The Trump administration advanced its deregulatory drive Monday as government agencies announced plans to renege on the country’s linchpin environmental law.
At issue is the National Environmental Policy Act, designed to require the federal government to consider environmental impacts for permit applications and management of public lands. The 1970 law has been under threat since President Donald Trump’s return as he has rallied to build pipelines, ports and other energy infrastructure to boost domestic production of fossil fuels without environmental reviews.
The Department of Energy issued an interim final rule that rescinded all of its NEPA regulations while releasing guidance or “implementing procedures” in their place.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Trump promised to speed up the permitting process for massive infrastructure projects.
