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A Look At CEQ’s New CE Explorer
On June 5th, the CEQ’s Permitting Innovation Center released their first prototype experiment, the Categorical Exclusion Explorer. The Explorer is the first time a collection of cross-agency Categorical Exclusions (CEs) has been transformed into data for experimentation. This is still in the experimental stage, and we applaud the Permitting Innovation Center for releasing early-stage products and experiments. Early and iterative releases are ideal for gathering feedback and improving future releases.
We’ve discussed using existing environmental review data management and sharing as an area ripe for experimentation and innovation.
First Look at CEQ’s Permitting Technology Action Plan
This blog is a first look at the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) Permitting Technology Action Plan, which aims to modernize federal permitting processes. The plan includes data standards for interoperability between agencies, service delivery standards for workflow automation and digital documents, and a maturity model for agencies to gauge their progress. Key highlights include implementing data standards, improving document management, and using GitHub for open collaboration. We note the potential for multi-agency procurement and prize competitions and outline potential impacts for agencies, applicants, and vendors. We express cautious optimism due to the plan's technical depth, interoperability focus, and use of existing work but also note concerns about talent gaps and the aggressive initial 90-day implementation timeline.
Environmental Accelerators - Value-Driven Velocity
We need to simplify environmental permits to boost their impact
Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Definitions in the Great Lakes States for Drinking Water State Revolving Funds: Guidance for a Mapping Tool to Explore and Assess DAC Definitions
New map tool shows state-by-state differences in how states define 'disadvantaged community' for drinking water funding
Test Beds - Where Rubber Meets the Road for Innovative Tech
France24: First 100 days: The race to save digital records from the Trump administration
The Next 55 Earth Days
Working Wonders in Purpose Driven Innovation Labs
This Tool is Changing How We Protect our Wetlands, Here’s How You Can Help
Innovation Incubators - from Egyptian Egg Ovens to Artificial Intelligence
WBUR Here and Now: Trump officials removed web tools that interpret environmental data. Volunteers are racing to rebuild them
Jessie Mahr, Director of Technology, was featured on NPR's Here and Now speaking about our work in collaboration with the Public Environmental Data Partners to preserve the data, maintain public access to tools, and protect policies that improve public health and the environment.
NextGov: America's digital infrastructure belongs to you
Jessie Mahr and Kameron Kerger co-wrote an Op-Ed in Next Govt: America's digital infrastructure belongs to you, in collaboration with Katie Hoeberling, Michelle Cheripka, Jonathan Gilmour and Matt Price.
Comments Regarding the Council on Environmental Quality’s Removal of National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations
EPIC submitted public comments opposing the wholesale removal of NEPA regulations by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), arguing it would create confusion and increase litigation risk. Instead, we proposed modernizing the NEPA process through our Smart Permitting Agenda, which includes implementing clear timelines, developing programmatic reviews, creating user-friendly e-permitting systems, and establishing expedited pathways for ecological restoration. We believe an updated regulatory framework can maintain NEPA's original intent while delivering faster results and ensuring meaningful community input.
Leveraging Modularity to Launch Innovation
NYTimes: Government Science Data May Soon by Hidden. They're Racing to Copy It.
Jessie Mahr, EPIC’s Director of Technology, was featured in NYTimes. In this article, Jessie talks about EPIC’s work with the Public Environmental Data Partners and the impact of the Trump Administration in removing public access to critical environmental screening tools that taxpayers have paid for.
EPIC's Smart Permitting Recommendations to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
New Project: National Drinking Water Explorer Tool
All Americans deserve safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water. But making sure that everyone has access remains a challenge that requires untangling a complex web of interdependent factors. EPIC is planning to scale our Texas-based tool nation-wide in order to support communities, map the utility landscape across the U.S., and help states to prioritize investments and technical assistance to improve drinking water infrastructure.
