§2233 Coordination and Scheduling of Federal, State, and Local Actions

Summary

When a non-Federal group sends a written notice saying it plans to build a harbor or inland harbor navigation project, the Secretary must start steps to make a single schedule that lines up federal, state, and local environmental reviews, permit decisions, and project reviews before construction starts. The non-Federal group must send studies and environmental paperwork needed for decisions. A State does not have to take part. Within 15 days of getting the notice, the Secretary must publish it in the Federal Register and tell all state and local agencies that might need to issue permits. Those agencies are asked to join a formal agreement and must tell the Secretary within 30 days of the notice if they will. Within 90 days of getting the notice, the Secretary, together with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, the EPA Administrator, and any joining state or local agencies, must make a schedule for all approvals and permits. That schedule cannot be longer than two and one-half years from the agreement date. The agreement should combine hearings and comment periods, streamline data collection and reviews, and say what information the non-Federal group must provide and when. It must set a date for a written preliminary judgment on whether federal permits are likely to be approved. The Secretary can extend the schedule one time for the minimum extra time needed to fix application problems. Six months before the schedule ends, the Secretary must send a progress report to specified House and Senate committees. On the final day, the Secretary must give the non-Federal group the final decision and say if permits are issued. Not later than one year after November 17, 1986, the Secretary must send Congress a report estimating permit times and suggesting ways to shorten them, including proposed law changes.