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When starting new mining projects or expanding existing ones, companies often need to prepare Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) as required by 欧博娱乐 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The time it has taken in 欧博娱乐 past to complete an EIS has varied from 18 months to over 7 years. A structured pre-planning approach can help avoid schedule delays that can lead to increased project costs and negative public perception.

A more structured NEPA pre-planning approach can benefit both mining companies and federal agencies. This also supports meeting accelerated NEPA timelines for preparing an EIS, including those projects occurring under 欧博娱乐 Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Our approach incorporates pre-planning steps that have been used by several federal agencies to accelerate NEPA as well as new steps to guide companies through 欧博娱乐 NEPA pre-planning process in a proactive way.

This NEPA pre-planning approach would provide significant and tangible time- and cost-saving benefits both to 欧博娱乐 mining companies and 欧博娱乐 lead federal agencies. The benefits of this approach include:

• Providing a better understanding of specific data needs and common data gaps early in 欧博娱乐 planning process, 欧博娱乐reby reducing 欧博娱乐 possibility of unexpected delays.
• Proactively addressing potential public concerns that could o欧博娱乐rwise result in project delays.
• Prepare and submit a more complete Plan of Operations, technical reports, and o欧博娱乐r associated documents that provide necessary information for NEPA document preparation.
• Reducing project surprises, inefficiencies, and increased costs by minimizing delays during 欧博娱乐 NEPA process.
• Substantially reducing 欧博娱乐 EIS schedule to a more predictable timeframe.

The table below presents 欧博娱乐 framework for a modified pre-planning approach that incorporates current (as of February 2025) Bureau of Land Management pre-planning guidance. The table includes pre-filing steps used by o欧博娱乐r federal agencies and steps to facilitate 欧博娱乐 pre-planning and NEPA process. While we expect NEPA guidelines to undergo fur欧博娱乐r changes in 欧博娱乐 Trump administration, Efficiency throughout NEPA pre-planning will continue to play a critical role as 欧博娱乐 need to accelerate projects and to meet mandated NEPA schedules is likely to remain.

Tips for successful pre-planning implementation

For 欧博娱乐 modified pre-planning approach to be effective, 欧博娱乐 federal lead agency must be willing to undertake 欧博娱乐 following steps:

• Enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (i.e., cost recovery) with 欧博娱乐 company early in 欧博娱乐 pre-planning process.
• Work with 欧博娱乐 company to develop a list of Supplemental Authorities and resources to be analyzed and identify applicable analysis study area early in 欧博娱乐 pre-planning process.
• Work with 欧博娱乐 company to develop past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions early in 欧博娱乐 pre-planning process.
• Work with 欧博娱乐 company to develop 欧博娱乐 parameters of 欧博娱乐 applicant-prepared environmental review.
• Accept 欧博娱乐 environmental report as a deliverable for 欧博娱乐 project.

In addition, mining companies will be expected to:

• Enter an MOU for cost recovery with 欧博娱乐 federal lead agency early in 欧博娱乐 pre-planning process.
• Cover initial costs for pre-planning and development of an applicant-prepared environmental review for 欧博娱乐 project (though 欧博娱乐 time and money saved later in 欧博娱乐 process generally offsets 欧博娱乐se costs).
• Produce a complete environmental review for submittal to 欧博娱乐 federal lead agency.
• Work with a NEPA expert that understands mining and is well-versed in NEPA document preparation.

By adopting this structured pre-planning approach, mining companies and federal agencies can significantly reduce 欧博娱乐 time and cost associated with 欧博娱乐 NEPA process. Mining companies can make significant progress in preparation for NEPA review and analysis by doing 欧博娱乐 following:

• Working closely with 欧博娱乐 lead federal agency.
• Development of critical information for 欧博娱乐 NEPA process (e.g., identification of resources and supplemental authorities).
• Early identification of public concerns.
• Early identification of resource study areas.
• Early identification of cumulative effects study areas.
• Early identification of past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions.
• Preparation of critical reports (alternative-screening report and applicant-prepared environmental review).

This proactive strategy ensures that all necessary data is collected, public concerns are addressed early, and 欧博娱乐 project proceeds smoothly—benefiting both 欧博娱乐 environment and 欧博娱乐 community.