses for the agency's consideration.
    (e) For final environmental impact statements, the comment 
summaries and responses consistent with Sec.  1503.4 of this chapter.


Sec.  1502.20  Publication of the environmental impact statement.

    Agencies shall publish the entire draft and final environmental 
impact statements and unchanged statements as provided in Sec.  
1503.4(c) of this chapter. The agency shall transmit the entire 
statement electronically (or in paper copy, if so requested due to 
economic or other hardship) to:
    (a) Any Federal agency that has jurisdiction by law or special 
expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved and any 
appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, or local agency authorized to 
develop and enforce environmental standards.
    (b) The applicant, if any.
    (c) Any person, organization, or agency requesting the entire 
environmental impact statement.
    (d) In the case of a final environmental impact statement, any 
person, organization, or agency that submitted substantive comments on 
the draft.


Sec.  1502.21  Incomplete or unavailable information.

    (a) When an agency is evaluating reasonably foreseeable significant 
adverse effects on the human environment in an environmental impact 
statement, and there is incomplete or unavailable information, the 
agency shall make clear that such information is lacking.
    (b) If the incomplete but available information relevant to 
reasonably foreseeable significant adverse impacts is essential to a 
reasoned choice among alternatives, and the overall costs of obtaining 
it are not unreasonable, the agency shall include the information in 
the environmental impact statement.

[[Page 43367]]

    (c) If the information relevant to reasonably foreseeable 
significant adverse impacts cannot be obtained because the overall 
costs of obtaining it are unreasonable or the means to obtain it are 
not known, the agency shall include within the environmental impact 
statement:
    (1) A statement that such information is incomplete or unavailable;
    (2) A statement of the relevance of the incomplete or unavailable 
information to evaluating reasonably foreseeable significant adverse 
impacts on the human environment;
    (3) A summary of existing credible scientific evidence that is 
relevant to evaluating the reasonably foreseeable significant adverse 
impacts on the human environment; and
    (4) The agency's evaluation of such impacts based upon theoretical 
approaches or research methods generally accepted in the scientific 
community.
    (d) For the purposes of this section, ``reasonably foreseeable'' 
includes impacts that have catastrophic consequences, even if their 
probability of occurrence is low, provided that the analysis of the 
impacts is supported by credible scientific evidence, is not based on 
pure conjecture, and is within the rule of reason.


Sec.  1502.22  Cost-benefit analysis.

    If the agency is considering a cost-benefit analysis for the 
proposed action relevant to the choice among alternatives with 
different environmental effects, the agency shall incorporate the cost-
benefit analysis by reference or append it to the statement as an aid 
in evaluating the environmental consequences. In such cases, to assess 
the adequacy of compliance with section 102(2)(B) of NEPA (ensuring 
appropriate consideration of unquantified environmental amenities and 
values in decision making, along with economical and technical 
considerations), the statement shall discuss the relationship between 
that analysis and any analyses of unquantified environmental impacts, 
values, and amenities. For purposes of complying with the Act, agencies 
need not display the weighing of the merits and drawbacks of the 
various alternatives in a monetary cost-benefit analysis and should not 
do so when there are important qualitative considerations. However, an 
environmental impact statement should at least indicate those 
considerations, including factors not related to environmental quality, 
that are likely to be relevant and important to a decision.


Sec.  1502.23  Methodology and scientific accuracy.

    Agencies shall ensure the professional integrity, including 
scientific integrity, of the discussions and analyses in environmental 
documents. Agencies shall make use of reliable existing data and 
resources. Agencies may make use of any reliable data sources, such as 
remotely gathered information or statistical models. They shall 
identify any methodologies used and shall make explicit reference to 
the scientific and other sources relied upon for conclusions in the 
statement. Agencies may place discussion of methodology in an appendix. 
Agencies are not required to undertake new scientific and technical 
research to inform their analyses. Nothing in this section is intended 
to prohibit agencies from compliance with the requirements of other 
statutes pertaining to scientific and technical research.


Sec.  1502.24  Environmental review and consultation requirements.

    (a) To the fullest extent possible, agencies shall prepare draft 
environmental impact statements concurrent and integrated with 
environmental impact analyses and related surveys and studies required 
by all other Federal environmental review laws and Executive orders 
applicable to the proposed action, including the Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.), the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966 (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), and the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
    (b) The draft environmental impact statement shall list all Federal 
permits, licenses, and other authorizations that must be obtained in 
implementing the proposal. If it is uncertain whether a Federal permit, 
license, or other authorization is necessary, the draft environmental 
impact statement shall so indicate.

0
5. Revise part 1503 to read as follows:

PART 1503--COMMENTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS

Sec.
1503.1 Inviting comments and requesting information and analyses.
1503.2 Duty to comment.
1503.3 Specificity of comments and information.
1503.4 Response to comments.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; E.O. 
13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1503.1  Inviting comments and requesting information and 
analyses.

    (a) After preparing a draft environmental impact statement and 
before preparing a final environmental impact statement the agency 
shall:
    (1) Obtain the comments of any Federal agency that has jurisdiction 
by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact 
involved or is authorized to develop and enforce environmental 
standards.
    (2) Request the comments of:
    (i) Appropriate State, Tribal, and local agencies that are 
authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards;
    (ii) State, Tribal, or local governments that may be affected by 
the proposed action;
    (iii) Any agency that has requested it receive statements on 
actions of the kind proposed;
    (iv) The applicant, if any; and
    (v) The public, affirmatively soliciting comments in a manner 
designed to inform those persons or organizations who may be interested 
in or affected by the proposed action.
    (3) Invite comment specifically on the submitted alternatives, 
information, and analyses and the summary thereof (Sec.  1502.17 of 
this chapter).
    (b) An agency may request comments on a final environmental impact 
statement before the final decision and set a deadline for providing 
such comments. Other agencies or persons may make comments consistent 
with the time periods under Sec.  1506.11 of this chapter.
    (c) An agency shall provide for electronic submission of public 
comments, with reasonable measures to ensure the comment process is 
accessible to affected persons.


Sec.  1503.2  Duty to comment.

    Cooperating agencies and agencies that are authorized to develop 
and enforce environmental standards shall comment on statements within 
their jurisdiction, expertise, or authority within the time period 
specified for comment in Sec.  1506.11 of this chapter. A Federal 
agency may reply that it has no comment. If a cooperating agency is 
satisfied that the environmental impact statement adequately reflects 
its views, it should reply that it has no comment.


Sec.  1503.3  Specificity of comments and information.

