Council on Environmental Quality 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is issuing its final guidance on considering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. Many projects and programs proposed by, or requiring the approval of, Federal agencies have the potential to emit or sequester GHGs and may be affected by climate change. It follows that, under NEPA, Federal decision-makers and the public should be informed about a proposal's GHG emissions and climate change implications. Such information can help a decision-maker make an informed choice between alternative actions that will result in different levels of GHG emissions or consider mitigation measures that reduce climate change impacts. This final guidance applies to all types of proposed Federal agency actions, including land and resource management actions, and provides agencies with a framework for agency consideration of the effects of GHGs and climate change to ensure efficient and transparent agency decision- making.

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has issued updated guidance to Federal agencies outlining the key principles and primary requirements for the design, construction, modernization, and operation of new and existing sustainable Federal buildings, as required under Executive Order 13693 (``E.O. 13693''), ``Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade,'' signed by President Obama on March 19, 2015, 80 FR 15871, March 25, 2015. Section 4(f) of E.O. 13693 calls for ``revised Guiding Principles for both new and existing Federal buildings . . .'' to support Federal efforts to improve the environmental performance, climate resilience, and occupant health and wellness as well as increase the operating efficiency of Federal buildings.