The National Environmental Policy Act and Collaboration, 62854 [E7-21881]

Agencies

• COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 62854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21881]


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COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY


The National Environmental Policy Act and Collaboration

AGENCY: Council On Environmental Quality.

ACTION: Notice of Availability, Collaboration in NEPA--A Handbook for 
NEPA Practitioners.

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SUMMARY: The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has published 
``Collaboration in NEPA--A Handbook for NEPA Practitioners.'' Designed 
to assist Federal agencies in more effective use of collaboration 
throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, the 
handbook is a product of an interagency work group. Public comments 
were solicited and the handbook was finalized after considering the 
comments received. ``Collaboration in NEPA'' is available from CEQ and 
can be accessed at https://www.NEPA.gov under the heading ``Current 
Developments.''

ADDRESSES: Electronic or facsimile requests are preferred because 
Federal agencies often experience mail delays as a result of security 
screening. Requests can be submitted via electronic mail to 
hgreczmiel@ceq.eop.gov with the subject line ``NEPA Modernization 
(Collaboration-NEPA).'' Fax requests to ``NEPA Modernization 
(Collaboration-NEPA)'' at (202) 456-0753. Requests can also be mailed 
to NEPA Modernization (Collaboration-NEPA), Attn: Associate Director 
for NEPA Oversight, 722 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Horst Greczmiel at (202) 395-5750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
established a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Task Force and 
is implementing recommendations to modernize the implementation of NEPA 
and make the NEPA process more effective and efficient. More 
information about the task force is posted on the task force Web site 
at https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/ntf. CEQ requested public comments on the 
proposed handbook on March 26, 2007, 72 FR 14103. Comments received are 
posted at https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/ntf/implementation.html.
    The handbook suggests ways in which Federal agencies can use 
collaboration and environmental conflict resolution strategies when 
preparing NEPA analyses and documentation. Collaboration is encouraged 
during the NEPA process as a whole and toward that end the handbook 
emphasizes engaging a balanced set of affected and interested parties 
in seeking agreement at one or more stages of the NEPA process by 
cultivating shared vision, trust, and communication. Acknowledging that 
collaboration during the NEPA process can vary considerably depending 
on the phase of the process and the roles by the lead agency assigns to 
each party, the handbook notes that providing opportunities for 
participation on the part of stakeholders, supplemented with outreach 
efforts, may be appropriate.
    The phases for collaboration outlined in the handbook begin with 
the assessment and planning phase, often referred to as ``conflict'' or 
``situation'' assessments, when agencies clarify the issues and assess 
the opportunity for collaboration. This is followed by the convening 
and initiation phase when the lead agency brings parties together to 
inform them about the process and to develop a plan for how they can 
work together. Sharing interests, exchanging information, and 
identifying gaps in knowledge is then followed by the phase where 
participants seek agreement through deliberation and negotiation. That 
is often considered the heart of the collaborative process. The fifth 
and final phase is the decision-making and implementation phase.
    ``Collaboration in NEPA'' links those phases for collaboration to 
the stages of the NEPA process, including developing the proposed 
action, establishing the purpose and need, conducting scoping, 
developing alternatives, and analyzing impacts. The handbook concludes 
with a discussion of the challenges facing collaboration and providing 
tools for practitioners such as strategies for preventing conflicts, 
attitudes and behaviors to enhance collaboration, case studies, a 
compendium of resources, and examples of memoranda of agreement.
    In response to comments on the draft handbook the final handbook 
was improved in several ways. The discussion of collaboration at the 
various stages of the NEPA process was consolidated and the guide that 
provides examples and identifies options and tools for collaboration 
was augmented. Appendices were reorganized, references and case studies 
updated, roles of the lead agencies and applicants clarified, and the 
compendium of resources expanded.

    November 1, 2007.
James L. Connaughton,
Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality.
 [FR Doc. E7-21881 Filed 11-6-07; 8:45 am]
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