    (a) To promote informed decision making, comments on an 
environmental impact statement or on a proposed action shall be as 
specific as possible, may address either the adequacy of the statement 
or the merits of the alternatives discussed or both, and shall

[[Page 43368]]

provide as much detail as necessary to meaningfully participate and 
fully inform the agency of the commenter's position. Comments should 
explain why the issues raised are important to the consideration of 
potential environmental impacts and alternatives to the proposed 
action, as well as economic and employment impacts, and other impacts 
affecting the quality of the human environment. Comments should 
reference the corresponding section or page number of the draft 
environmental impact statement, propose specific changes to those parts 
of the statement, where possible, and include or describe the data 
sources and methodologies supporting the proposed changes.
    (b) Comments on the submitted alternatives, information, and 
analyses and summary thereof (Sec.  1502.17 of this chapter) should be 
as specific as possible. Comments and objections of any kind shall be 
raised within the comment period on the draft environmental impact 
statement provided by the agency, consistent with Sec.  1506.11 of this 
chapter. If the agency requests comments on the final environmental 
impact statement before the final decision, consistent with Sec.  
1503.1(b), comments and objections of any kind shall be raised within 
the comment period provided by the agency. Comments and objections of 
any kind not provided within the comment period(s) shall be considered 
unexhausted and forfeited, consistent with Sec.  1500.3(b) of this 
chapter.
    (c) When a participating agency criticizes a lead agency's 
predictive methodology, the participating agency should describe the 
alternative methodology that it prefers and why.
    (d) A cooperating agency shall specify in its comments whether it 
needs additional information to fulfill other applicable environmental 
reviews or consultation requirements and what information it needs. In 
particular, it shall specify any additional information it needs to 
comment adequately on the draft statement's analysis of significant 
site-specific effects associated with the granting or approving by that 
cooperating agency of necessary Federal permits, licenses, or 
authorizations.
    (e) When a cooperating agency with jurisdiction by law specifies 
mitigation measures it considers necessary to allow the agency to grant 
or approve applicable permit, license, or related requirements or 
concurrences, the cooperating agency shall cite to its applicable 
statutory authority.


Sec.  1503.4  Response to comments.

    (a) An agency preparing a final environmental impact statement 
shall consider substantive comments timely submitted during the public 
comment period. The agency may respond to individual comments or groups 
of comments. In the final environmental impact statement, the agency 
may respond by:
    (1) Modifying alternatives including the proposed action.
    (2) Developing and evaluating alternatives not previously given 
serious consideration by the agency.
    (3) Supplementing, improving, or modifying its analyses.
    (4) Making factual corrections.
    (5) Explaining why the comments do not warrant further agency 
response, recognizing that agencies are not required to respond to each 
comment.
    (b) An agency shall append or otherwise publish all substantive 
comments received on the draft statement (or summaries thereof where 
the response has been exceptionally voluminous).
    (c) If changes in response to comments are minor and are confined 
to the responses described in paragraphs (a)(4) and (5) of this 
section, an agency may write any changes on errata sheets and attach 
the responses to the statement instead of rewriting the draft 
statement. In such cases, only the comments, the responses, and the 
changes and not the final statement need be published (Sec.  1502.20 of 
this chapter). The agency shall file the entire document with a new 
cover sheet with the Environmental Protection Agency as the final 
statement (Sec.  1506.10 of this chapter).
0
6. Revise part 1504 to read as follows:

PART 1504--PRE-DECISIONAL REFERRALS TO THE COUNCIL OF PROPOSED 
FEDERAL ACTIONS DETERMINED TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSATISFACTORY

Sec.
1504.1 Purpose.
1504.2 Criteria for referral.
1504.3 Procedure for referrals and response.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; E.O. 
13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1504.1  Purpose.

    (a) This part establishes procedures for referring to the Council 
Federal interagency disagreements concerning proposed major Federal 
actions that might cause unsatisfactory environmental effects. It 
provides means for early resolution of such disagreements.
    (b) Section 309 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7609) directs the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to review and 
comment publicly on the environmental impacts of Federal activities, 
including actions for which agencies prepare environmental impact 
statements. If, after this review, the Administrator determines that 
the matter is ``unsatisfactory from the standpoint of public health or 
welfare or environmental quality,'' section 309 directs that the matter 
be referred to the Council (hereafter ``environmental referrals'').
    (c) Under section 102(2)(C) of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), other 
Federal agencies may prepare similar reviews of environmental impact 
statements, including judgments on the acceptability of anticipated 
environmental impacts. These reviews must be made available to the 
President, the Council, and the public.


Sec.  1504.2  Criteria for referral.

    Environmental referrals should be made to the Council only after 
concerted, timely (as early as practicable in the process), but 
unsuccessful attempts to resolve differences with the lead agency. In 
determining what environmental objections to the matter are appropriate 
to refer to the Council, an agency should weigh potential adverse 
environmental impacts, considering:
    (a) Possible violation of national environmental standards or 
policies;
    (b) Severity;
    (c) Geographical scope;
    (d) Duration;
    (e) Importance as precedents;
    (f) Availability of environmentally preferable alternatives; and
    (g) Economic and technical considerations, including the economic 
costs of delaying or impeding the decision making of the agencies 
involved in the action.


Sec.  1504.3  Procedure for referrals and response.

    (a) A Federal agency making the referral to the Council shall:
    (1) Notify the lead agency at the earliest possible time that it 
intends to refer a matter to the Council unless a satisfactory 
agreement is reached;
    (2) Include such a notification whenever practicable in the 
referring agency's comments on the environmental assessment or draft 
environmental impact statement;
    (3) Identify any essential information that is lacking and request 
that the lead agency make it available at the earliest possible time; 
and

[[Page 43369]]

