§ 1500.5 - Efficient process.

§ 1500.5 Reducing delayEfficient process.

Agencies shall reduce delay improve efficiency of their NEPA processes by:

(a) Using Establishing categorical exclusions to define categories of actions that normally do not have a significant effect on the human environment (§ §§ 1501.4 and 1507.3(c)(8) of this chaptersubchapter) and therefore do not require preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

(b) Using a finding of no significant impact when an action not otherwise excluded will not have a significant effect on the human environment (§ 1501.6 of this chaptersubchapter) and therefore does not require preparation of an environmental impact statement.

(c) Integrating the NEPA process into early planning (§ 1501.2 of this chaptersubchapter).

(d) Engaging in interagency cooperation, including with affected Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, before or as during the preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is prepared, rather than awaiting submission of waiting to request or submit comments on a completed document (§§ 1501.7 and 1501.8 of this chaptersubchapter).

(e) Ensuring the swift and fair resolution of lead agency disputes (§ 1501.7 of this chaptersubchapter).

(f) Using the scoping process for an early identification of what are and what are not the real issues (§ 1501.9 of this chapterthe important issues that require detailed analysis (§ 1502.4 of this subchapter).

(g) Meeting appropriate time limits deadlines for the environmental assessment and environmental impact statement processes (§ 1501.10 of this chaptersubchapter).

(h) Preparing environmental impact statements documents early in the process (§ §§ 1502.5 and 1501.5(d) of this chaptersubchapter).

(i) Integrating NEPA requirements with other environmental review and consultation requirements (§ 1502.24 of this chaptersubchapter).

(j) Eliminating duplication with State, Tribal, and local procedures by providing for joint preparation of environmental documents where practicable (§ 1506.2 of this chaptersubchapter) and with other Federal procedures by providing that agencies may jointly prepare or adopt appropriate environmental documents prepared by another agency (§ 1506.3 of this chaptersubchapter).

(k) Combining environmental documents with other documents (§ 1506.4 of this chaptersubchapter).

(l) Using accelerated procedures for proposals for legislation (§ 1506.8 of this chaptersubchapter).