Reminder of Proposed DOI NEPA Regulations

The following is excerpted from the DOI FR notice of January 2, 2008 (FR 73:1:126) Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 - Comments due 3 March 2008. See notice at: http://www.nepa.gov/nepa/DOI_Proposed_Reg_Jan_2_2008.pdf

The Department of the Interior has issued new regulations to codify its NEPA procedures currently in the Departmental Manual (DM). This proposed regulation contains Departmental policies and procedures for compliance with NEPA, Executive Order (E.O.) 11514, E.O. 13352 and the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations. This proposed regulation provides further guidance on NEPA by [providing] greater public and stakeholders’ participation in the NEPA process, collaborative NEPA planning, conflict avoidance, and use of adaptive management. Finally, this proposal will allow for better integration of NEPA procedures and documentation into current Departmental decision-making processes, including collaborative and incremental decision-making.