    (4) Send copies of the referring agency's views to the Council.
    (b) The referring agency shall deliver its referral to the Council 
no later than 25 days after the lead agency has made the final 
environmental impact statement available to the Environmental 
Protection Agency, participating agencies, and the public, and in the 
case of an environmental assessment, no later than 25 days after the 
lead agency makes it available. Except when the lead agency grants an 
extension of this period, the Council will not accept a referral after 
that date.
    (c) The referral shall consist of:
    (1) A copy of the letter signed by the head of the referring agency 
and delivered to the lead agency informing the lead agency of the 
referral and the reasons for it; and
    (2) A statement supported by factual evidence leading to the 
conclusion that the matter is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of 
public health or welfare or environmental quality. The statement shall:
    (i) Identify any disputed material facts and incorporate (by 
reference if appropriate) agreed upon facts;
    (ii) Identify any existing environmental requirements or policies 
that would be violated by the matter;
    (iii) Present the reasons for the referral;
    (iv) Contain a finding by the agency whether the issue raised is of 
national importance because of the threat to national environmental 
resources or policies or for some other reason;
    (v) Review the steps taken by the referring agency to bring its 
concerns to the attention of the lead agency at the earliest possible 
time; and
    (vi) Give the referring agency's recommendations as to what 
mitigation alternative, further study, or other course of action 
(including abandonment of the matter) are necessary to remedy the 
situation.
    (d) No later than 25 days after the referral to the Council, the 
lead agency may deliver a response to the Council and the referring 
agency. If the lead agency requests more time and gives assurance that 
the matter will not go forward in the interim, the Council may grant an 
extension. The response shall:
    (1) Address fully the issues raised in the referral;
    (2) Be supported by evidence and explanations, as appropriate; and
    (3) Give the lead agency's response to the referring agency's 
recommendations.
    (e) Applicants may provide views in writing to the Council no later 
than the response.
    (f) No later than 25 days after receipt of both the referral and 
any response or upon being informed that there will be no response 
(unless the lead agency agrees to a longer time), the Council may take 
one or more of the following actions:
    (1) Conclude that the process of referral and response has 
successfully resolved the problem.
    (2) Initiate discussions with the agencies with the objective of 
mediation with referring and lead agencies.
    (3) Obtain additional views and information.
    (4) Determine that the issue is not one of national importance and 
request the referring and lead agencies to pursue their decision 
process.
    (5) Determine that the referring and lead agencies should further 
negotiate the issue, and the issue is not appropriate for Council 
consideration until one or more heads of agencies report to the Council 
that the agencies' disagreements are irreconcilable.
    (6) Publish its findings and recommendations (including, where 
appropriate, a finding that the submitted evidence does not support the 
position of an agency).
    (7) When appropriate, submit the referral and the response together 
with the Council's recommendation to the President for action.
    (g) The Council shall take no longer than 60 days to complete the 
actions specified in paragraph (f)(2), (3), or (5) of this section.
    (h) The referral process is not intended to create any private 
rights of action or to be judicially reviewable because any voluntary 
resolutions by the agency parties do not represent final agency action 
and instead are only provisional and dependent on later consistent 
action by the action agencies.

0
7. Revise part 1505 to read as follows:

PART 1505--NEPA AND AGENCY DECISION MAKING

Sec.
1505.1 [Reserved]
1505.2 Record of decision in cases requiring environmental impact 
statements.
1505.3 Implementing the decision.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; and 
E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1505.1  [Reserved]


Sec.  1505.2  Record of decision in cases requiring environmental 
impact statements.

    (a) At the time of its decision (Sec.  1506.11 of this chapter) or, 
if appropriate, its recommendation to Congress, each agency shall 
prepare and timely publish a concise public record of decision or joint 
record of decision. The record, which each agency may integrate into 
any other record it prepares, shall:
    (1) State the decision.
    (2) Identify alternatives considered by the agency in reaching its 
decision, specifying the alternative or alternatives considered 
environmentally preferable. An agency may discuss preferences among 
alternatives based on relevant factors including economic and technical 
considerations and agency statutory missions. An agency shall identify 
and discuss all such factors, including any essential considerations of 
national policy, that the agency balanced in making its decision and 
state how those considerations entered into its decision.
    (3) State whether the agency has adopted all practicable means to 
avoid or minimize environmental harm from the alternative selected, and 
if not, why the agency did not. The agency shall adopt and summarize, 
where applicable, a monitoring and enforcement program for any 
enforceable mitigation requirements or commitments.
    (b) Informed by the summary of the submitted alternatives, 
information, and analyses in the final environmental impact statement 
(Sec.  1502.17(b) of this chapter), together with any other material in 
the record that he or she determines to be relevant, the decision maker 
shall certify in the record of decision that the agency has considered 
all of the alternatives, information, analyses, and objections 
submitted by State, Tribal, and local governments and public commenters 
for consideration by the lead and cooperating agencies in developing 
the environmental impact statement. Agency environmental impact 
statements certified in accordance with this section are entitled to a 
presumption that the agency has considered the submitted alternatives, 
information, and analyses, including the summary thereof, in the final 
environmental impact statement (Sec.  1502.17(b)).


Sec.  1505.3  Implementing the decision.

    Agencies may provide for monitoring to assure that their decisions 
are carried out and should do so in important cases. Mitigation (Sec.  
1505.2(a)(3)) and other conditions established in the environmental 
impact statement or during its review and committed as part of the 
decision shall be implemented by the lead agency or other appropriate 
consenting agency. The lead agency shall:
    (a) Include appropriate conditions in grants, permits, or other 
approvals.

[[Page 43370]]

    (b) Condition funding of actions on mitigation.
    (c) Upon request, inform cooperating or participating agencies on 
progress in carrying out mitigation measures that they have proposed 
and were adopted by the agency making the decision.
    (d) Upon request, publish the results of relevant monitoring.

0
8. Revise part 1506 to read as follows:

PART 1506--OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF NEPA

Sec.
1506.1 Limitations on actions during NEPA process.
1506.2 Elimination of duplication with State, Tribal, and local 
procedures.
1506.3 Adoption.
1506.4 Combining documents.
1506.5 Agency responsibility for environmental documents.
1506.6 Public involvement.
1506.7 Further guidance.
1506.8 Proposals for legislation.
1506.9 Proposals for regulations.
1506.10 Filing requirements.
1506.11 Timing of agency action.
1506.12 Emergencies.
1506.13 Effective date.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; and 
E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1506.1  Limitations on actions during NEPA process.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, 
until an agency issues a finding of no significant impact, as provided 
in Sec.  1501.6 of this chapter, or record of decision, as provided in 
Sec.  1505.2 of this chapter, no action concerning the proposal may be 
taken that would:
    (1) Have an adverse environmental impact; or
    (2) Limit the choice of reasonable alternatives.
    (b) If any agency is considering an application from a non-Federal 
entity and is aware that the applicant is about to take an action 
within the agency's jurisdiction that would meet either of the criteria 
in paragraph (a) of this section, then the agency shall promptly notify 
the applicant that the agency will take appropriate action to ensure 
that the objectives and procedures of NEPA are achieved. This section 
does not preclude development by applicants of plans or designs or 
performance of other activities necessary to support an application for 
Federal, State, Tribal, or local permits or assistance. An agency 
considering a proposed action for Federal funding may authorize such 
activities, including, but not limited to, acquisition of interests in 
land (e.g., fee simple, rights-of-way, and conservation easements), 
purchase of long lead-time equipment, and purchase options made by 
applicants.
    (c) While work on a required programmatic environmental review is 
in progress and the action is not covered by an existing programmatic 
review, agencies shall not undertake in the interim any major Federal 
action covered by the program that may significantly affect the quality 
of the human environment unless such action:
    (1) Is justified independently of the program;
    (2) Is itself accompanied by an adequate environmental review; and
    (3) Will not prejudice the ultimate decision on the program. 
Interim action prejudices the ultimate decision on the program when it 
tends to determine subsequent development or limit alternatives.


Sec.  1506.2  Elimination of duplication with State, Tribal, and local 
procedures.

