Using an Interactive Public Docket to Transmit Views to CEQ on a 24/7 Basis on its Initiative to Amend the NEPA Guidelines

 Editors  Note:  The paragraphs  below describe CRE’s program to utilize an Interactive Public Docket to keep CEQ apprised of pertinent events affecting its review of  NEPA guidelines.  Issues presented by select organizations are presented below and the  public is encouraged to offer their comments by clicking  on the  “comments” link in the upper  left hand corner of this post or the comparable link in the Discussion Forum which contains the article.

  CRE              CRE Announces  24/7  IPD Review of CEQ NEPA Recommendations

 NRDC            Seismic  Exploration

  CRE              Adverse Impact of CEQ’s  Regulations on the Fishing Industry

  Anadarko      CEQ’s Rush to Review MMS Compliance with NEPA    

  CEQ              CEQ Issues Report on MMS  NEPA Compliance

  NMFS          NMFS  Issues  Another  IHA for   Alaskan  Seismic   

 NRDC             Seismic Exploration 2

CRE Interactive Public Docket (IPD) on Marine Spatial Planning

 CEQ, as a result of the 40^th anniversary of NEPA, has undertaken a plan to “reinvigorate” NEPA. To this end NEPA has issued four draft documents for public comment.

 Recently, CEQ has expanded its NEPA evaluation to include a review of the MMS OCS program. The ongoing CEQ review might well be the most significant review of the statute since its passage.

Since the NEPA guidelines are binding upon all federal agencies, the CEQ review affords the public and the regulated community the opportunity to recommend generic improvements in the EIS process.

 Fortunately CRE has developed the concept of an Interactive Public Docket (IPD),  the purpose of which  is,  among other things,  to allow the public to participate in agency regulatory reviews after the close of the public comment period.  To this end, CRE has developed an IPD  for Ocean Zoning. and will be using the IPD to present its the views of the public to CEQ  on this important matter. The public is invited to participate by expressing its views on topics discussed on the IPD.

The CRE IPD has been reviewed on National Public Radio.

 In that the NEPA guidelines issued by CEQ are legally binding on every federal agency, unless exempted by statute, the forthcoming guidance trumps all other guidance—NEPA Sovereignty.

 Database

 CEQ issued a Federal Register notice “ 30-Day Review of MMS Compliance with NEPA” in which it asked for public comments.  A number of influential groups responded to the Federal Register notice. CRE will also draw from comments sent to CEQ on its review of NEPA.

CRE will be analyzing the comments submitted to CEQ and posting them on the Ocean Zoning IPD.  The public is encouraged to comment on the CRE analyses. CRE wlll also be analyzing comments submitted to CEQ to amend the existing NEPA guidelines.

 Data [Information] Quality Act

 All guidance issued by CEQ must comply with the Data Quality Act. In addition all data developed by federal agencies pursuant to CEQ guidance must met DQA standards, CEQ is on top of this requirement; when CEQ issued its final recommendations on marine spatial planning, it stated:

 “CMSP information that is collected, produced, or disseminated by Federal agencies, including information obtained from non-Federal sources, would meet government-wide information quality standards, and any other additional minimum standards adopted by the NOC.”

 Fortunately two of the Federal agencies who will have a strong presence in marine spatial planning also have well established DQA compliance programs, NOAA  and EPA

 CEQ Review of Public Comments on “ 30-Day Review of MMS Compliance with NEPA”

 Presently CEQ is reviewing the comments it received in response to its request for comments on its 30 day review of MMS compliance with NEPA. Presently the comment period is closed. However it might take months, if not years, for CEQ to address all the comments received during the public comment period.

While CEQ is performing its analysis new information is being developed by a number of affected parties. Why should this data be excluded from the CEQ review? At the same time CEQ must continue its review free from constant meetings with the public.

 In a wired society, participants in the rulemaking process should have the capability to communicate with regulators on a 24/7 basis. It was for these reasons CRE developed and implemented the concept of an Interactive Public Docket (IPD) .

 CRE will be presenting its views on comments submitted to CEQ on the Ocean Zoning IPD . To this end we will identify influential comments in the CEQ docket and offer informed analysis on them.

 Natural Resource Defense Council

Although we differ with NRDC on some of the conclusions it has  reached, the organization did an excellent  job in identifying and addressing the key issues. In our opinion, the NRDC submission was the most encyclopedic of submissions; consequently in the ensuing month we will be addressing a number of the issues it has identified.

Since  NRDC offered very extensive comments; CRE’s  initial analysis on the IPD will begin with an analysis of the NRDC comments.  The IPD is equipped with a user friendly capability which allows members of the public to comment on NRD and CRE comments. 

CRE will be posting herein a number of articles dealing with issues raised by the NRDC submission to CEQ and encourages the  public to express their views by clicking on the “comments”  link in the upper left hand corner of  this post or in the alternative, in the “comments” link on the Discussion Forum which contains the CRE comments.