Initial List of Actions To Enhance and Modernize the Federal Environmental Review and Authorization Process, 43226-43227 [2017-19425]

Download as PDF 43226 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2017 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No.: PTO–C–2017–0030] Notice of Roundtable on Intellectual Property and Trade Shows United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public roundtable. AGENCY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will host a roundtable discussion at its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 18, 2017, on addressing intellectual property infringements at trade shows. DATES: The public roundtable will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public roundtable will be held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Global Intellectual Property Academy, Madison Building (East), Second Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. All major entrances to the building are accessible to people with disabilities. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the public meeting, please contact Peter N. Fowler or Kortney Hammonds at the Office of Policy and International Affairs, by telephone at (571) 272–9300, by email at peter.fowler@uspto.gov, or kortney.hammonds@uspto.gov, or by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop OPIA, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450, ATTN: Peter Fowler or Kortney Hammonds. Please direct all media inquiries to the Office of the Chief Communications Officer, USPTO, at (571) 272–8400. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Trade shows can provide opportunities for both the willful and unintentional infringement of intellectual property rights. The transient nature of these events presents challenges for intellectual property rights holders to address an infringement, discover the infringement, take action against it, or, in some cases, even determine against whom to assert their legal rights. The USPTO is hosting a public roundtable to discuss approaches, strategies, and effective practices for addressing the kinds of infringement that most often occur at trade fairs and shows, including the infringement of copyright, design, patent, and trademark. Topics to be explored will include: How U.S. Government agencies and the courts can be used effectively asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:41 Sep 13, 2017 Jkt 241001 when intellectual property rights are infringed at trade shows; legal measures and strategies available to rights holders before, during, and after a trade show; and recent and anticipated trends and challenges faced by rights holders and trade show operators. Speakers drawn from academia, civil and criminal litigation practice, rights holders and industry associations, and the U.S. Government will offer insights, observations, and experiences, on intellectual property infringements at trade shows. They will discuss how to deal with the challenges presented at trade shows, including legal strategies employed in removing allegedly infringing goods from a trade show venue. Instructions and Information on the Public Roundtable The public roundtable will be held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Global Intellectual Property Academy, Madison Building (East), Second Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, and will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. The event will also be webcast and offered via interactive viewing at USPTO satellite offices in Dallas, Denver, Detroit, and San Jose. The agenda will be available a week before the meeting on the USPTO Web site, https:// www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ ip-policy/enforcement/intellectualproperty-and-trade-shows. Registration will be available at the same URL. Attendees may also register at the door thirty (30) minutes prior to the beginning of the meeting, however seating will be limited to no more than 90 persons, and priority will be given to those who preregister. Attendees at all locations, as well as those online, will have an opportunity to submit questions to the speakers, which will be addressed, time permitting, during the question and answer period of each panel session. The public roundtable will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals requiring accommodation, such as sign language interpretation or other ancillary aids, should communicate their needs to Kortney Hammonds in the Office of Policy and International Affairs, by telephone at (571) 272–1500, by email at kortney.hammonds@uspto.gov, or by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop OPIA, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450, ATTN: Kortney Hammonds, at least seven (7) business days prior to the date of the public roundtable. PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: September 8, 2017. Joseph Matal, Performing the Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2017–19488 Filed 9–13–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Initial List of Actions To Enhance and Modernize the Federal Environmental Review and Authorization Process Council on Environmental Quality. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is publishing its initial list of actions pursuant to Executive Order 13807 of August 15, 2017, titled ‘‘Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects,’’ and published on August 24, 2017. ADDRESSES: This Initial List of Actions will be available at https:// www.whitehouse.gov/ceq and on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Web site at https://ceq.doe.gov/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council on Environmental Quality (Attn: Ted Boling, Associate Director for the National Environmental Policy Act), 730 Jackson Place NW., Washington, DC 20503. Telephone: (202) 395–5750. Email: NEPA@ceq.eop.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 15, 2017, the President signed Executive Order 13807 titled ‘‘Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects,’’ which was published on August 24, 2017. 