The Biden administration announced a new effort Thursday to streamline environmental reviews for fixing old, leak-prone natural gas pipes.
Federal pipeline safety officials outlined an exemption from the National Environmental Policy Act for recipients of grants for fixing such pipes. The money that’s being distributed was authorized by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.
“We are streamlining the environmental review process for communities to quickly undertake these necessary repairs that will reduce environmental impacts without taking months, or even years, for approval,” said Tristan Brown, deputy administrator at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in a news release.
PHMSA said the exemption — called a “categorical exclusion” — will allow completion of projects more quickly and help local communities while still protecting the environment.