    (a) Federal agencies are authorized to cooperate with State, 
Tribal, and local agencies that are responsible for preparing 
environmental documents, including those prepared pursuant to section 
102(2)(D) of NEPA.
    (b) To the fullest extent practicable unless specifically 
prohibited by law, agencies shall cooperate with State, Tribal, and 
local agencies to reduce duplication between NEPA and State, Tribal, 
and local requirements, including through use of studies, analysis, and 
decisions developed by State, Tribal, or local agencies. Except for 
cases covered by paragraph (a) of this section, such cooperation shall 
include, to the fullest extent practicable:
    (1) Joint planning processes.
    (2) Joint environmental research and studies.
    (3) Joint public hearings (except where otherwise provided by 
statute).
    (4) Joint environmental assessments.
    (c) To the fullest extent practicable unless specifically 
prohibited by law, agencies shall cooperate with State, Tribal, and 
local agencies to reduce duplication between NEPA and comparable State, 
Tribal, and local requirements. Such cooperation shall include, to the 
fullest extent practicable, joint environmental impact statements. In 
such cases, one or more Federal agencies and one or more State, Tribal, 
or local agencies shall be joint lead agencies. Where State or Tribal 
laws or local ordinances have environmental impact statement or similar 
requirements in addition to but not in conflict with those in NEPA, 
Federal agencies may cooperate in fulfilling these requirements, as 
well as those of Federal laws, so that one document will comply with 
all applicable laws.
    (d) To better integrate environmental impact statements into State, 
Tribal, or local planning processes, environmental impact statements 
shall discuss any inconsistency of a proposed action with any approved 
State, Tribal, or local plan or law (whether or not federally 
sanctioned). Where an inconsistency exists, the statement should 
describe the extent to which the agency would reconcile its proposed 
action with the plan or law. While the statement should discuss any 
inconsistencies, NEPA does not require reconciliation.


Sec.  1506.3  Adoption.

    (a) Generally. An agency may adopt a Federal draft or final 
environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, or portion 
thereof, or categorical exclusion determination provided that the 
statement, assessment, portion thereof, or determination meets the 
standards for an adequate statement, assessment, or determination under 
the regulations in this subchapter.
    (b) Environmental impact statements. (1) If the actions covered by 
the original environmental impact statement and the proposed action are 
substantially the same, the adopting agency shall republish it as a 
final statement consistent with Sec.  1506.10. If the actions are not 
substantially the same, the adopting agency shall treat the statement 
as a draft and republish it, consistent with Sec.  1506.10.
    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of this section, a cooperating 
agency may adopt in its record of decision without republishing the 
environmental impact statement of a lead agency when, after an 
independent review of the statement, the cooperating agency concludes 
that its comments and suggestions have been satisfied.
    (c) Environmental assessments. If the actions covered by the 
original environmental assessment and the proposed action are 
substantially the same, the adopting agency may adopt the environmental 
assessment in its finding of no significant impact and provide notice 
consistent with Sec.  1501.6 of this chapter.
    (d) Categorical exclusions. An agency may adopt another agency's 
determination that a categorical exclusion applies to a proposed action 
if the action covered by the original categorical exclusion 
determination and the adopting agency's proposed action are 
substantially the same. The agency shall document the adoption.
    (e) Identification of certain circumstances. The adopting agency

[[Page 43371]]

shall specify if one of the following circumstances is present:
    (1) The agency is adopting an assessment or statement that is not 
final within the agency that prepared it.
    (2) The action assessed in the assessment or statement is the 
subject of a referral under part 1504 of this chapter.
    (3) The assessment or statement's adequacy is the subject of a 
judicial action that is not final.


Sec.  1506.4  Combining documents.

    Agencies should combine, to the fullest extent practicable, any 
environmental document with any other agency document to reduce 
duplication and paperwork.


Sec.  1506.5  Agency responsibility for environmental documents.

    (a) Responsibility. The agency is responsible for the accuracy, 
scope (Sec.  1501.9(e) of this chapter), and content of environmental 
documents prepared by the agency or by an applicant or contractor under 
the supervision of the agency.
    (b) Information. An agency may require an applicant to submit 
environmental information for possible use by the agency in preparing 
an environmental document. An agency also may direct an applicant or 
authorize a contractor to prepare an environmental document under the 
supervision of the agency.
    (1) The agency should assist the applicant by outlining the types 
of information required or, for the preparation of environmental 
documents, shall provide guidance to the applicant or contractor and 
participate in their preparation.
    (2) The agency shall independently evaluate the information 
submitted or the environmental document and shall be responsible for 
its accuracy, scope, and contents.
    (3) The agency shall include in the environmental document the 
names and qualifications of the persons preparing environmental 
documents, and conducting the independent evaluation of any information 
submitted or environmental documents prepared by an applicant or 
contractor, such as in the list of preparers for environmental impact 
statements (Sec.  1502.18 of this chapter). It is the intent of this 
paragraph (b)(3) that acceptable work not be redone, but that it be 
verified by the agency.
    (4) Contractors or applicants preparing environmental assessments 
or environmental impact statements shall submit a disclosure statement 
to the lead agency that specifies any financial or other interest in 
the outcome of the action. Such statement need not include privileged 
or confidential trade secrets or other confidential business 
information.
    (5) Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit any agency from 
requesting any person, including the applicant, to submit information 
to it or to prohibit any person from submitting information to any 
agency for use in preparing environmental documents.


Sec.  1506.6  Public involvement.

    Agencies shall:
    (a) Make diligent efforts to involve the public in preparing and 
implementing their NEPA procedures (Sec.  1507.3 of this chapter).
    (b) Provide public notice of NEPA-related hearings, public 
meetings, and other opportunities for public involvement, and the 
availability of environmental documents so as to inform those persons 
and agencies who may be interested or affected by their proposed 
actions. When selecting appropriate methods for providing public 
notice, agencies shall consider the ability of affected persons and 
agencies to access electronic media.
    (1) In all cases, the agency shall notify those who have requested 
notice on an individual action.
    (2) In the case of an action with effects of national concern, 
notice shall include publication in the Federal Register. An agency may 
notify organizations that have requested regular notice.
    (3) In the case of an action with effects primarily of local 
concern, the notice may include:
    (i) Notice to State, Tribal, and local agencies that may be 
interested or affected by the proposed action.
    (ii) Notice to interested or affected State, Tribal, and local 
governments.
    (iii) Following the affected State or Tribe's public notice 
procedures for comparable actions.
    (iv) Publication in local newspapers (in papers of general 
circulation rather than legal papers).
    (v) Notice through other local media.
    (vi) Notice to potentially interested community organizations 
including small business associations.
    (vii) Publication in newsletters that may be expected to reach 
potentially interested persons.
    (viii) Direct mailing to owners and occupants of nearby or affected 
property.
    (ix) Posting of notice on and off site in the area where the action 
is to be located.
    (x) Notice through electronic media (e.g., a project or agency 
website, email, or social media).
    (c) Hold or sponsor public hearings, public meetings, or other 
opportunities for public involvement whenever appropriate or in 
accordance with statutory requirements applicable to the agency. 
Agencies may conduct public hearings and public meetings by means of 
electronic communication except where another format is required by 
law. When selecting appropriate methods for public involvement, 
agencies shall consider the ability of affected entities to access 
electronic media.
    (d) Solicit appropriate information from the public.
    (e) Explain in its procedures where interested persons can get 
information or status reports on environmental impact statements and 
other elements of the NEPA process.
    (f) Make environmental impact statements, the comments received, 
and any underlying documents available to the public pursuant to the 
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 
552).


