Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§15952 Federal-state Regulatory Coordination and Assistance

Title 42 › CHAPTER 149 — NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY AND PROGRAMS › SUBCHAPTER III — OIL AND GAS › Part D — Refinery Revitalization › § 15952

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a state's governor asks, the EPA Administrator can make a cooperative agreement with that state to speed up how federal and state environmental permits are handled for a new oil refinery. The agreement must say what each side will do and include timelines to move the process faster. Under such agreements, the EPA can take one combined application from a refiner for all EPA permits (if other laws allow it), make formal agreements with other federal agencies to coordinate reviews, and work with the state so federal and state permit reviews happen at the same time when possible. The EPA can also give money to states to hire expert staff and offer technical, legal, or other help to state reviewers.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §15952

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

At the request of the Governor of a State, the Administrator may enter into a refinery permitting cooperative agreement with the State, under which each party to the agreement identifies steps, including timelines, that it will take to streamline the consideration of Federal and State environmental permits for a new refinery.

(b)Authority under agreement

The Administrator shall be authorized to—

(1)accept from a refiner a consolidated application for all permits required from the Environmental Protection Agency, to the extent consistent with other applicable law;

(2)enter into memoranda of agreement with other Federal agencies to coordinate consideration of refinery applications and permits among Federal agencies; and

(3)enter into memoranda of agreement with a State, under which Federal and State review of refinery permit applications will be coordinated and concurrently considered, to the extent practicable.

(c)State assistance

The Administrator is authorized to provide financial assistance to State governments to facilitate the hiring of additional personnel with expertise in fields relevant to consideration of refinery permits.

(d)Other assistance

The Administrator is authorized to provide technical, legal, or other assistance to State governments to facilitate their review of applications to build new refineries.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 15952

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110