Department of the Interior March 18, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

These proposed changes to procedures modify the Departmental Manual at 516 DM 2.5, Cooperating Agencies (40 CFR 1501.6). These proposed procedures clarify the responsibility of managers to offer this status to qualified agencies and governments, and to respond to requests for this status. These proposed procedures also make clear the role of cooperating agencies in the implementation of the Department's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance process. When adopted, these procedures will be published and added to the Electronic Library of Interior Policies (ELIPS). ELIPS is located at: https://elips.doi.gov/. The proposed changes to the procedures are necessary to emphasize the importance of working with Federal and State agencies and Tribal and local governments through cooperating agency relationships in preparing environmental impact statements under NEPA.