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Energy Streamlining Task Force
Federal Register Notice
Interagency Task Force On Energy Project Streamlining Extends Call for Comment
Memorandum of Understanding
Task Force Open House

On May 18, 2001, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13212, recognizing the importance of environmentally sound production and transmission of energy to all Americans. The order established a federal interagency task force, chaired by the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, to work with and monitor federal agencies' efforts to expedite their review of permits or take other actions as necessary to accelerate the completion of energy-related projects, while maintaining safety, public health, and environmental protections. This task force is also charged with helping agencies create mechanisms to coordinate federal, state, tribal and local permitting in geographic areas where increased permitting activity is expected.

CEQ invites comments on the proposed nature and scope of task force activities, specific suggestions, and examples of permitting or other decision-making processes that should be improved or streamlined. CEQ believes that the task force can work most effectively through an operational approach that addresses impediments to federal agencies' completion of energy-related projects by functional categories (e.g. pipelines, conservation, electricity transmission).

The task force will address coordination issues regionally, reaching out to states, local communities, tribes, businesses, and non-governmental organizations. CEQ intends to use other agencies' experience in expediting energy-related projects and resolving coordination issues to identify opportunities for systemic improvement and possible regulatory or legislative change. The task force expects to receive information from many stakeholders (e.g. public interest groups, industry) during its tenure about particular projects and opportunities to improve agency decision-making.

Please submit your comments by October 1, 2001.

Submitting Comments
To make the information as helpful as possible, please submit your comments in three pages or less, using the following guidelines designed to help focus your comments on major projects or major projects under development that may come within the scope of the task force, and to facilitate consideration of your comments by the task force:

  • Name of the project
  • Entity proposing the project
  • Category of the project - Pipeline, Electricity Transmission, Electricity Generation, Nuclear, Hydropower, Refinery, Renewable, Conservation, or Other
  • Brief description of the project
  • Agency or agencies that must be consulted and agencies from which approval is needed. Please list by the following categories: Federal, State, Tribal, Local, Other
  • Reason for bringing the project to the task force's attention.
  • Suggestions you have for improving federal agency(s)' process:
You may also attach additional helpful materials. Send comments to energytaskforce@ceq.eop.gov

Written comments may also be submitted to the Chair, Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President, 17th and G Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20503. Attention: Task Force. Written comments may also be faxed to the task force at (202) 456-6546.

Click here for Federal Register Notice

Click here for the list of organizations that submitted comments.


Council on Environmental Quality   |   Memorandum of Understanding Energy Task Force Information   |   Annual FOIA Reports   |   2001   |   2000   |   1999   |   1998   |   NEPAnet   |   Department of the Interior   |   Department of Energy   |   Environmental Protection Agency   |   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration   |   Department of State   |   Department of Agriculture   |   Department of Justice Council on Environmental Quality 722 Jackson Place, N.W. Washington, DC 20503 tele. (202) 395-5750 fax: (202) 456-6546