[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 38 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Pages 1577-1578]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13274--Environmental Stewardship and Transportation 
Infrastructure Project Reviews

September 18, 2002

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and to enhance environmental 
stewardship and streamline the environmental review and development of 
transportation infrastructure projects, it is hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Policy. The development and implementation of 
transportation infrastructure projects in an efficient and 
environmentally sound manner is essential to the well-being of the 
American people and a strong American economy. Executive departments and 
agencies (agencies) shall take appropriate actions, to the extent 
consistent with applicable law and available resources, to promote 
environmental stewardship in the Nation's transportation system and 
expedite environmental reviews of high-priority transportation 
infrastructure projects.
    Sec. 2. Actions. (a) For transportation infrastructure projects, 
agencies shall, in support of the Department of Transportation, 
formulate and implement administrative, policy, and procedural 
mechanisms that enable each agency required by law to conduct 
environmental reviews (reviews) with respect to such projects to ensure 
completion of such reviews in a timely and environmentally responsible 
manner.
    (b) In furtherance of the policy set forth in section 1 of this 
order, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with agencies as 
appropriate, shall advance environmental stewardship through cooperative 
actions with project sponsors to promote protection and enhancement of 
the natural and human environment in the planning, development, 
operation, and maintenance of transportation facilities and services.
    (c) The Secretary of Transportation shall designate for the purposes 
of this order a list of high-priority transportation infrastructure 
projects that should receive expedited agency reviews and shall amend 
such list from time to time as the Secretary deems appropriate. For 
projects on the Secretary's list, agencies shall to the maximum extent 
practicable expedite their reviews for relevant permits or other 
approvals, and take related actions as necessary, consistent with 
available resources and applicable laws, including those relating to 
safety, public health, and environmental protection.
    Sec. 3. Interagency Task Force. (a) Establishment. There is 
established, within the Department of Transportation for administrative 
purposes, the interagency ``Transportation Infrastructure Streamlining 
Task Force'' (Task Force) to: (i) monitor and assist agencies in their 
efforts to expedite a review of transportation infrastructure projects 
and issue permits or similar actions, as necessary; (ii) review 
projects, at least quarterly, on the list of priority projects pursuant 
to section 2(c) of this order; and (iii) identify and promote policies 
that can effectively streamline the process required to provide 
approvals for transportation infrastructure projects, in compliance with 
applicable law, while maintaining safety, public health, and 
environmental protection.
    (b) Membership and Operation. The Task Force shall promote 
interagency cooperation and the establishment of appropriate mechanisms 
to coordinate Federal, State, tribal, and local agency consultation, 
review, approval, and permitting of transportation infrastructure 
projects. The Task Force shall consist exclusively of the following 
officers of the United States: the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary 
of Commerce, Secretary of Transportation (who shall chair the Task 
Force), Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Defense, Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency, Chairman of the Advisory Council 
on Historic Preservation,

[[Page 1578]]

and Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality. A member of the 
Task Force may designate, to perform the Task Force functions of the 
member, any person who is part of the member's department, agency, or 
office and who is either an officer of the United States appointed by 
the President with the advice and consent of the Senate or a member of 
the Senior Executive Service. The Task Force shall report to the 
President through the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality.
    Sec. 4. Report. At least once each year, the Task Force shall submit 
to the President a report that: (a) Describes the results of the 
coordinated and expedited reviews on a project-by-project basis, and 
identifies those procedures and actions that proved to be most useful 
and appropriate in coordinating and expediting the review of the 
projects.
    (b) Identifies substantive and procedural requirements of Federal, 
State, tribal, and local laws, regulations, and Executive Orders that 
are inconsistent with, duplicative of, or are structured so as to 
restrict their efficient implementation with other applicable 
requirements.
    (c) Makes recommendations regarding those additional actions that 
could be taken to: (i) address the coordination and expediting of 
reviews of transportation infrastructure projects by simplifying and 
harmonizing applicable substantive and procedural requirements; and (ii) 
elevate and resolve controversies among Federal, State, tribal, and 
local agencies related to the review or impacts of transportation 
infrastructure projects in a timely manner.
    (d) Provides any other recommendations that would, in the judgement 
of the Task Force, advance the policy set forth in section 1 of this 
order.
    Sec. 5. Preservation of Authority. Nothing in this order shall be 
construed to impair or otherwise affect the functions of the Director of 
the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, 
and legislative proposals.
    Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the 
internal management of the Federal Government and is not intended to, 
and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United States, its 
departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers or 
employees, or any other person.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 September 18, 2002.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., September 
20, 2002]

Note: This Executive order was published in the Federal Register on 
September 23.