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ARTICLE · 16 MARCH 2026

Department Of The Interior Finalizes NEPA Procedures

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Over the past year, federal agencies have been reshaping their procedures for environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in response to several major legal developments.

United StatesEnvironment
Tommy Beaudreau
Tommy Beaudreau
H. David Gold
H. David Gold
Caroline McHugh
Caroline McHugh
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  • The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has finalized its revised procedures for environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
  • The revised procedures shift away from comprehensive regulations toward more flexible guidance housed primarily in the departmental handbook.
  • While these changes are unlikely to affect NEPA reviews that are already well underway, they have important implications for the NEPA process and timelines, public participation, and litigation risk for future DOI-led environmental reviews.
  • For new projects, project sponsors need to stay current on guidance documents (such as the DOI NEPA Handbook), bureau-specific and other agency procedures, and evolving case law.

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