What: Between June 30 and July 3, 2025, multiple federal agencies proposed updates to their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations.
In February 2025, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), in compliance with President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” rescinded its NEPA regulations, which applied to all federal agencies. Additionally, the CEQ issued guidance directing federal agencies to update their own NEPA regulations within one year.
NEPA establishes the process by which federal agencies evaluate the environmental impacts of their actions. These agency updates provide a chance for members of the regulated community who work on or benefit from projects undergoing NEPA reviews to provide input on how the process can be improved.
The following agencies recently published notices in the Federal Register updating their NEPA regulations:
- Army Corps of Engineers (separate notice for removal of old NEPA regulations)
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of the Air Force
- Department of the Army
- Economic Development Administration
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of the Interior
- Department of the Navy
- Department of Transportation
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Federal Highway Administration
- Federal Railroad Administration
- Federal Transit Administration
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
With the exception of the Department of Transportation, all of the agency NEPA updates take effect immediately. Many of the agencies are also taking comments for 30 days.
Action: Review the aforementioned individual agency NEPA update notices listed and provide comments.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 14154:
CEQ GUIDANCE:
Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (PDF)
CONTACT:
Nick Goldstein
EMAIL:
TOPIC(S):
Is your small business or entity being impacted by a proposed rule? If yes, write a comment letter to the proposing agency.