Amending Executive Order 13212, Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects

This executive order amends EO 13212 to expand its scope beyond energy production to include pipeline safety projects. It establishes an interagency task force within the Department of Energy to monitor and expedite permitting for energy-related and pipeline safety projects, coordinate federal-state-tribal-local permitting, and perform functions under section 60133 of title 49 regarding pipeline repair.

Federal Register Open PDF 68 FR 27429

Key directives

Establish interagency Task Force within DOE
Expand EO 13212 scope to include 'projects that will strengthen pipeline safety'
Task Force to monitor and assist agencies in expediting permit reviews
Task Force to coordinate Federal, State, tribal, and local permitting mechanisms
Task Force to perform functions of interagency committee under 49 U.S.C. 60133
CEQ Chairman to chair Task Force
Designated agency heads and others to serve as Task Force members

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Task Force established within DOE for administrative purposes
Scope of EO 13212 expanded to include pipeline safety projects

Near term (90d)

Task Force begins monitoring agency permitting processes
Coordination mechanisms for multi-jurisdictional permitting to be set up

Long term

Ongoing expedited review of energy and pipeline safety permits
Potential acceleration of energy infrastructure and pipeline repair projects

Risks & tensions

No explicit deadlines for Task Force operations or reporting
Vague 'monitor and assist' language leaves enforcement mechanisms unclear
Section 2 explicitly bars judicial review, limiting accountability
Consultation provision (sec. 3(d)) requires individual views without consensus-seeking, which may complicate coordinated decision-making
Broad membership (15+ agencies) could create bureaucratic inefficiency
Tension between expediting permits and environmental/tribal consultation requirements