Energy Task Force

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Energy Task Force

AGENCY: Council of Environmental Quality.

ACTION: Notice extending comment period.

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SUMMARY: By Federal Register notice, CEQ has invited interested parties

to (1) provide basic information about major pending projects or major

projects under development that may be relevant to Task Force efforts

to streamline energy permitting decisions and (2) comment on the

proposed nature and scope of Task Force activities and provide specific

suggestions and examples of permitting or other decision making

processes which should be improved or streamlined. 66 Fed. Reg. 43586-

43587 (August 20, 2001). Interested parties have requested that CEQ

extend the time to file comments. The deadline for comments was October

1, 2001. By this notice, CEQ is extending the time period for public

comment to October 31, 2001. Although the time for comments has been

extended, CEQ requests that interested parties provide information

about major pending projects or major projects under development as

soon as possible. In addition, following the comment period, the Task

Force will engage in an ongoing dialog with the public regarding

permitting or other decision making processes which should be improved

or streamlined.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before October 31,

2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct electronic written comments to Chair, Council on

Environmental Quality, through the CEQ Web site at www.whitehouse.gov/

ceq. Written comments may also be submitted to the Chair, Council on

Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President, 17th and G

Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20503. Attention: Task Force. Written

comments may also be faxed to the Task Force at (202) 456-6546.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies the ``National

Energy Policy Report of the National Energy Policy Development Group''

may be directed to CEQ at the above address. The report is available on

the White House Web site (http://www.whitehouse.gov/eneergy/National-

Energy-Policy.pdf) and on the Department of Energy Web site http://

www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases01/maypr/energy_policy.htm). Copies of

the report (ISBN 0-16-050814-2) can also be purchased from the

Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, by

calling (202) 512-1800 or mailing your request to U.S. GPO, Mail Stop

SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 18, 2001, the President signed

Executive Order 13212 recognizing the importance of environmentally

sound production and transmission of energy to all American people. The

Order established a federal interagency task force (``Task Force''),

chaired by the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality

(``CEQ''), to work with and monitor federal agencies'' efforts to

expedite their review of permits or take other actions as necessary to

accelerate the completion of energy-related projects, while maintaining

safety, public health, and environmental protections. That task force

is also charged with helping agencies create mechanisms to coordinate

Federal, State, tribal and local permitting in geographic areas where

increased permitting activity is expected.

In order to further the work of this task force, CEQ believes that

it would be beneficial to have public input on federal agency

activities to implement Executive Order 13212. Such input may include

recommendations for improving agency activities, consistent with the

purposes and policies of the National Environmental Policy Act, 42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq., (1) to accelerate the completion of energy-related

projects; (2) to increase energy production and

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conservation; (3) to improve transmission of energy; and (4) to

coordinate permitting in geographic areas where increased permitting

activity is expected.

Public comments are requested by October 31, 2001.

Dated: September 26, 2001.

James L. Connaughton,

Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality.

[FR Doc. 01-24696 Filed 10-2-01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3125-01-P