82 FR 40463. The Executive Order directs the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to undertake a number of actions. In particular, Section 5(e)(i) of Executive Order 13807 provides that ‘‘[w]ithin 30 days of the date of this order, the CEQ shall develop an initial list of actions it will take to enhance and modernize the Federal environmental review and authorization process. Such actions should include issuing such regulations, guidance, and directives as CEQ may deem necessary to: SUMMARY: (A) Ensure optimal interagency coordination of environmental review and authorization decisions, including by providing for an expanded role and authorities for lead agencies, more clearly defined responsibilities for cooperating and E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM 14SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 177 / Thursday, September 14, 2017 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES participating agencies, and Government-wide applicability of NEPA decisions and analyses; (B) ensure that environmental reviews and authorization decisions involving multiple agencies are conducted in a manner that is concurrent, synchronized, timely, and efficient; (C) provide for agency use, to the maximum extent permitted by law, of environmental studies, analysis, and decisions conducted in support of earlier Federal, State, tribal, or local environmental reviews or authorization decisions; and (D) ensure that agencies apply NEPA in a manner that reduces unnecessary burdens and delays as much as possible, including by using CEQ’s authority to interpret NEPA to simplify and accelerate the NEPA review process.’’ Pursuant to Section 5(e)(i) of Executive Order 13807, CEQ identifies the following initial list of actions that it intends to undertake to enhance and modernize the Federal environmental review and authorization process: 1. To comply with Section 5(b)(iv) of Executive Order 13807, CEQ intends to develop with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and in consultation with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council), a framework providing for the implementation of One Federal Decision. This framework may be supplemented with additional guidance and directives as needed. 2. To comply with Section 5(d) of Executive Order 13807, CEQ will refer various requests for designation of State projects pursuant to Executive Order 13766 to the Permitting Council, Department of Transportation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as appropriate. CEQ will, as appropriate in response to any additional requests from States, refer projects that qualify for designation as high priority projects in accordance with Section 5(d) of Executive Order 13807. 3. To comply with Section 5(e)(i) of the Executive Order, CEQ intends to (a) revise, modify or supplement its existing guidance regarding: i. Establishing, Applying, and Revising Categorical Exclusions under NEPA, with supporting information regarding established Categorical Exclusions; ii. Preparing Environmental Assessments; iii. Improving the Process for Preparing Efficient and Timely Environmental Reviews under NEPA; iv. Appropriate Use of Mitigation and Monitoring and Appropriate Use of Mitigated Findings of No Significant Impact; and v. Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution; VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:41 Sep 13, 2017 Jkt 241001 (b) review existing CEQ Regulations implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA in order to identify changes needed to update and clarify those regulations; and (c) issue such additional guidance to agency heads as CEQ may deem necessary to simplify and accelerate the NEPA process for infrastructure projects, including infrastructurespecific guidance to be compiled in a NEPA practitioners’ handbook for infrastructure project proposals, to address issues including but not limited to the following: i. public involvement, including meetings and sufficiency of notice; ii. deference to the lead Federal agency with regard to key NEPA elements such as the development of the statement of purpose and need and range of alternatives; iii. appropriate cumulative impacts analysis methodologies or tools for infrastructure projects; iv. sources of information that may be relied upon in analyzing impacts; v. reliance on prior studies, analyses or decisions for projects within the same general locations; and vi. reliance on State, local and tribal environmental impacts analyses for purposes of NEPA. 4. To comply with Section 5(e)(iii), CEQ will convene an interagency Executive Order 13807 Working Group, consisting of agency Chief Environmental Review and Permit Officers, the OMB Director, and representatives of other such Federal agencies as CEQ shall deem appropriate. The working group shall review the NEPA implementing regulations and other environmental review and authorization procedures and policies of Federal agencies that are members of the Permitting Council to identify impediments to the efficient and effective processing of environmental reviews and authorizations for infrastructure projects and to identify agencies that require an action plan to address the identified impediments. Based on this review, involved Federal agencies shall develop their action plans setting forth the actions they will take as well as timelines for completing those actions, and submit their action plans to CEQ and OMB for comment. Each agency’s action plan shall, at a minimum, establish procedures for a regular review and update of categorical exclusions, where appropriate. CEQ anticipates that the working group will address a number of issues relating to environmental reviews, including but not limited to consultations pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, compliance with Section 106 of the PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43227 National Historic Preservation Act, and permitting and certifications pursuant to the Clean Water Act. (Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4332, 4342, 4344; 40 CFR Parts 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1505, 1506, 1507, and 1508; E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463.) Issued in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2017. Mary B. Neumayr, Chief of Staff. [FR Doc. 2017–19425 Filed 9–13–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3225–F5–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary [Docket ID: DOD–2015–OS–0080] Proposed Collection; Comment Request Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, DoD. ACTION: 60-Day information collection notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by November 13, 2017. SUMMARY: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Chief Management Officer, Directorate for Oversight and Compliance, Regulatory and Advisory Committee Division, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09B, Alexandria, VA 22350–1700. ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM 14SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 177 (Thursday, September 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43226-43227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19425]


