The purposes of this part include:
(a) Integrating the NEPA process into agency planning at an early stage to facilitate appropriate consideration of NEPA's policies, promote an efficient process, and reduce delay;
(b) Providing for early engagement in the environmental review process with other agencies, State, Tribal, and local governments, and affected or interested persons, entities, and communities before a decision is made;
(c) Providing for the swift and fair resolution of interagency disputes;
(d) Identifying at an early stage the important environmental issues deserving of study, and deemphasizing unimportant issues, narrowing the scope of the environmental review and enhancing efficiency accordingly; and
(e) Promoting accountability by establishing appropriate deadlines and requiring schedules.
authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347;
42 U.S.C. 4371-4375;
42 U.S.C. 7609; and E.O. 11514, 35 FR 4247, 3 CFR, 1966-1970, Comp., p. 902, as amended by E.O. 11991, 42 FR 26967, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 123
source: 85 FR 43359, July 16, 2020, as amended at 89 FR 35554, May 1, 2024, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 1501.1