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Energy Task Force

Date: October 1, 2001, 3125-01-U
Agency: Council of Environmental Quality
Action: Notice extending comment period.

Summary: By Federal Register notice, the Council on Environmental Quality ("CEQ") has invited interested parties to (1) provide basic information about major pending projects or major projects under development that may be relevant to Task Force efforts to streamline energy permitting decisions and (2) comment on the proposed nature and scope of Task Force activities and provide specific suggestions and examples of permitting or other decision making processes which should be improved or streamlined. 66 Fed. Reg. 43586-43587 (August 20, 2001). Interested parties have requested that CEQ extend the time to file comments. The deadline for comments and suggestions was October 1, 2001. By this notice, CEQ is extending the time period for public comment to October 31, 2001. Although the time for filing comments has been extended, CEQ requests that interested parties provide information about major pending projects or major projects under development as soon as possible. In addition, following the comment period, the Task Force will engage in an ongoing dialog with the public regarding permitting or other decision making processes which should be improved or streamlined.

Dates: Written comments should be submitted on or before October 31, 2001.

Addresses: Direct electronic written comments to Chair, Council on Environmental Quality, through the CEQ web site at www.whitehouse.gov/ceq. 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.

For Further Information Contact: Requests for copies the "National Energy Policy Report of the National Energy Policy Development Group" may be directed to CEQ at the above address. The report is available on the White House web site /energy/National-Energy-Policy.pdf and on the Department of Energy web site http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases01/maypr/energy_policy.htm. Copies of the report (ISBN 0-16-050814-2) can also be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, by calling (202) 512-1800 or mailing your request to U.S. GPO, Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001.

Supplementary Information: On May 18, 2001, the President signed Executive Order 13212 recognizing the importance of environmentally sound production and transmission of energy to all American people. 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. That 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. In order to further the work of this task force, CEQ believes that it would be beneficial to have public input on federal agency activities to implement Executive Order 13212. Such input may include recommendations for improving agency activities, consistent with the purposes and policies of the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., 1) to accelerate the completion of energy-related projects; 2) to increase energy production and conservation; 3) to improve transmission of energy; and 4) to coordinate permitting in geographic areas where increased permitting activity is expected.

Public comments are requested by October 31, 2001.

Dated: September 26, 2001
James L. Connaughton,
Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality


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