{"abstract":"The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issues this final rule to update its regulations for Federal agencies to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). CEQ has not comprehensively updated its regulations since their promulgation in 1978, more than four decades ago. This final rule comprehensively updates, modernizes, and clarifies the regulations to facilitate more efficient, effective, and timely NEPA reviews by Federal agencies in connection with proposals for agency action. The rule will improve interagency coordination in the environmental review process, promote earlier public involvement, increase transparency, and enhance the participation of States, Tribes, and localities. The amendments will advance the original goals of the CEQ regulations to reduce paperwork and delays, and promote better decisions consistent with the national environmental policy set forth in section 101 of NEPA.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY","name":"Council on Environmental Quality","id":92,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/council-on-environmental-quality","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/92","parent_id":538,"slug":"council-on-environmental-quality"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2020/07/16/2020-15179.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1500","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1501","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1502","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1503","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1504","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1505","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1506","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1507","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1508","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1515","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1516","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1517","title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"1518","title":40}],"citation":"85 FR 43304","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This is a major rule subject to congressional review. The effective date is September 14, 2020. However, if congressional review has changed the effective date, CEQ will publish a document in the Federal Register to establish the actual effective date or to terminate the rule.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["CEQ-2019-0003"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2020-15179","effective_on":"2020-09-14","end_page":43376,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2020/07/16/2020-15179.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/16/2020-15179/update-to-the-regulations-implementing-the-procedural-provisions-of-the-national-environmental","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2020-15179?publication_date=2020-07-16","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2020-07-16/2020-15179/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":73,"page_views":{"count":45215,"last_updated":"2026-07-27 02:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-07-16/pdf/2020-15179.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-15179.pdf?1594844114","publication_date":"2020-07-16","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2020/07/16/2020-15179.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0331-AA03":{"issue":"202004","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0331-AA03/update-to-the-regulations-for-implementing-the-procedural-provisions-of-the-national-environmental-p","title":"Update to the Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202004&RIN=0331-AA03&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0331-AA03"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Final Rule Redline of 1978 CEQ Regulations","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720631"},{"title":"Proposed and Final Rule Redlines of 1978 CEQ Regulations","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720630"},{"title":"CEQ NEPA Regulations-RIA_Final","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720628"},{"title":"Revised EA FONSI 1986_40 CFR 1502.22","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720627"},{"title":"Special EA 1978 NEPA Regulations","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720626"},{"title":"20200207-NPRM-Overview-PowerPoint","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720625"},{"title":"San Bernardino_Final","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720623"},{"title":"NEJAC_Final","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720622"},{"title":"WGA_Final","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720620"},{"title":"ANCSA_Final","document_id":"CEQ-2019-0003-720618"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0331-AA03/update-to-the-regulations-for-implementing-the-procedural-provisions-of-the-national-environmental-p","title":"Update to the Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=CEQ-2019-0003","supporting_documents_count":33,"docket_id":"CEQ-2019-0003","regulation_id_number":"0331-AA03","title":"Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2020-07-19T08:30:07Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":43304,"subtype":null,"title":"Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act","toc_doc":"Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Accounting","Administrative practice and procedure","Environmental impact statements","Environmental protection","Freedom of information","Natural resources","Privacy","Sunshine Act"],"type":"Rule","volume":85}