40 U.S.C. § 8722 — Proposed federal and district developments and projects

(a) Federal agencies responsible for public projects must cooperate through the Commission as the central planning agency^* for federal National Capital^* activities. On request, federal and District agencies must give the Commission required plans, data, and records; the Commission must provide related material on request. (b)(1) Before a federal or District agency prepares construction plans it originates, or commits to acquire land paid for at least partly with federal or District money, it must advise and consult the Commission during preliminary and later stages affecting the National Capital plan or development. The Commission must promptly issue a preliminary report and recommendations. If the agency disagrees, it must explain why; the Commission then submits a final report. After consultation and suitable consideration of the Commission’s views, the agency may act under its legal authority. (2)(A) This does not apply to Capitol-ground projects or Defense Department structures erected during war or national emergency within existing military, naval, or Air Force reservations. The defense agency must still consult on developments materially affecting traffic or requiring coordinated surrounding-area planning. (B) The Commission must decide in advance which plans, developments, projects, improvements, or acquisitions need not be submitted for conformity review. (c)(1) In the environs^*, general plans showing location, character, extent, and use intensity for proposed federal or District land-acquisition projects must be submitted for Commission report and recommendations before final acquisition commitment, unless specifically approved by law. (2) Before acting, the Commission must consult the appropriate environs planning agency. If a subsection (b) project would make a major change in an existing environs use, it must consult that agency. Its report and recommendations are due within 60 days and must include the agency’s reports or recommendations. (3) The Commission may work and make agreements with state or local authorities or planning agencies to get an environs plan or proposal adopted and carried out. (d) The June 20, 1938 Act does not apply to federal public buildings. The Commission must approve the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of federal buildings in the District and open space in and around them. (e) The same rule applies to District-government public buildings in the central area, as jointly defined by the Commission and Council, but the Commission must send approval or disapproval within 30 days after submission.