Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation

This executive order directs four federal departments and the EPA to implement environmental and natural resource laws through "cooperative conservation," emphasizing local participation in federal decision-making. It requires annual reporting to the Council on Environmental Quality and convenes a White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation within one year.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 52989

Impact dates

Date TBD
Annual reports to CEQ Chairman due
Aug 26, 2005
White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation must be convened

Key directives

Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense and EPA Administrator shall implement environmental/natural resource programs to facilitate cooperative conservation
Respect interests of persons with ownership or legally recognized interests in land and natural resources
Properly accommodate local participation in federal decisionmaking
Ensure consistency with protecting public health and safety
Report annually to Chairman of Council on Environmental Quality on implementation actions
Provide funding to Office of Environmental Quality Management Fund for Conference
Chairman of CEQ shall convene White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation not later than 1 year after order date
Conference must seek individual advice, not collective judgment or consensus advice

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Agencies directed to align programs with cooperative conservation principles

Near term (90d)

Agency program adjustments to facilitate local participation
Preparation for White House Conference begins

Long term

Annual reporting to Council on Environmental Quality ongoing
Recurring White House Conferences at Chairman's discretion

Risks & tensions

Vague 'cooperative conservation' standard may create implementation inconsistency across agencies
'To the extent permitted by law and subject to availability of appropriations' language limits enforceability
Section 5 disclaimer explicitly denies any enforceable rights, weakening accountability
Conference prohibition on 'collective judgment or consensus advice' is unusual and may limit collaborative outcomes; intent unclear but appears designed to prevent binding recommendations
Local participation mandate could slow federal decisionmaking or empower stakeholders with narrow interests
Potential tension between accommodating local interests and broader environmental protection goals