Sec.  1506.7  Further guidance.

    (a) The Council may provide further guidance concerning NEPA and 
its procedures consistent with Executive Order 13807, Establishing 
Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and 
Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects (August 5, 2017), 
Executive Order 13891, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved 
Agency Guidance Documents (October 9, 2019), and any other applicable 
Executive orders.
    (b) To the extent that Council guidance issued prior to September 
14, 2020 is in conflict with this subchapter, the provisions of this 
subchapter apply.


Sec.  1506.8  Proposals for legislation.

    (a) When developing legislation, agencies shall integrate the NEPA 
process for proposals for legislation significantly affecting the 
quality of the human environment with the legislative process of the 
Congress. Technical drafting assistance does not by itself constitute a 
legislative proposal. Only the agency that has primary responsibility 
for the subject matter involved will prepare a legislative 
environmental impact statement.
    (b) A legislative environmental impact statement is the detailed 
statement required by law to be included in an agency's recommendation 
or report on a legislative proposal to Congress. A legislative 
environmental impact statement shall be considered part of the formal 
transmittal of a legislative proposal to Congress; however, it may be 
transmitted to Congress up to 30 days

[[Page 43372]]

later in order to allow time for completion of an accurate statement 
that can serve as the basis for public and Congressional debate. The 
statement must be available in time for Congressional hearings and 
deliberations.
    (c) Preparation of a legislative environmental impact statement 
shall conform to the requirements of the regulations in this 
subchapter, except as follows:
    (1) There need not be a scoping process.
    (2) Agencies shall prepare the legislative statement in the same 
manner as a draft environmental impact statement and need not prepare a 
final statement unless any of the following conditions exist. In such 
cases, the agency shall prepare and publish the statements consistent 
with Sec. Sec.  1503.1 of this chapter and 1506.11:
    (i) A Congressional committee with jurisdiction over the proposal 
has a rule requiring both draft and final environmental impact 
statements.
    (ii) The proposal results from a study process required by statute 
(such as those required by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 
1271 et seq.)).
    (iii) Legislative approval is sought for Federal or federally 
assisted construction or other projects that the agency recommends be 
located at specific geographic locations. For proposals requiring an 
environmental impact statement for the acquisition of space by the 
General Services Administration, a draft statement shall accompany the 
Prospectus or the 11(b) Report of Building Project Surveys to the 
Congress, and a final statement shall be completed before site 
acquisition.
    (iv) The agency decides to prepare draft and final statements.
    (d) Comments on the legislative statement shall be given to the 
lead agency, which shall forward them along with its own responses to 
the Congressional committees with jurisdiction.


Sec.  1506.9  Proposals for regulations.

    Where the proposed action is the promulgation of a rule or 
regulation, procedures and documentation pursuant to other statutory or 
Executive order requirements may satisfy one or more requirements of 
this subchapter. When a procedure or document satisfies one or more 
requirements of this subchapter, the agency may substitute it for the 
corresponding requirements in this subchapter and need not carry out 
duplicative procedures or documentation. Agencies shall identify which 
corresponding requirements in this subchapter are satisfied and consult 
with the Council to confirm such determinations.


Sec.  1506.10  Filing requirements.

    (a) Agencies shall file environmental impact statements together 
with comments and responses with the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA), Office of Federal Activities, consistent with EPA's procedures.
    (b) Agencies shall file statements with the EPA no earlier than 
they are also transmitted to participating agencies and made available 
to the public. EPA may issue guidelines to agencies to implement its 
responsibilities under this section and Sec.  1506.11.


Sec.  1506.11  Timing of agency action.

    (a) The Environmental Protection Agency shall publish a notice in 
the Federal Register each week of the environmental impact statements 
filed since its prior notice. The minimum time periods set forth in 
this section are calculated from the date of publication of this 
notice.
    (b) Unless otherwise provided by law, including statutory 
provisions for combining a final environmental impact statement and 
record of decision, Federal agencies may not make or issue a record of 
decision under Sec.  1505.2 of this chapter for the proposed action 
until the later of the following dates:
    (1) 90 days after publication of the notice described in paragraph 
(a) of this section for a draft environmental impact statement.
    (2) 30 days after publication of the notice described in paragraph 
(a) of this section for a final environmental impact statement.
    (c) An agency may make an exception to the rule on timing set forth 
in paragraph (b) of this section for a proposed action in the following 
circumstances:
    (1) Some agencies have a formally established appeal process after 
publication of the final environmental impact statement that allows 
other agencies or the public to take appeals on a decision and make 
their views known. In such cases where a real opportunity exists to 
alter the decision, the agency may make and record the decision at the 
same time it publishes the environmental impact statement. This means 
that the period for appeal of the decision and the 30-day period set 
forth in paragraph (b)(2) of this section may run concurrently. In such 
cases, the environmental impact statement shall explain the timing and 
the public's right of appeal and provide notification consistent with 
Sec.  1506.10; or
    (2) An agency engaged in rulemaking under the Administrative 
Procedure Act or other statute for the purpose of protecting the public 
health or safety may waive the time period in paragraph (b)(2) of this 
section, publish a decision on the final rule simultaneously with 
publication of the notice of the availability of the final 
environmental impact statement, and provide notification consistent 
with Sec.  1506.10, as described in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (d) If an agency files the final environmental impact statement 
within 90 days of the filing of the draft environmental impact 
statement with the Environmental Protection Agency, the decision-making 
period and the 90-day period may run concurrently. However, subject to 
paragraph (e) of this section, agencies shall allow at least 45 days 
for comments on draft statements.
    (e) The lead agency may extend the minimum periods in paragraph (b) 
of this section and provide notification consistent with Sec.  1506.10. 
Upon a showing by the lead agency of compelling reasons of national 
policy, the Environmental Protection Agency may reduce the minimum 
periods and, upon a showing by any other Federal agency of compelling 
reasons of national policy, also may extend the minimum periods, but 
only after consultation with the lead agency. The lead agency may 
modify the minimum periods when necessary to comply with other specific 
statutory requirements. (Sec.  1507.3(f)(2) of this chapter) Failure to 
file timely comments shall not be a sufficient reason for extending a 
period. If the lead agency does not concur with the extension of time, 
EPA may not extend it for more than 30 days. When the Environmental 
Protection Agency reduces or extends any period of time it shall notify 
the Council.


