Expediting Environmental Reviews and Approvals for High Priority Infrastructure Projects

This executive order directs the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to establish a fast-track process for environmental reviews of "high priority" infrastructure projects such as pipelines, bridges, airports, and electrical grid upgrades. It creates a 30-day decision window for CEQ to designate projects as high priority, after which agencies must meet expedited deadlines for completing environmental approvals.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 8657

Impact dates

Feb 23, 2017
CEQ decision on high priority project designation

Key directives

CEQ Chairman shall within 30 days of request decide whether project qualifies as 'high priority'
CEQ shall coordinate with relevant agencies to establish expedited procedures and deadlines for environmental reviews
Agencies shall give highest priority to completing reviews by established deadlines
Agency heads must provide written explanation to CEQ for missed deadlines, including causes and concrete actions

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

CEQ Chairman authority to receive and act on high priority project requests

Near term (90d)

CEQ 30-day determination process becomes operational
Expedited procedures and deadlines established for designated projects

Long term

Potential shift in environmental review norms for major infrastructure
Cumulative effects on project approval timelines across administrations

Risks & tensions

30-day deadline for designation is clear; actual environmental review deadlines are delegated to CEQ/agency coordination without fixed timelines
'Consistent with law' qualifier throughout may limit practical expediting
Vague 'other factors as the Chairman deems relevant' creates broad discretion
No enforcement mechanism beyond written explanation for missed deadlines
Potential tension between expedited reviews and environmental/safety protections