It sounds irrelevant to river running, however the public comment provisions under NEPA are central to AW’s ability to advocate for you. NEPA provides a forum for public discourse and review of federal decisions affecting the environment. Our ability to influence river management by the Army Corps, Forest Service, Park Service, Federal Energy Regulatory Authority and other agencies comes directly from NEPA.
Please submit written comments before AUGUST 23 to the NEPA Task Force through the NEPA Task Force link on the CEQ web site at www.whitehouse.gov/ceq.
Summary
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has formed a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) task force (Task Force) composed of representatives from a variety of Federal agencies. They have been given only six months to review how NEPA is functioning. The Task Force has characterized the work they are doing as discovering “best practices” and attempting to improve and regularize agencies’ approach to NEPA.
One concern American Whitewater has is whether the task force will recommend rewriting the NEPA regulations. Environmental groups are trying to put together stories of how NEPA processes have worked to benefit the public, society, and industry.
The purpose of the NEPA Task Force is to seek ways to improve and modernize NEPA analyses and documentation and to foster improved coordination among all levels of government and the public.
Federal agencies’ planning and decision-making processes (analyses conducted and documents produced) using NEPA can obtain higher levels of efficiency, clarity and ease of management through the improved use of existing authorities; better information management; improved interagency and intergovernmental collaboration; and the use of new technologies.
More information about the Task Force can be found at ceq.eh.doe.gov/ntf/. The Task Force’s July 9th Federal Register notice, announcing a 45-day public comment period ending August 23, can also be found on-line at ceq.eh.doe.gov/ntf/20020709fr.html).
CEQ invites comments (at ceq.eh.doe.gov/ntf/20020709fr.html) on the proposed nature and scope of NEPA Task Force activities identified in this notice and solicits examples of effective NEPA implementation practices to develop a publication of case studies including examples of best practices.