§ 4115. Environmental review

(a) In general

(1) Release of funds

In order to ensure that the policies of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.] and other provisions of law that further the purposes of such Act (as specified in regulations issued by the Secretary) are most effectively implemented in connection with the expenditure of grant amounts provided under this chapter, and to ensure to the public undiminished protection of the environment, the Secretary, in lieu of the environmental protection procedures otherwise applicable, may by regulation provide for the release of amounts for particular projects to tribes which assume all of the responsibilities for environmental review, decisionmaking, and action pursuant to such Act, and such other provisions of law as the regulations of the Secretary specify, that would apply to the Secretary were the Secretary to undertake such projects as Federal projects.

(2) Regulations

(A) In general

The Secretary shall issue regulations to carry out this section only after consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality.

(B) Contents

The regulations issued under this paragraph shall—

(i) provide for the monitoring of the environmental reviews performed under this section;

(ii) in the discretion of the Secretary, facilitate training for the performance of such reviews; and

(iii) provide for the suspension or termination of the assumption of responsibilities under this section.

(3) Effect on assumed responsibility

The duty of the Secretary under paragraph (2)(B) shall not be construed to limit or reduce any responsibility assumed by a recipient of grant amounts with respect to any particular release of funds.

(b) Procedure

The Secretary shall approve the release of funds subject to the procedures authorized by this section only if, not less than 15 days prior to such approval and prior to any commitment of funds to such projects, the tribe has submitted to the Secretary a request for such release accompanied by a certification that meets the requirements of subsection (c) of this section. The approval of the Secretary of any such certification shall be deemed to satisfy the responsibilities of the Secretary under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.] and such other provisions of law as the regulations of the Secretary specify insofar as those responsibilities relate to the releases of funds for projects to be carried out pursuant thereto that are covered by such certification.

A certification under the procedures authorized by this section shall—

(1) be in a form acceptable to the Secretary;

(2) be executed by the chief executive officer or other officer of the tribe under this chapter qualified under regulations of the Secretary;

(3) specify that the tribe has fully carried out its responsibilities as described under subsection (a) of this section; and

(4) specify that the certifying officer—

(A) consents to assume the status of a responsible Federal official under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.] and each provision of law specified in regulations issued by the Secretary insofar as the provisions of such Act or such other provisions of law apply pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; and

(B) is authorized and consents on behalf of the tribe and such officer to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts for the purpose of enforcement of the responsibilities of the certifying officer as such an official.

(d) Environmental compliance

The Secretary may waive the requirements under this section if the Secretary determines that a failure on the part of a recipient to comply with provisions of this section—

(1) will not frustrate the goals of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.] or any other provision of law that furthers the goals of that Act;

(2) does not threaten the health or safety of the community involved by posing an immediate or long-term hazard to residents of that community;

(3) is a result of inadvertent error, including an incorrect or incomplete certification provided under subsection (c)(1) of this section; and

(4) may be corrected through the sole action of the recipient.

U.S. Code

§ 4115. Environmental review