Sec.  1506.12  Emergencies.

    Where emergency circumstances make it necessary to take an action 
with significant environmental impact without observing the provisions 
of the regulations in this subchapter, the Federal agency taking the 
action should consult with the Council about alternative arrangements 
for compliance with section 102(2)(C) of NEPA. Agencies and the Council 
will limit such arrangements to actions necessary to control the 
immediate impacts of the emergency. Other actions remain subject to 
NEPA review.


Sec.  1506.13  Effective date.

    The regulations in this subchapter apply to any NEPA process begun 
after September 14, 2020. An agency may apply the regulations in this 
subchapter to ongoing activities and environmental

[[Page 43373]]

documents begun before September 14, 2020.

0
9. Revise part 1507 to read as follows:

PART 1507--AGENCY COMPLIANCE

Sec.
1507.1 Compliance.
1507.2 Agency capability to comply.
1507.3 Agency NEPA procedures.
1507.4 Agency NEPA program information.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; and 
E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1507.1  Compliance.

    All agencies of the Federal Government shall comply with the 
regulations in this subchapter.


Sec.  1507.2  Agency capability to comply.

    Each agency shall be capable (in terms of personnel and other 
resources) of complying with the requirements of NEPA and the 
regulations in this subchapter. Such compliance may include use of the 
resources of other agencies, applicants, and other participants in the 
NEPA process, but the agency using the resources shall itself have 
sufficient capability to evaluate what others do for it and account for 
the contributions of others. Agencies shall:
    (a) Fulfill the requirements of section 102(2)(A) of NEPA to 
utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach that will ensure the 
integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental 
design arts in planning and in decision making that may have an impact 
on the human environment. Agencies shall designate a senior agency 
official to be responsible for overall review of agency NEPA 
compliance, including resolving implementation issues.
    (b) Identify methods and procedures required by section 102(2)(B) 
of NEPA to ensure that presently unquantified environmental amenities 
and values may be given appropriate consideration.
    (c) Prepare adequate environmental impact statements pursuant to 
section 102(2)(C) of NEPA and cooperate on the development of 
statements in the areas where the agency has jurisdiction by law or 
special expertise or is authorized to develop and enforce environmental 
standards.
    (d) Study, develop, and describe alternatives to recommended 
courses of action in any proposal that involves unresolved conflicts 
concerning alternative uses of available resources, consistent with 
section 102(2)(E) of NEPA.
    (e) Comply with the requirements of section 102(2)(H) of NEPA that 
the agency initiate and utilize ecological information in the planning 
and development of resource-oriented projects.
    (f) Fulfill the requirements of sections 102(2)(F), 102(2)(G), and 
102(2)(I), of NEPA, Executive Order 11514, Protection and Enhancement 
of Environmental Quality, section 2, as amended by Executive Order 
11991, Relating to Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality, 
and Executive Order 13807, Establishing Discipline and Accountability 
in the Environmental Review and Permitting for Infrastructure Projects.


Sec.  1507.3  Agency NEPA procedures.

    (a) Where existing agency NEPA procedures are inconsistent with the 
regulations in this subchapter, the regulations in this subchapter 
shall apply, consistent with Sec.  1506.13 of this chapter, unless 
there is a clear and fundamental conflict with the requirements of 
another statute. The Council has determined that the categorical 
exclusions contained in agency NEPA procedures as of September 14, 2020 
are consistent with this subchapter.
    (b) No more than 12 months after September 14, 2020, or 9 months 
after the establishment of an agency, whichever comes later, each 
agency shall develop or revise, as necessary, proposed procedures to 
implement the regulations in this subchapter, including to eliminate 
any inconsistencies with the regulations in this subchapter. When the 
agency is a department, it may be efficient for major subunits (with 
the consent of the department) to adopt their own procedures. Except 
for agency efficiency (see paragraph (c) of this section) or as 
otherwise required by law, agency NEPA procedures shall not impose 
additional procedures or requirements beyond those set forth in the 
regulations in this subchapter.
    (1) Each agency shall consult with the Council while developing or 
revising its proposed procedures and before publishing them in the 
Federal Register for comment. Agencies with similar programs should 
consult with each other and the Council to coordinate their procedures, 
especially for programs requesting similar information from applicants.
    (2) Agencies shall provide an opportunity for public review and 
review by the Council for conformity with the Act and the regulations 
in this subchapter before adopting their final procedures. The Council 
shall complete its review within 30 days of the receipt of the proposed 
final procedures. Once in effect, the agency shall publish its NEPA 
procedures and ensure that they are readily available to the public.
    (c) Agencies shall adopt, as necessary, agency NEPA procedures to 
improve agency efficiency and ensure that agencies make decisions in 
accordance with the Act's procedural requirements. Such procedures 
shall include:
    (1) Designating the major decision points for the agency's 
principal programs likely to have a significant effect on the human 
environment and assuring that the NEPA process begins at the earliest 
reasonable time, consistent with Sec.  1501.2 of this chapter, and 
aligns with the corresponding decision points.
    (2) Requiring that relevant environmental documents, comments, and 
responses be part of the record in formal rulemaking or adjudicatory 
proceedings.
    (3) Requiring that relevant environmental documents, comments, and 
responses accompany the proposal through existing agency review 
processes so that decision makers use the statement in making 
decisions.
    (4) Requiring that the alternatives considered by the decision 
maker are encompassed by the range of alternatives discussed in the 
relevant environmental documents and that the decision maker consider 
the alternatives described in the environmental documents. If another 
decision document accompanies the relevant environmental documents to 
the decision maker, agencies are encouraged to make available to the 
public before the decision is made any part of that document that 
relates to the comparison of alternatives.
    (5) Requiring the combination of environmental documents with other 
agency documents. Agencies may designate and rely on one or more 
procedures or documents under other statutes or Executive orders as 
satisfying some or all of the requirements in this subchapter, and 
substitute such procedures and documentation to reduce duplication. 
When an agency substitutes one or more procedures or documents for the 
requirements in this subchapter, the agency shall identify the 
respective requirements that are satisfied.
    (d) Agency procedures should identify those activities or decisions 
that are not subject to NEPA, including:
    (1) Activities or decisions expressly exempt from NEPA under 
another statute;
    (2) Activities or decisions where compliance with NEPA would 
clearly

