The Trump administration advanced plans Monday aimed at speeding energy projects through National Environmental Policy Act permitting hurdles.
Rules offered by the departments of Energy and the Interior and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would pare requirements set by NEPA, the landmark 1970 law that requires the government to consider a broad range of a major development project’s environmental impacts.
The law has been blamed for delaying or destroying infrastructure projects. The changes rolled out Monday follow a unanimous Supreme Court decision in late May to rein in agencies’ NEPA obligations.
“America can and will build big things again, but we must cut the red tape that has brought American energy innovation to a standstill and end this era of permitting paralysis,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement. “These reforms replace outdated rules with clear deadlines, restore agency authority, and put us back on the path to energy dominance, job creation, and commonsense action. Build, baby, build!”
