U.S. DOT proposes updates to NEPA implementing procedures

On December 20, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a proposed order, DOT Order 5610.1D, that would update the department’s procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). USDOT has not updated its current procedures since 1985.

Under the proposed order, USDOT would incorporate various procedures, rules, and approaches for implementing and streamlining NEPA that came out of federal transportation authorization legislation, including most recently the FAST Act. A cursory look of the proposed order suggests that the order does not propose any major changes, but rather formalizes current practices.

T4America encourages members to review the proposed order here. The comment period closes on January 10, 2017. A few state transportation agencies have filed requests to extend the comment period.