[[Page 43374]]

and fundamentally conflict with the requirements of another statute;
    (3) Activities or decisions where compliance with NEPA would be 
inconsistent with Congressional intent expressed in another statute;
    (4) Activities or decisions that are non-major Federal actions;
    (5) Activities or decisions that are non-discretionary actions, in 
whole or in part, for which the agency lacks authority to consider 
environmental effects as part of its decision-making process; and
    (6) Actions where the agency has determined that another statute's 
requirements serve the function of agency compliance with the Act.
    (e) Agency procedures shall comply with the regulations in this 
subchapter except where compliance would be inconsistent with statutory 
requirements and shall include:
    (1) Those procedures required by Sec. Sec.  1501.2(b)(4) 
(assistance to applicants) and 1506.6(e) of this chapter (status 
information).
    (2) Specific criteria for and identification of those typical 
classes of action:
    (i) Which normally do require environmental impact statements.
    (ii) Which normally do not require either an environmental impact 
statement or an environmental assessment and do not have a significant 
effect on the human environment (categorical exclusions (Sec.  1501.4 
of this chapter)). Any procedures under this section shall provide for 
extraordinary circumstances in which a normally excluded action may 
have a significant environmental effect. Agency NEPA procedures shall 
identify when documentation of a categorical exclusion determination is 
required.
    (iii) Which normally require environmental assessments but not 
necessarily environmental impact statements.
    (3) Procedures for introducing a supplement to an environmental 
assessment or environmental impact statement into its formal 
administrative record, if such a record exists.
    (f) Agency procedures may:
    (1) Include specific criteria for providing limited exceptions to 
the provisions of the regulations in this subchapter for classified 
proposals. These are proposed actions that are specifically authorized 
under criteria established by an Executive order or statute to be kept 
secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and are in 
fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order or statute. 
Agencies may safeguard and restrict from public dissemination 
environmental assessments and environmental impact statements that 
address classified proposals in accordance with agencies' own 
regulations applicable to classified information. Agencies should 
organize these documents so that classified portions are included as 
annexes, so that the agencies can make the unclassified portions 
available to the public.
    (2) Provide for periods of time other than those presented in Sec.  
1506.11 of this chapter when necessary to comply with other specific 
statutory requirements, including requirements of lead or cooperating 
agencies.
    (3) Provide that, where there is a lengthy period between the 
agency's decision to prepare an environmental impact statement and the 
time of actual preparation, the agency may publish the notice of intent 
required by Sec.  1501.9(d) of this chapter at a reasonable time in 
advance of preparation of the draft statement. Agency procedures shall 
provide for publication of supplemental notices to inform the public of 
a pause in its preparation of an environmental impact statement and for 
any agency decision to withdraw its notice of intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement.
    (4) Adopt procedures to combine its environmental assessment 
process with its scoping process.
    (5) Establish a process that allows the agency to use a categorical 
exclusion listed in another agency's NEPA procedures after consulting 
with that agency to ensure the use of the categorical exclusion is 
appropriate. The process should ensure documentation of the 
consultation and identify to the public those categorical exclusions 
the agency may use for its proposed actions. Then, the agency may apply 
the categorical exclusion to its proposed actions.


Sec.  1507.4  Agency NEPA program information.

    (a) To allow agencies and the public to efficiently and effectively 
access information about NEPA reviews, agencies shall provide for 
agency websites or other means to make available environmental 
documents, relevant notices, and other relevant information for use by 
agencies, applicants, and interested persons. Such means of publication 
may include:
    (1) Agency planning and environmental documents that guide agency 
management and provide for public involvement in agency planning 
processes;
    (2) A directory of pending and final environmental documents;
    (3) Agency policy documents, orders, terminology, and explanatory 
materials regarding agency decision-making processes;
    (4) Agency planning program information, plans, and planning tools; 
and
    (5) A database searchable by geographic information, document 
status, document type, and project type.
    (b) Agencies shall provide for efficient and effective interagency 
coordination of their environmental program websites, including use of 
shared databases or application programming interface, in their 
implementation of NEPA and related authorities.

0
10. Revise part 1508 to read as follows:

PART 1508--DEFINITIONS

Sec.
1508.1 Definitions.
1508.2 [Reserved]

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375; 42 U.S.C. 
7609; E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as 
amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123; and 
E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463, 3 CFR, 2017, Comp., p. 369.


Sec.  1508.1  Definitions.

    The following definitions apply to the regulations in this 
subchapter. Federal agencies shall use these terms uniformly throughout 
the Federal Government.
    (a) Act or NEPA means the National Environmental Policy Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.).
    (b) Affecting means will or may have an effect on.
    (c) Authorization means any license, permit, approval, finding, 
determination, or other administrative decision issued by an agency 
that is required or authorized under Federal law in order to implement 
a proposed action.
    (d) Categorical exclusion means a category of actions that the 
agency has determined, in its agency NEPA procedures (Sec.  1507.3 of 
this chapter), normally do not have a significant effect on the human 
environment.
    (e) Cooperating agency means any Federal agency (and a State, 
Tribal, or local agency with agreement of the lead agency) other than a 
lead agency that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with 
respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposal (or a 
reasonable alternative) for legislation or other major Federal action 
that may significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
    (f) Council means the Council on Environmental Quality established 
by title II of the Act.

[[Page 43375]]

