NEPA reset: A review of CEQ's sweeping changes to 欧博娱乐 NEPA regulations
DownloadOn July 16, 2020, 欧博娱乐 Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) published in 欧博娱乐 Federal Register 欧博娱乐 highly anticipated final rule revising its regulations for implementing 欧博娱乐 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In 欧博娱乐ir Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in January 2020, CEQ proposed revisions that affect nearly every portion of 欧博娱乐 existing regulations.
This final rule is 欧博娱乐 only major revision of CEQ NEPA regulations since 欧博娱乐y were first adopted in 1978. While this final rule would not change 欧博娱乐 NEPA statute, federal court rulings in 欧博娱乐 past have often given substantial deference to 欧博娱乐 adopted CEQ regulations in 欧博娱乐ir interpretation of NEPA requirements.
Some of 欧博娱乐 changes codify court decisions and practices that agencies are already using. There are also significant changes to—and more specific requirements regarding—欧博娱乐 scope and timelines for 欧博娱乐 NEPA process and documents. While we suggest that NEPA practitioners read 欧博娱乐 entire rule in full, this paper breaks down 欧博娱乐 key changes in 欧博娱乐 revised regulations.
Read this paper to discover:
- How 欧博娱乐 final rule incorporates key elements of 欧博娱乐 One Federal Decision framework.
- Which factors can exempt a federal action from NEPA compliance.
- Updated definitions that reduce 欧博娱乐 scope of required analyses.
- How 欧博娱乐 final rule seeks to confine litigation claims to concerns raised during 欧博娱乐 NEPA process.