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Council on Environmental Quality

722 Jackson Place NW., Washington, DC 20503

202-395-5750
202-456-6224
202-456-2710
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq

CHAIRBrenda Mallory
Members(vacancy)
(vacancy)

Chief of StaffMattew Lee-Ashley, Acting
General CounselJustin Pidot
Special AssistantSara Jordan
Federal Chief Sustainability OfficerAndrew Mayock

Senior Directors

Senior Directors
Building EmissionsMark Chambers
EmissionsAustin Brown
Environmental JusticeCecilia Martinez
LandsMattew Lee-Ashley
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) OversightJayni Hein
WaterSara Gonzalez-Rothi

The Council on Environmental Quality formulates and recommends national policies and initiatives for improving the environment.

ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION

On January 1, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon approved Public Law 91–190, which also is cited as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Act established "a national policy for the environment" and provided "for the establishment of a Council on Environmental Quality" (83 Stat. 852). It created the Council (CEQ) in the Executive Office of the President. The CEQ is composed of three members, whom the President appoints by the advice and with the consent of the Senate. The President designates one of the members to serve as the Chair. Each Council member is required to be "exceptionally well qualified to analyze and interpret environmental trends and information of all kinds . . . to formulate and recommend national policies to promote the improvement of the quality of the environment" (83 Stat. 854).

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-83/pdf/STATUTE-83-Pg852.pdf

On April 3, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon approved Public Law 91–224, which also is cited as the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970. The Act established the Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ) in the Executive Office of the President. The CEQ Chair also serves as the Director of the OEQ. The President also appoints, by the Senate's advice and with its consent, the OEQ's deputy director (84 Stat. 114). The Office provides professional and administrative support for the Council. The CEQ and OEQ are referred to, collectively, as the Council on Environmental Quality.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-84/pdf/STATUTE-84-Pg91.pdf

STATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

Statutory subject matter affecting the Council on Environmental Quality is codified in "Chapter 55—National Environmental Policy" of 42 U.S.C. Sections 4341–4347 are dedicated to the Council on Environmental Quality.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42/chapter55&edition=prelim

Statutory subject matter affecting the Office of Environmental Quality is codified in "Chapter 56—Environmental Quality Improvement" of 42 U.S.C. Section 4372 is dedicated to the Office of Environmental Quality.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42/chapter56&edition=prelim

Codified rules and regulations associated with the Council on Environmental Quality have been assigned to chapter V of 40 CFR, parts 1500–1599.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3332dfb05e2ecdfa883fa40713ac3de3&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40chapterV.tpl

ACTIVITIES

The Council develops policies that bring together the Nation's economic, social, and environmental priorities to improve Federal decisionmaking. As required by NEPA, the CEQ also evaluates, coordinates, and mediates Federal activities. It advises and assists the President on both national and international environmental policy matters. It oversees Federal agency and departmental implementation of NEPA.

The CEQ's Office of Federal Sustainability coordinates policy to promote energy and environmental sustainability across Federal Government operations. The Federal Government manages more than 350,000 buildings, operates more than 600,000 vehicles, and purchases annually more than $500 billion in goods and services.

https://www.sustainability.gov/index.html

Sources of Information

Archived Records

The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that records of the CEQ have been assigned to record group 580; however, that group does not have a description associated with it.

https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/index-numeric/501-to-600.html

The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that records of the organizations in the Executive office of the President have been assigned to record group 429. Within that record group, the records of the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality (CACEQ) are located in subgroup 429.3. The CACEQ was established on May 29, 1969, and its members advised the newly established Environmental Quality Council.

https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/429.html

Contact Information

Contact information for the Office of Federal Sustainability is available on the "Contact Us" page of its website.

https://www.sustainability.gov/contact.html | Email: sustainability@ceq.eop.gov

Federal Register

Significant documents and documents that the CEQ recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.

https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/council-on-environmental-quality

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The FOIA gives a person a right to request access to Federal agency records or information. An agency must disclose records that any person properly requests in writing. Pursuant to one or more of nine exemptions and three exclusions that the Act contains, a Federal agency may withhold certain records or parts of them. The FOIA applies only to Federal agencies and does not create a right of access to records held by the U.S. Congress, the courts, State or local government agencies, and private entities. The CEQ maintains an online requester service center.

News

The White House posts news items on energy and the environment.

Sustainability

The Federal Government is the Nation's largest energy consumer, managing over 350,000 buildings and operating over 600,000 vehicles. By increasing operational efficiency, Federal agencies reduce waste, save taxpayer dollars, lessen harmful effects on ecosystems, and support cleaner air, land, and water. Governmentwide performance data on sustainability goals are available on the website of the Office of Federal Sustainability.

https://www.sustainability.gov/performance.html | Email: sustainability@ceq.eop.gov

The above Sources of Information were updated 1–2021.