    (g) Effects or impacts means changes to the human environment from 
the proposed action or alternatives that are reasonably foreseeable and 
have a reasonably close causal relationship to the proposed action or 
alternatives, including those effects that occur at the same time and 
place as the proposed action or alternatives and may include effects 
that are later in time or farther removed in distance from the proposed 
action or alternatives.
    (1) Effects include ecological (such as the effects on natural 
resources and on the components, structures, and functioning of 
affected ecosystems), aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic (such as 
the effects on employment), social, or health effects. Effects may also 
include those resulting from actions that may have both beneficial and 
detrimental effects, even if on balance the agency believes that the 
effect will be beneficial.
    (2) A ``but for'' causal relationship is insufficient to make an 
agency responsible for a particular effect under NEPA. Effects should 
generally not be considered if they are remote in time, geographically 
remote, or the product of a lengthy causal chain. Effects do not 
include those effects that the agency has no ability to prevent due to 
its limited statutory authority or would occur regardless of the 
proposed action.
    (3) An agency's analysis of effects shall be consistent with this 
paragraph (g). Cumulative impact, defined in 40 CFR 1508.7 (1978), is 
repealed.
    (h) Environmental assessment means a concise public document 
prepared by a Federal agency to aid an agency's compliance with the Act 
and support its determination of whether to prepare an environmental 
impact statement or a finding of no significant impact, as provided in 
Sec.  1501.6 of this chapter.
    (i) Environmental document means an environmental assessment, 
environmental impact statement, finding of no significant impact, or 
notice of intent.
    (j) Environmental impact statement means a detailed written 
statement as required by section 102(2)(C) of NEPA.
    (k) Federal agency means all agencies of the Federal Government. It 
does not mean the Congress, the Judiciary, or the President, including 
the performance of staff functions for the President in his Executive 
Office. For the purposes of the regulations in this subchapter, Federal 
agency also includes States, units of general local government, and 
Tribal governments assuming NEPA responsibilities from a Federal agency 
pursuant to statute.
    (l) Finding of no significant impact means a document by a Federal 
agency briefly presenting the reasons why an action, not otherwise 
categorically excluded (Sec.  1501.4 of this chapter), will not have a 
significant effect on the human environment and for which an 
environmental impact statement therefore will not be prepared.
    (m) Human environment means comprehensively the natural and 
physical environment and the relationship of present and future 
generations of Americans with that environment. (See also the 
definition of ``effects'' in paragraph (g) of this section.)
    (n) Jurisdiction by law means agency authority to approve, veto, or 
finance all or part of the proposal.
    (o) Lead agency means the agency or agencies, in the case of joint 
lead agencies, preparing or having taken primary responsibility for 
preparing the environmental impact statement.
    (p) Legislation means a bill or legislative proposal to Congress 
developed by a Federal agency, but does not include requests for 
appropriations or legislation recommended by the President.
    (q) Major Federal action or action means an activity or decision 
subject to Federal control and responsibility subject to the following:
    (1) Major Federal action does not include the following activities 
or decisions:
    (i) Extraterritorial activities or decisions, which means agency 
activities or decisions with effects located entirely outside of the 
jurisdiction of the United States;
    (ii) Activities or decisions that are non-discretionary and made in 
accordance with the agency's statutory authority;
    (iii) Activities or decisions that do not result in final agency 
action under the Administrative Procedure Act or other statute that 
also includes a finality requirement;
    (iv) Judicial or administrative civil or criminal enforcement 
actions;
    (v) Funding assistance solely in the form of general revenue 
sharing funds with no Federal agency control over the subsequent use of 
such funds;
    (vi) Non-Federal projects with minimal Federal funding or minimal 
Federal involvement where the agency does not exercise sufficient 
control and responsibility over the outcome of the project; and
    (vii) Loans, loan guarantees, or other forms of financial 
assistance where the Federal agency does not exercise sufficient 
control and responsibility over the effects of such assistance (for 
example, action does not include farm ownership and operating loan 
guarantees by the Farm Service Agency pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 1925 and 
1941 through 1949 and business loan guarantees by the Small Business 
Administration pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 636(a), 636(m), and 695 through 
697g).
    (2) Major Federal actions may include new and continuing 
activities, including projects and programs entirely or partly 
financed, assisted, conducted, regulated, or approved by Federal 
agencies; new or revised agency rules, regulations, plans, policies, or 
procedures; and legislative proposals (Sec.  1506.8 of this chapter).
    (3) Major Federal actions tend to fall within one of the following 
categories:
    (i) Adoption of official policy, such as rules, regulations, and 
interpretations adopted under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 
U.S.C. 551 et seq. or other statutes; implementation of treaties and 
international conventions or agreements, including those implemented 
pursuant to statute or regulation; formal documents establishing an 
agency's policies which will result in or substantially alter agency 
programs.
    (ii) Adoption of formal plans, such as official documents prepared 
or approved by Federal agencies, which prescribe alternative uses of 
Federal resources, upon which future agency actions will be based.
    (iii) Adoption of programs, such as a group of concerted actions to 
implement a specific policy or plan; systematic and connected agency 
decisions allocating agency resources to implement a specific statutory 
program or executive directive.
    (iv) Approval of specific projects, such as construction or 
management activities located in a defined geographic area. Projects 
include actions approved by permit or other regulatory decision as well 
as Federal and federally assisted activities.
    (r) Matter includes for purposes of part 1504 of this chapter:
    (1) With respect to the Environmental Protection Agency, any 
proposed legislation, project, action or regulation as those terms are 
used in section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7609).
    (2) With respect to all other agencies, any proposed major Federal 
action to which section 102(2)(C) of NEPA applies.
    (s) Mitigation means measures that avoid, minimize, or compensate 
for effects caused by a proposed action or alternatives as described in 
an environmental document or record of decision and that have a nexus 
to those effects. While NEPA requires consideration of mitigation, it 
does not mandate the form or adoption of any mitigation. Mitigation 
includes:

[[Page 43376]]

    (1) Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action 
or parts of an action.
    (2) Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the 
action and its implementation.
    (3) Rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or 
restoring the affected environment.
    (4) Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation 
and maintenance operations during the life of the action.
    (5) Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing 
substitute resources or environments.
    (t) NEPA process means all measures necessary for compliance with 
the requirements of section 2 and title I of NEPA.
    (u) Notice of intent means a public notice that an agency will 
prepare and consider an environmental impact statement.
    (v) Page means 500 words and does not include explanatory maps, 
diagrams, graphs, tables, and other means of graphically displaying 
quantitative or geospatial information.
    (w) Participating agency means a Federal, State, Tribal, or local 
agency participating in an environmental review or authorization of an 
action.
    (x) Proposal means a proposed action at a stage when an agency has 
a goal, is actively preparing to make a decision on one or more 
alternative means of accomplishing that goal, and can meaningfully 
evaluate its effects. A proposal may exist in fact as well as by agency 
declaration that one exists.
    (y) Publish and publication mean methods found by the agency to 
efficiently and effectively make environmental documents and 
information available for review by interested persons, including 
electronic publication, and adopted by agency NEPA procedures pursuant 
to Sec.  1507.3 of this chapter.
    (z) Reasonable alternatives means a reasonable range of 
alternatives that are technically and economically feasible, meet the 
purpose and need for the proposed action, and, where applicable, meet 
the goals of the applicant.
    (aa) Reasonably foreseeable means sufficiently likely to occur such 
that a person of ordinary prudence would take it into account in 
reaching a decision.
    (bb) Referring agency means the Federal agency that has referred 
any matter to the Council after a determination that the matter is 
unsatisfactory from the standpoint of public health or welfare or 
environmental quality.
    (cc) Scope consists of the range of actions, alternatives, and 
impacts to be considered in an environmental impact statement. The 
scope of an individual statement may depend on its relationships to 
other statements (Sec.  1501.11 of this chapter).
    (dd) Senior agency official means an official of assistant 
secretary rank or higher (or equivalent) that is designated for overall 
agency NEPA compliance, including resolving implementation issues.
    (ee) Special expertise means statutory responsibility, agency 
mission, or related program experience.
    (ff) Tiering refers to the coverage of general matters in broader 
environmental impact statements or environmental assessments (such as 
national program or policy statements) with subsequent narrower 
statements or environmental analyses (such as regional or basin-wide 
program statements or ultimately site-specific statements) 
incorporating by reference the general discussions and concentrating 
solely on the issues specific to the statement subsequently prepared.


Sec.  1508.2  [Reserved]

PARTS 1515 THROUGH 1518 [DESIGNATED AS SUBCHAPTER B]

0
11. Designate parts 1515 through 1518 as subchapter B and add a heading 
for newly designated subchapter B to read as follows:

Subchapter B--Administrative Procedures and Operations

[FR Doc. 2020-15179 Filed 7-15-20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3225-F0-P