Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects
Mar 28, 2012
Signed by: Barack Obama
Signed on: Mar 22, 2012
Published on: Mar 28, 2012
Mar 28, 2012
Signed by: Barack Obama
Signed on: Mar 22, 2012
Published on: Mar 28, 2012
Summary
Aims to speed up the government's approval process for large building projects, like roads and bridges, to help the economy grow.
What problem does this solve?
Getting government approval for big building projects often takes too long, which can slow down economic growth. This order creates a special group and new rules to make the approval process faster and more predictable.
What does this order do?
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Steering committee on federal infrastructure permitting and review process improvement
Creates a new steering committee
Establishes the Steering Committee on Federal Infrastructure Permitting and Review Process Improvement to lead efforts in making the approval process faster.
Develops a federal performance plan
Requires the Steering Committee to create a Federal Plan with best practices and clear steps to reduce the total time needed for project approvals.
Requires agency-specific plans
Orders each member agency to create its own plan with measurable goals, timelines, and technology improvements to speed up its specific review processes.
Tracks projects on a public dashboard
Uses an online dashboard to track the status of important national or regional infrastructure projects, making the process more open to the public.
Requires annual progress reports
Mandates that the Chief Performance Officer evaluate and report to the President each year on how well the new plans are working.
Who does this affect?
- Federal agencies
- Infrastructure project sponsors (e.g., construction and energy companies)
- State, local, and tribal governments
What is the real world impact?
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Boosts economic growth
Speeds up the approval of major infrastructure projects, which can create jobs and stimulate the economy by getting construction started sooner.
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Increases government efficiency
Creates a more coordinated and transparent process for federal agencies, reducing delays and duplicated work when reviewing large projects.
When does this start?
This order sets several deadlines for federal agencies to create and implement plans to speed up project approvals, starting in 2012.
Submission of key projects
By April 30, 2012, member agencies must submit a list of nationally or regionally important projects to be tracked on a public dashboard.
Federal plan publication
By May 31, 2012, the Steering Committee must develop and publish a Federal Plan to reduce project review times.
Agency plan submission
By June 30, 2012, each member agency must submit its own detailed plan for improving its permitting and review processes.
Agency plan publication
By July 31, 2012, each member agency must publish its plan on the public dashboard.
First agency progress report
By December 31, 2012, agencies must report their progress on implementing their plans for the first time.
First annual report to the President
By January 31, 2013, the Chief Performance Officer must evaluate and report to the President on the implementation of the new plans.