The AMA Federal Oversight Committee started this week compiling our Federal Administration transition document, which outlines our priorities and especially this time, encourages retaining the positive changes we have seen in the past few years. We also tackled questions for Biden Administration agency appointees. But that was just Tuesday. Wednesday, the Inauguration occurred and immediately we received news of major policy issues being evaluated by the new Administration, termed "Agency actions for review that address COVID-19, provide economic relief, tackle climate change, and advance racial equality." Heads of relevant agencies will review these actions in accordance with Executive Order "Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis." Just more than a few examples including:
Council of Environmental Quality's "Guidance Document Procedures," 86 Fed. Reg. 1279 and "Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act," 85 Fed. Reg. 43304.
Department of Agriculture's "Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Alaska," 85 Fed. Reg. 68688.
Environmental Protection Agency's "Repeal of the Clean Power Plan; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Electric Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emission Guidelines Implementing Regulations," 84 Fed. Reg. 32520 and "Financial Responsibility Requirements Under CERCLA Section 108(b) for Classes of Facilities in the Hardrock Mining Industry," 83 Fed. Reg. 7556.
Department of Defense's "Reissuance and Modification of Nationwide Permits," 86 Fed. Reg. 2744, "Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule," 85 Fed. Reg. 42210, and "The Navigable Waters Protection Rule: Definition of 'Waters of the United States,'" 85 Fed. Reg. 22250.
Department of the Interior's "Notice of Availability of the Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Area, Alaska," 85 Fed. Reg. 78350 and "Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Proposed Willow Master Development Plan Project, Alaska," 85 Fed. Reg. 69351.
In addition, Secretarial Order 3395 was issued Wednesday (Inauguration Day) that suspends the authority for all Department of Interior agencies to do the following:
*Publish or help publish a Federal Register notice of any NEPA Action
*Issue/Revise/Amend Resource Management Plans
*Grant rights of way, easements, conveyances, land sales and exchanges, notices to proceed under previous surface use authorizations that authorize ground-disturbing activities
*Approve plans of operations or amending POOs under Mining Law of 1872
*Issue any final decision on RS2477s
*Appoint or hire any personnel at our above level GS13
See the order here:
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files ... signed.pdf