The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) has announced
that it is accepting applications for its $5 million Environmental Review Improvement Fund Tribal Assistance Program (ERIF TAP). The ERIF Tap will provide funds to support Tribal engagement in the environmental review and authorization process for FAST-41 covered projects. Established in 2015 by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), the law established the FPISC to improve the transparency, predictability, and outcomes of the federal environmental review and authorization process for certain large-scale critical infrastructure projects. The 13-member federal agencies of FPISC seek to maximize predictability and positive environmental and community outcomes.
Since its creation, FPISC has worked to engage with Tribal Nations and others involved in the permitting process. It has established the Permitting Dashboard to provide an online tool for Tribal Nations, federal agencies, project developers, and others interested in tracking the federal government’s environmental review and authorization processes for large or complex infrastructure projects. Its latest action has been to develop the ERIF TAP and announce that funding applications are now open to Tribal Nations engaged in the environmental review and authorization process for FAST-41 covered projects. The ERIF TAP was established by the by the Permitting Council Executive Director in recognition of the capacity issues facing Tribal Nations when participating in the federal environmental review and authorization process for infrastructure projects. For more information on the ERIF TAP as well as to apply for funds, please click here.
USET SPF previously submitted comments
to FPISC on July 17, 2023 expressing general support for the Draft ERIF Application, but reiterating our concerns that the initial $5 million investment is insufficient to address the environmental and cultural reviews associated with FAST-41 projects.
For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.
|