EO 13274 Title 3--The President Executive Order 13274 of September 18, 2002 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 transpor- tation infrastructure proiects, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. The development and implementation of transportation infrastructure proiects 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 appro- priate actions, to the extent consistent with applicable law and available resources, to promote environmental stewardship in the Nation's transpor- tation system and expedite environmental reviews of high-priority trans- portation infrastructure proiects. Sec. 2. Actions. (a) For transportation infrastructure proiects, 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 proiects to ensure completion of such reviews in a timely and envi- ronmentally 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 proiect sponsors to promote protection and enhancement of the natural and human environment in the planning, development, operation, and mainte- nance 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 proiects that should receive expedited agency reviews and shall amend such list from time to time as the Secretary deems appropriate. For proiects on the Sec- retary's list, agencies shall to the maximum extent practicable expedite their reviews for relevant permits or other approvals, and take related ac- tions as necessary, consistent with available resources and applicable laws, including those relating to safety, public health, and environmental protec- tion. 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 re- view of transportation infrastructure proiects and issue permits or similar actions, as necessary; (ii) review proiects, at least quarterly, on the list of priority proiects pursuant to section 2(c) of this order; and (iii) identify and promote policies that can effectively streamline the process required to pro- vide approvals for transportation infrastructure proiects, in compliance with applicable law, while maintaining safety, public health, and environ- mental protection. (b) Membership and Operation. The Task Force shall promote inter- agency cooperation and the establishment of appropriate mechanisms to 250
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