Multiple agencies sign MoU to expedite federal infrastructure project approvals

At least 12 federal agencies have agreed to cooperate in efforts to accelerate the environmental assessment and authorization process for major infrastructure projects, Bloomberg reported Monday.

Leaders of participating agencies signed a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony held Monday to implement President Trump’s executive order, titled “Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects.”

The One Federal Decision MoU calls for signatories to work together to meet the government’s two-year goal for completing the project review process.

Participants include the departments of Commerce, Energy, Interior, Homeland Security and Transportation as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Under the agreement, a selected lead agency will oversee the authorization process and establish timetables for cooperating agencies to follow.