---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4370m–5"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4370m–5"
heading: "Delegated State permitting programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4370m-5"
units:
  - "Chapter 55 — National Environmental Policy"
  - "Subchapter IV — Federal Permitting Improvement"
---

# §4370m–5. Delegated State permitting programs

- (a) **In general—** If a Federal statute permits a Federal [agency](/usc/42/4370m.md?p=1) to delegate to or otherwise authorize a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) to issue or otherwise administer a permit program in lieu of the Federal [agency](/usc/42/4370m.md?p=1), the Federal [agency](/usc/42/4370m.md?p=1) with authority to carry out the statute shall—
  - (1) on publication by the [Council](/usc/42/4336e.md?p=3) of best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) under [section 4370m–1(c)(2)(B) of this title](/usc/42/4370m–1.md?p=c-2-B), initiate a national process, with public participation, to determine whether and the extent to which any of the best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) are generally applicable on a delegation- or [authorization](/usc/42/4370m.md?p=3)-wide basis to permitting under the statute; and
  - (2) not later than 2 years after December 4, 2015, make model recommendations for [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) modifications of the applicable permit program to reflect the best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) described in [section 4370m–1(c)(2)(B) of this title](/usc/42/4370m–1.md?p=c-2-B), as appropriate.
- (b) **Best practices—** Lead and [cooperating agencies](/usc/42/4336e.md?p=2) may share with [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), tribal, and local authorities best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) involved in review of [covered projects](/usc/42/4370m.md?p=6-A) and invite input from [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), tribal, and local authorities regarding best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–94, div. D, title XLI, § 41006, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1758.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, also known as the FAST Act, and not as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 which comprises this chapter.