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NCPC's update of the Submission Guidelines and National Environmental Policy Act Regulations, two primary guidance documents for the Commission's review of plans and projects, will help to ensure that NCPC's review process is clear, accessible, and more efficient, leading to better planning outcomes for the Commission, applicants, staff, and the public.
The Administration, through several recent executive orders, placed a significant emphasis on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of agency work. NCPC staff proactively identified opportunities to streamline procedures and realign activities more appropriately managed at the local level, thereby improving the plan review process. Updates to the Guidelines and National Environmental Policy Act Regulations are proceeding concurrently to ensure that they are coordinated, to improve the applicant experience, and provide the Commission the information necessary to support its decision-making.
Submission Guidelines
Agencies subject to NCPC's plan and project review must submit development proposals to the Commission by following a process laid out in the Commission's Submission Guidelines. These Guidelines describe the content of submissions, the submission stages, and the coordination and review process. The proposed revisions will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Guidelines by creating clear, accessible, and efficient guidelines that respond to applicant needs; aligning NCPC's review stages and National Environmental Policy Act requirements with those of applicant agencies to save time and resources in the planning process; and allowing staff to exempt from Commission review certain projects based on specific criteria where there is no federal interest.
National Environmental Policy Act Regulations
These regulations set forth the rules that NCPC and applicants follow to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The update will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of NCPC's NEPA processes by clearly defining the roles of applicants; aligning the Commission's NEPA review schedule with federal agency applicant's internal project development schedules; and allowing the Commission to co-sign an applicant's decision-making document, rather than prepare another.
Events
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Commission Meeting
The Commission approved the staff recommendations to release the revised Submission Guidelines and NEPA Regulations for public comment.
Meeting Materials -
Submission Guidelines Released for Public Comment
The 45-day public comment period started. NCPC published public comment notices in the Federal Register as required by law.
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NEPA Regulations Released for Public Comment
The 45-day public comment period started. NCPC publishes public comment notices in the Federal Register as required by law.
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Public Meetings
NCPC hosted two meetings to describe the proposed revisions and to gather public comments on both the Submission Guidelines and NEPA Regulations.
June 13 Event June 15 Event Presentation Slides -
Submission Guidelines Public Comment Period Closes
The Public Comment Period is closed. The document below summarizes the comments and NCPC's responses.
View Comment Matrix -
NEPA Regulations Public Comment Period Closes
The Public Comment Period is closed. The document below summarizes the comments and NCPC's responses.
View Comment Matrix -
Commission Meeting
The Commission approved the revised Submission Guidelines and approved all but five sections of the NEPA Regulations. The Commission directed staff to make the necessary changes on the NEPA Regulations, gain approval from the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and authorized the Executive Director to approve the remaining sections.
Meeting Materials -
Notice of Final Rulemaking
NCPC published a Notice of Final Rule Making in the Federal Register.
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Revised Documents Take Effect
The revised Submission Guidelines and NEPA Regulations become effective 30 days from the Notice of Final Rule Making.
Questions?
