Trump Touts Benefits of Cutting Unnecessary Environmental Regulation

WASHINGTON, DC – President Trump announced an updated plan that would revamp the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Thursday. From the White House, he explained that the overhaul would speed up permitting for major infrastructure projects. NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. The range of actions covered by NEPA is broad and includes: making decisions on permit applications, adopting federal land management actions, and constructing highways and other publicly-owned facilities. Using the NEPA process, agencies evaluate the environmental and related social and economic effects of their proposed actions. Agencies also provide opportunities for public review and comment on those evaluations. This is part of a broader effort to cut regulations. The proposal would assign one federal agency in overseeing the review process, instead of giving multiple agencies oversight. Additionally, the proposal would set a two-year deadline for environmental impact studies to be completed and a one-year deadline for less rigorous environmental assessments. Currently, the average length of a full-blown Environmental Impact Statement is 600 pages and takes 4.5 years to conclude with agencies preparing around 170 assessments per year. The plan will go through a 60 day public comment period before being finalized, and environmental groups are expected to challenge the final proposal.