2019 US Code
Title 42 - The Public Health and Welfare
Chapter 55 - National Environmental Policy
Subchapter IV - Federal Permitting Improvement
Sec. 4370m-1 - Federal Permitting Improvement Council

Each individual listed in subparagraph (B) shall designate a member of the agency in which the individual serves to serve on the Council.

A councilmem-ber ¹ described in clause (i) shall hold a position in the agency of deputy secretary (or the equivalent) or higher.

(i) The Secretary of Agriculture.

(ii) The Secretary of the Army.

(iii) The Secretary of Commerce.

(iv) The Secretary of the Interior.

(v) The Secretary of Energy.

(vi) The Secretary of Transportation.

(vii) The Secretary of Defense.

(viii) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

(ix) The Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

(x) The Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(xi) The Secretary of Homeland Security.

(xii) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(xiii) The Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

(xiv) Any other head of a Federal agency that the Executive Director may invite to participate as a member of the Council.

(i) not later than 180 days after December 4, 2015, establish an inventory of covered projects that are pending the environmental review or authorization of the head of any Federal agency;

(ii)(I) categorize the projects in the inventory as appropriate, based on sector and project type; and

(II) for each category, identify the types of environmental reviews and authorizations most commonly involved; and

(iii) add a covered project to the inventory after receiving a notice described in section 4370m–2(a)(1) of this title.

(i) designate a facilitating agency for each category of covered projects described in subparagraph (A)(ii); and

(ii) publish the list of designated facilitating agencies for each category of projects in the inventory on the Dashboard in an easily accessible format.

Not later than 1 year after December 4, 2015, the Executive Director, in consultation with the Council, shall develop recommended performance schedules, including intermediate and final completion dates, for environmental reviews and authorizations most commonly required for each category of covered projects described in subparagraph (A)(ii).

Not later than 2 years after the date on which the performance schedules are established under this subparagraph, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Executive Director, in consultation with the Council, shall review and revise the performance schedules.

(i) to carry out responsibilities under this subchapter; and

(ii) to effectuate the adoption by agencies of the best practices and recommendations of the Council described in paragraph (2).

The Council shall make recommendations to the Executive Director with respect to the designations under paragraph (1)(B) and the performance schedules under paragraph (1)(C).

The Council may update the recommendations described in clause (i).

(i) enhancing early stakeholder engagement, including fully considering and, as appropriate, incorporating recommendations provided in public comments on any proposed covered project;

(ii) ensuring timely decisions regarding environmental reviews and authorizations, including through the development of performance metrics;

(iii) improving coordination between Federal and non-Federal governmental entities, including through the development of common data standards and terminology across agencies;

(iv) increasing transparency;

(v) reducing information collection requirements and other administrative burdens on agencies, project sponsors, and other interested parties;

(vi) developing and making available to applicants appropriate geographic information systems and other tools;

(vii) creating and distributing training materials useful to Federal, State, tribal, and local permitting officials; and

(viii) addressing other aspects of infrastructure permitting, as determined by the Council.