By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to take additional
steps to expedite the increased supply and availability of energy to
our Nation, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. The increased production and transmission
of energy in a safe and environmentally sound manner is essential to
the well being of the American people. In general, it is the policy
of this Administration that executive departments and agencies (agencies)
shall take appropriate actions, to the extent consistent with applicable
law, to expedite projects that will increase the production, transmission,
or conservation of energy.
Sec. 2. Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects.
For energy-related projects, agencies shall expedite their review of
permits or take other actions as necessary to accelerate the completion
of such projects, while maintaining safety, public health, and environmental
protections. The agencies shall take such actions to the extent permitted
by law and regulation, and where appropriate.
Sec. 3. Interagency Task Force. There is established
an interagency task force (Task Force) to monitor and assist the agencies
in their efforts to expedite their review of permits or similar actions,
as necessary, to accelerate the completion of energy-related projects,
increase energy production and conservation, and improve transmission
of energy. The Task Force also shall monitor and assist agencies in
setting up appropriate mechanisms to coordinate Federal, State, tribal,
and local permitting in geographic areas where increased permitting
activity is expected. The Task Force shall be composed of representatives
from the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Agriculture, Housing
and Urban Development, Justice, Commerce, Transportation, the Interior,
Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, Energy, Veterans Affairs,
the Environmental Protection Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, General
Services Administration, Office of Management and Budget, Council of
Economic Advisers, Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council,
and such other representatives as may be determined by the Chairman
of the Council on Environmental Quality. The Task Force shall be chaired
by the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality and housed at
the Department of Energy for administrative purposes.
Sec. 4. Judicial Review. Nothing in this order shall
affect any otherwise available judicial review of agency action. This
order is intended only to improve the internal management of the. Federal
Government and does not create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United
States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees,
or any other person.
/s/George W. Bush
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 18, 2001.