THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release September 18, 2002

EXECUTIVE ORDER

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ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT REVIEWS

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws

of the United States of America, and to enhance environmental stewardship and

streamline the environmental review and development of transportation

infrastructure projects, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The development and implementation of transportation

infrastructure projects in an efficient and environmentally sound manner is

essential to the well-being of the American people and a strong American

economy. Executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall take appropriate

actions, to the extent consistent with applicable law and available resources,

to promote environmental stewardship in the Nation's transportation system and

expedite environmental reviews of high-priority transportation infrastructure

projects.

Sec. 2. Actions. (a) For transportation infrastructure projects,

agencies shall, in support of the Department of Transportation, formulate and

implement administrative, policy, and procedural mechanisms that enable each

agency required by law to conduct environmental reviews (reviews) with respect

to such projects to ensure completion of such reviews in a timely and

environmentally responsible manner.

(b) In furtherance of the policy set forth in section 1 of this order, the

Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with agencies as appropriate, shall

advance environmental stewardship through cooperative actions with project

sponsors to promote protection and enhancement of the natural and human

environment in the planning, development, operation, and maintenance of

transportation facilities and services.

(c) The Secretary of Transportation shall designate for the purposes of

this order a list of high-priority transportation infrastructure projects that

should receive expedited agency reviews and shall amend such list from time to

time as the Secretary deems appropriate. For projects on the Secretary's list,

agencies shall to the maximum extent practicable expedite their reviews for

relevant permits or other approvals, and take related actions as necessary,

consistent with available resources and applicable laws, including those

relating to safety, public health, and environmental protection.

Sec. 3. Interagency Task Force. (a) Establishment. There is established,

within the Department of Transportation for administrative purposes, the

interagency "Transportation Infrastructure Streamlining Task Force" (Task Force)

to: (i) monitor and assist agencies in their efforts to expedite a review of

transportation infrastructure projects and issue permits or similar actions, as

necessary; (ii) review

projects, at least quarterly, on the list of priority projects pursuant to

section 2(c) of this order; and (iii) identify and promote policies that can

effectively streamline the process

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(OVER)

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required to provide approvals for transportation infrastructure projects, in

compliance with applicable law, while maintaining safety, public health, and

environmental protection.

(b) Membership and Operation. The Task Force shall promote interagency

cooperation and the establishment of appropriate mechanisms to coordinate

Federal, State, tribal, and local agency consultation, review, approval, and

permitting of transportation infrastructure projects. The Task Force shall

consist exclusively of the following officers of the United States: the

Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Transportation

(who shall chair the Task Force), Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of

Defense, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Chairman

of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and Chairman of the Council on

Environmental Quality. A member of the Task Force may designate, to perform the

Task Force functions of the member, any person who is part of the member's

department, agency, or office and who is either an officer of the United States

appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate or a member

of the Senior Executive Service. The Task Force shall report to the President

through the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality.

Sec. 4. Report. At least once each year, the Task Force shall submit to

the President a report that: (a) Describes the results of the coordinated and

expedited reviews on a project-by-project basis, and identifies those procedures

and actions that proved to be most useful and appropriate in coordinating and

expediting the review of the projects.

(b) Identifies substantive and procedural requirements of Federal, State,

tribal, and local laws, regulations, and Executive Orders that are inconsistent

with, duplicative of, or are structured so as to restrict their efficient

implementation with other applicable requirements.

(c) Makes recommendations regarding those additional actions that could be

taken to: (i) address the coordination and expediting of reviews of

transportation infrastructure projects by simplifying and harmonizing applicable

substantive and procedural requirements; and (ii) elevate and resolve

controversies among Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies related to the

review or impacts of transportation infrastructure projects in a timely manner.

(d) Provides any other recommendations that would, in the judgement of the

Task Force, advance the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.

Sec. 5. Preservation of Authority. Nothing in this order shall be

construed to impair or otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the

Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, and

legislative proposals.

Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the

internal management of the Federal Government and is not intended to, and does

not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law

or equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies,

instrumentalities or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

September 18, 2002.

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