The revisions account for amendments in the Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act of 2023. The revisions also account for amendments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and the Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition.

The agencies provided a 30-day comment period for the public to review the interim final rule. The final rule addresses public comments received and finalizes the interim final rule with minor technical changes.

Why It Matters

The National Environmental Policy Act is a United States federal environmental law enacted in 1970. The Federal Highway Administration is a United States federal government agency. The Federal Transit Administration is a US agency providing financial and technical assistance to public transport operators.

Timeline

The Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA implementing regulations were repealed effective April 11, 2025. On July 3, 2025, the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and Federal Transit Administration, collectively referred to as the Agencies, published an interim final rule which revised the Agencies' National Environmental Policy Act implementing regulations.

On a date in 2026, the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and Federal Transit Administration finalized revisions to their National Environmental Policy Act implementing regulations. The final rule addresses public comments received and finalizes the interim final rule with minor technical changes. The final rule becomes effective on a date in 2026.

What's New

Later reporting indicates that the revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act implementing regulations account for amendments included in the section of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 known as the Building United States Infrastructure through Limited Delays and Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act of 2023. Additional information confirms that the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA implementing regulations were repealed effective April 11, 2025.

Further context identifies the National Environmental Policy Act as a United States federal environmental law enacted in 1970. The Federal Highway Administration is identified as a United States federal government agency. The Federal Transit Administration is identified as a US agency providing financial and technical assistance to public transport operators.