Sponsor-prepared EISs: A new path under evolving NEPA guidance

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By Pam Schanel, Rich Walter, Chad Ricklefs, AICP, and Craig Galli
Pam Schanel
Senior Managing Director, Environmental Planning, ICF
Rich Walter
Vice President, Environmental Planning, ICF

NEPA implementation continues to evolve, reshaping how project sponsors navigate federal environmental review. The 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act formally authorized sponsor-prepared Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) in statute—solidifying a permanent shift rather than a temporary regulatory change. Combined with federal workforce reductions, additional NEPA updates, and a broader push for leaner reviews, today’s landscape looks markedly different than it did just a few years ago.

For project sponsors, this creates a strategic opportunity—but the pathway is new, guidance is still taking shape, and the implications aren’t yet fully understood.

Watch the on-demand webinar to explore how to interpret and navigate this emerging approach. Our panelists share early perspectives on what to consider, where open questions remain, and how to think strategically about whether this path makes sense for your project.

Meet the authors
  1. Pam Schanel, Senior Managing Director, Environmental Planning, ICF
  2. Rich Walter, Vice President, Environmental Planning, ICF
  3. Chad Ricklefs, AICP, Natural Resources Sector Lead, ICF
  4. Craig Galli, Senior Counsel, Holland & Hart LLP
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