A joint announcement of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Office of Management and Budget, and Office of Science and Technology Policy directs federal agencies to being developing national environmental indicators to be used to analyze national trends and assess the impact of federal programs on the environment and natural resources. The notice also announces a National Environmental Status and Trends (NEST) pilot project intended to produce “consistent, regularly recurring indicators in the area of water quantity and quality.” For more information, link to the press release and a White House letter and policy memorandum issued to federal agencies about the environmental indicators program. (6-17-08)

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The Council on Environmental Quality has released the fourth in a series of annual reports describing how federal agencies are implementing President Bush's goal to conserve 3 million acres of wetlands by Earth Day 2009. The report finds that the goal Bush announced on Earth Day 2004 has been achieved a year early, with a total of 3.6 million acres of wetlands restored or created, improved, or protected. The report also anticipates an additional 893,000 acres of wetlands will be conserved by Earth Day 2009. For more information, link to Conserving America’s Wetlands 2008: Four Years of Partnering in Accomplishing the President’s Goal. (April 2008)

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The Council on Environmental Quality has published a new Citizen’s Guide to the National Environmental Policy Act. The guide provides an explanation of NEPA; how it is implemented; and how citizens, organizations, and representatives of state, local, or tribal government can better participate in NEPA activities conducted by federal agencies. For more information, link to A Citizen's Guide to the NEPA - Having Your Voice Heard. (December 2007)

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The Council on Environmental Quality has published a handbook on collaboration under the National Environmental Policy Act. The handbook discusses how federal agencies can benefit by working collaboratively with others in the NEPA process. The handbook also describes general collaborative principles, useful steps, and information on methods of collaboration. For more information, link to Collaboration in NEPA: A Handbook for NEPA Practitioners or the NEPA Task Force Implementation Web site. (October 2007)

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The Council on Environmental Quality on posted comments received on the draft “A Citizen’s Guide to the National Environmental Policy Act - Having Your Voice Heard.” To access the comments on the document, link to Public Comments Received by CEQ. (4-19-07)

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The Council on Environmental Quality posted to its website a guide to help federal agencies in aligning environmental management systems (EMS) with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The guide, which builds on existing research conducted by CEQ, provides information and recommendations on integrating the complementary elements of the NEPA and EMS processes. For more information, link to Aligning Environmental Policy Act Processes with Environmental Management Systems: A Guide for NEPA and EMS Practitioners. (4-26-07)

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The Council on Environmental Quality is seeking comments on a draft handbook on collaboration under the National Environmental Policy Act. The document “focuses on collaboration in the context of NEPA where an agency engages other governmental entities and/or a balanced set of affected and interested parties in seeking agreements at one or more stages of the NEPA process by cultivating shared vision, trust, and communication.”  Comments are due May 4, 2007. For more information, link to Collaboration in NEPA: A Handbook for NEPA Practitioners or the NEPA Task Force Implementation Web site.

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The Council on Environmental Quality is seeking comments on a draft Citizen's Guide to NEPA.  The document provides an overview of the law and information on how the public can participate in the NEPA process. For more information, link to the Feb. 21 Federal Register Notice or link to the Draft Citizen's Guide to NEPA.

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A report documenting the implementation of the Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA Task Force recommendations was posted on the CEQ Web site Sept. 21.  The report provides the status and future plans for workgroups established to carry out recommendations for modernizing implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. Work groups are focusing on the following topics: NEPA – Environmental Management Systems (EMS) guidance; adaptive management, environmental management systems and NEPA; aligning / harmonizing NEPA and other laws; categorical exclusions; environmental assessments; programmatic analyses; training; and development of a citizen guide. For more information, link to Recommendations to Modernize NEPA Implementation Interagency Work Groups Sept. 2006 Update.

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The Council on Environmental Quality is seeking public comment on proposed guidance to address categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act. The guidance recommends procedures and approaches for establishing and revising categorical exclusions; involving the public; documenting development, revision, and use of categorical exclusions; and periodically reviewing categorical exclusions.The proposed guidance, issued on Sept. 19, 2006, is based on a CEQ report issued in 2003, Modernizing NEPA Implementation, which included more than 50 recommendations for federal agencies. For more information, link to the proposed guidance: Establishing, Revising, and Using Categorical Exclusions Under the National Environmental Policy Act.

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The Council on Environmental Quality is seeking public comment on a proposed guide to help federal agencies integrate environmental management systems (EMS) with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The proposed guide, issued on July 10, 2006, is based on a CEQ report issued in 2003, Modernizing NEPA Implementation, which included more than 50 recommendations for federal agencies. For more information, link to Proposed EMS-NEPA Guide: Aligning the Complementary Processes of Environmental Management Systems and the National Environmental Policy Act.

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A report documenting the implementation of the Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA Task Force recommendations was posted on the CEQ Web site March 27.  The report provides the status and future plans for workgroups established to carry out recommendations for modernizing implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. Work groups are focusing on the following topics: NEPA – Environmental Management Systems (EMS) guidance; adaptive management, environmental management systems and NEPA; aligning / harmonizing NEPA and other laws; categorical exclusions; environmental assessments; programmatic analyses; training; and development of a citizen guide for more information, link to Recommendations To Modernize NEPA Implementation Interagency Work Groups [DOC 176kb].

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Useful practices for implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act have been posted on the Council on Environmental Quality Web site.  The practices were selected as part of CEQ's NEPA Task Force effort to modernize implementation of the law. Practices are included in five categories: adaptive management and monitoring, governmental collaboration, environmental management systems, programmatic analysis and tiering, and technology. View the compendium.

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The White House Council on Environmental Quality held a 'kick-off' meeting on June 7, 2005, to proceed with implementation of recommendations for modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act. The Task Force will implement recommendations related to adaptive management and environmental management systems; aligning NEPA and other laws; use of categorical exclusions; improved interagency collaboration; conducting environmental assessments; conducting programmatic analyses; and effective training. Get more information on the CEQ NEPA Task Force and implementation efforts.

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A report issued in April by the White House Council on Environmental Quality documents progress in achieving President Bush's goal to acheive a net increase in wetlands nationwide. Access the report. [PDF 2.35mb].

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Federal transportation officials across the country will be required to re-evaluate existing agreements that provide for interagency concurrence on the purpose and need for transportation projects under a new interim guidance document. The FHWA/FTA Interim Guidance on Purpose and Need, issued Aug. 21 by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, is intended to implement a May 2003 directive from the Council on Environmental Quality. In that directive, CEQ stressed the role of the Department of Transportation as lead agency for transportation decisions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and asserted that environmental and other permitting agencies involved in transportation project reviews should give "substantial deference" to DOT decisions on projects' purpose and need statements. The latest guidance goes a step further, directing FHWA and FTA field offices to reconsider any agreements that call for concurrence of non-DOT agencies in determining project purpose and need for transportation projects.

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