CEQ NEPA Pilot Projects

The CEQ NEPA Pilot Projects were conducted as part of CEQ's efforts to modernize and reinvigorate Federal agency implementation of NEPA through innovation, public engagement, and transparency. On March 17, 2011, CEQ invited Federal agencies and the public to nominate projects using innovative approaches to completing environmental reviews more efficiently and effectively. CEQ selected five of the nominees as pilot projects for saving time and cost of NEPA reviews.

• Assessing NEPA information technology tools: National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) and the Forest Service's eMNEPA;
• Supporting the National Association of Environmental Professionals project to identify best practice principles for environmental assessments;
• Using the Environmental Protection Agency's geographic information system, NEPAssist, in environmental reviews;
• Identifying efficiencies in the Department of Transportation environmental review process for rail service in the Northeast Corridor; and
• Identifying NEPA best practices in Forest Service use of collaborative approaches to forest restoration projects.

CEQ collaborated with the relevant agencies, tracked the progress of the NEPA Pilots, and monitored outcomes. On January 26, 2015, CEQ issued the National Environmental Policy Act Pilot Projects Report and Recommendations.