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COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY


Initial List of Actions To Enhance and Modernize the Federal 
Environmental Review and Authorization Process

AGENCY: Council on Environmental Quality.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is publishing its 
initial list of actions pursuant to Executive Order 13807 of August 15, 
2017, titled ``Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the 
Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure 
Projects,'' and published on August 24, 2017.

ADDRESSES: This Initial List of Actions will be available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq and on the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) Web site at https://ceq.doe.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council on Environmental Quality 
(Attn: Ted Boling, Associate Director for the National Environmental 
Policy Act), 730 Jackson Place NW., Washington, DC 20503. Telephone: 
(202) 395-5750. Email: NEPA@ceq.eop.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 15, 2017, the President signed 
Executive Order 13807 titled ``Establishing Discipline and 
Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for 
Infrastructure Projects,'' which was published on August 24, 2017. 82 
FR 40463. The Executive Order directs the Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) to undertake a number of actions. In particular, Section 
5(e)(i) of Executive Order 13807 provides that ``[w]ithin 30 days of 
the date of this order, the CEQ shall develop an initial list of 
actions it will take to enhance and modernize the Federal environmental 
review and authorization process. Such actions should include issuing 
such regulations, guidance, and directives as CEQ may deem necessary 
to:

    (A) Ensure optimal interagency coordination of environmental 
review and authorization decisions, including by providing for an 
expanded role and authorities for lead agencies, more clearly 
defined responsibilities for cooperating and

[[Page 43227]]

participating agencies, and Government-wide applicability of NEPA 
decisions and analyses;
    (B) ensure that environmental reviews and authorization 
decisions involving multiple agencies are conducted in a manner that 
is concurrent, synchronized, timely, and efficient;
    (C) provide for agency use, to the maximum extent permitted by 
law, of environmental studies, analysis, and decisions conducted in 
support of earlier Federal, State, tribal, or local environmental 
reviews or authorization decisions; and
    (D) ensure that agencies apply NEPA in a manner that reduces 
unnecessary burdens and delays as much as possible, including by 
using CEQ's authority to interpret NEPA to simplify and accelerate 
the NEPA review process.''

Pursuant to Section 5(e)(i) of Executive Order 13807, CEQ identifies 
the following initial list of actions that it intends to undertake to 
enhance and modernize the Federal environmental review and 
authorization process:

    1. To comply with Section 5(b)(iv) of Executive Order 13807, CEQ 
intends to develop with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and 
in consultation with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering 
Council (Permitting Council), a framework providing for the 
implementation of One Federal Decision. This framework may be 
supplemented with additional guidance and directives as needed.
    2. To comply with Section 5(d) of Executive Order 13807, CEQ will 
refer various requests for designation of State projects pursuant to 
Executive Order 13766 to the Permitting Council, Department of 
Transportation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as appropriate. CEQ 
will, as appropriate in response to any additional requests from 
States, refer projects that qualify for designation as high priority 
projects in accordance with Section 5(d) of Executive Order 13807.
    3. To comply with Section 5(e)(i) of the Executive Order, CEQ 
intends to
    (a) revise, modify or supplement its existing guidance regarding:
    i. Establishing, Applying, and Revising Categorical Exclusions 
under NEPA, with supporting information regarding established 
Categorical Exclusions;
    ii. Preparing Environmental Assessments;
    iii. Improving the Process for Preparing Efficient and Timely 
Environmental Reviews under NEPA;
    iv. Appropriate Use of Mitigation and Monitoring and Appropriate 
Use of Mitigated Findings of No Significant Impact; and
    v. Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution;
    (b) review existing CEQ Regulations implementing the procedural 
provisions of NEPA in order to identify changes needed to update and 
clarify those regulations; and
    (c) issue such additional guidance to agency heads as CEQ may deem 
necessary to simplify and accelerate the NEPA process for 
infrastructure projects, including infrastructure-specific guidance to 
be compiled in a NEPA practitioners' handbook for infrastructure 
project proposals, to address issues including but not limited to the 
following:
    i. public involvement, including meetings and sufficiency of 
notice;
    ii. deference to the lead Federal agency with regard to key NEPA 
elements such as the development of the statement of purpose and need 
and range of alternatives;
    iii. appropriate cumulative impacts analysis methodologies or tools 
for infrastructure projects;
    iv. sources of information that may be relied upon in analyzing 
impacts;
    v. reliance on prior studies, analyses or decisions for projects 
within the same general locations; and
    vi. reliance on State, local and tribal environmental impacts 
analyses for purposes of NEPA.
    4. To comply with Section 5(e)(iii), CEQ will convene an 
interagency Executive Order 13807 Working Group, consisting of agency 
Chief Environmental Review and Permit Officers, the OMB Director, and 
representatives of other such Federal agencies as CEQ shall deem 
appropriate. The working group shall review the NEPA implementing 
regulations and other environmental review and authorization procedures 
and policies of Federal agencies that are members of the Permitting 
Council to identify impediments to the efficient and effective 
processing of environmental reviews and authorizations for 
infrastructure projects and to identify agencies that require an action 
plan to address the identified impediments. Based on this review, 
involved Federal agencies shall develop their action plans setting 
forth the actions they will take as well as timelines for completing 
those actions, and submit their action plans to CEQ and OMB for 
comment. Each agency's action plan shall, at a minimum, establish 
procedures for a regular review and update of categorical exclusions, 
where appropriate. CEQ anticipates that the working group will address 
a number of issues relating to environmental reviews, including but not 
limited to consultations pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act, compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, and permitting and certifications pursuant to the 
Clean Water Act.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4332, 4342, 4344; 40 CFR Parts 1500, 1501, 
1502, 1503, 1505, 1506, 1507, and 1508; E.O. 13807, 82 FR 40463.)

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2017.
Mary B. Neumayr,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2017-19425 Filed 9-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3225-F5-P
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