For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 18, 2002
Executive Order: Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, and to enhance environmental
stewardship and streamline the environmental review and development of
transportation infrastructure projects, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Policy. The development and implementation of
transportation infrastructure projects in an efficient and
environmentally sound manner is essential to the well-being of the
American people and a strong American economy. Executive departments
and agencies (agencies) shall take appropriate actions, to the extent
consistent with applicable law and available resources, to promote
environmental stewardship in the Nation's transportation system and
expedite environmental reviews of high-priority transportation
infrastructure projects.
Sec. 2. Actions. (a) For transportation infrastructure projects,
agencies shall, in support of the Department of Transportation,
formulate and implement administrative, policy, and procedural
mechanisms that enable each agency required by law to conduct
environmental reviews (reviews) with respect to such projects to ensure
completion of such reviews in a timely and environmentally responsible
manner.
(b) In furtherance of the policy set forth in section 1 of this
order, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with agencies
as appropriate, shall advance environmental stewardship through
cooperative actions with project sponsors to promote protection and
enhancement of the natural and human environment in the planning,
development, operation, and maintenance of transportation facilities
and services.
(c) The Secretary of Transportation shall designate for the
purposes of this order a list of high-priority transportation
infrastructure projects that should receive expedited agency reviews
and shall amend such list from time to time as the Secretary deems
appropriate. For projects on the Secretary's list, agencies shall to
the maximum extent practicable expedite their reviews for relevant
permits or other approvals, and take related actions as necessary,
consistent with available resources and applicable laws, including
those relating to safety, public health, and environmental protection.
Sec. 3. Interagency Task Force. (a) Establishment. There is
established, within the Department of Transportation for administrative
purposes, the interagency "Transportation Infrastructure Streamlining
Task Force" (Task Force) to: (i) monitor and assist agencies in their
efforts to expedite a review of transportation infrastructure projects
and issue permits or similar actions, as necessary; (ii) review
projects, at least quarterly, on the list of priority projects pursuant
to section 2(c) of this order; and (iii) identify and promote policies
that can effectively streamline the process
required to provide approvals for transportation infrastructure
projects, in compliance with applicable law, while maintaining safety,
public health, and environmental protection.
(b) Membership and Operation. The Task Force shall promote
interagency cooperation and the establishment of appropriate mechanisms
to coordinate Federal, State, tribal, and local agency consultation,
review, approval, and permitting of transportation infrastructure
projects. The Task Force shall consist exclusively of the following
officers of the United States: the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary
of Commerce, Secretary of Transportation (who shall chair the Task
Force), Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Defense, Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency, Chairman of the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation, and Chairman of the Council on
Environmental Quality. A member of the Task Force may designate, to
perform the Task Force functions of the member, any person who is part
of the member's department, agency, or office and who is either an
officer of the United States appointed by the President with the advice
and consent of the Senate or a member of the Senior Executive Service.
The Task Force shall report to the President through the Chairman of
the Council on Environmental Quality.
Sec. 4. Report. At least once each year, the Task Force shall
submit to the President a report that: (a) Describes the results of
the coordinated and expedited reviews on a project-by-project basis,
and identifies those procedures and actions that proved to be most
useful and appropriate in coordinating and expediting the review of the
projects.
(b) Identifies substantive and procedural requirements of Federal,
State, tribal, and local laws, regulations, and Executive Orders that
are inconsistent with, duplicative of, or are structured so as to
restrict their efficient implementation with other applicable
requirements.
(c) Makes recommendations regarding those additional actions that
could be taken to: (i) address the coordination and expediting of
reviews of transportation infrastructure projects by simplifying and
harmonizing applicable substantive and procedural requirements; and
(ii) elevate and resolve controversies among Federal, State, tribal,
and local agencies related to the review or impacts of transportation
infrastructure projects in a timely manner.
(d) Provides any other recommendations that would, in the
judgement of the Task Force, advance the policy set forth in section 1
of this order.
Sec. 5. Preservation of Authority. Nothing in this order shall be
construed to impair or otherwise affect the functions of the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget,
administrative, and legislative proposals.
Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve
the internal management of the Federal Government and is not intended
to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United
States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its
officers or employees, or any other person.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
September 18, 2002.
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