Timeline
Oct. 22, 2018 EPA announces it will no longer employ its grading system for the environmental impact statements it reviews. Section 309 of the Clean Air Act allows for EPA to review Environmental Impact Statements prepared by other agencies and requires EPA to make those reviews available to the public. Since 1984, EPA has assigned letter grades to draft Environmental Impact Statements produced by other agencies as a part of this review process. EPA cited concerns with efficiency and consistency in its decision to discontinue the letter grading system.
Dec. 4, 2020 EPA sends its revised NEPA implementing procedures to OMB for review before finalization and publication in the Federal Register.