CEQ Demos Tech to Speed Up Federal Environmental Reviews – CE Works

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has launched "CE Works," a digital pilot program designed to modernize and accelerate the environmental review process for federal infrastructure and energy projects.Key Details of the Program:Purpose: The platform digitizes Categorical Exclusion (CE) determinations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Since federal agencies process thousands of these determinations annually, the tool is intended to "cut through red tape" and significantly reduce project timelines.Functionality: CE Works provides a streamlined digital pathway for agency staff to select appropriate exclusions, collaborate with resource experts, route documents for approval, and automatically generate records for publication.Administrative Origin: The tool was developed in response to President Trump’s memorandum, "Updating Permitting Technology for the 21st Century," as part of a broader "Permitting Technology Action Plan."Collaboration: CEQ developed the software in partnership with the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Technology Transformation Services to ensure high-quality software development and user experience.Pilot Phase: The program is currently being tested at the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Moab Field Office, with plans to expand to other agencies in the coming months.Conclusion:By leveraging modern technology to simplify the permitting process, the administration aims to increase the speed and efficiency of American infrastructure development. CEQ Chairman Katherine Scarlett characterized the initiative as a vital step toward a "golden age" of American growth.