U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) applauded action by the Trump administration to update and modernize regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a 1970 law that requires federal agencies to assess the potential environmental impacts of proposed major federal infrastructure and economic development projects.
“I applaud the Trump administration and the CEQ for their efforts in making the NEPA work as efficiently as possible for my fellow Oklahomans, and for continuing to bring our regulations into the 21st century,” said Rep. Lucas, referring to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).
“This rule will finally allow for a streamlined permitting approach, encourage environmental stewardship, and incentivize investment in our rural communities across the West and beyond,” Rep. Newhouse added.
President Donald Trump and the CEQ recently announced the final rule to comprehensively update NEPA regulations for the first time in more than 40 years.
“Today’s NEPA reform is a return to a more streamlined process, cutting bureaucratic red tape and allowing for infrastructure and economic development projects to come online faster, all while ensuring we continue to protect and maintain the highest standards of environmental stewardship,” said Rep. Lucas.
The congressman said the current NEPA permitting process has become overly complicated and burdensome.
“In districts throughout the country, including Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District, our communities rely on the investments of infrastructure and economic development projects, like building better roads and bridges or laying broadband,” said Rep. Lucas. “Yet sadly, many of these projects are often delayed or restricted hindering the positive impact these critical projects will have.”
Rep. Newhouse agreed, saying overregulation and unnecessary permitting delays for decades have negatively impacted local communities, especially rural areas.
“NEPA in its current form exemplifies ‘bureaucratic red tape’ – with evaluations taking up to six years to complete,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Our constituents cannot afford these delays when trying to renew, maintain or develop critical infrastructure projects across the country.”
CEQ’s final 301-page rule will modernize the NEPA regulations to facilitate more efficient, effective and timely environmental reviews by simplifying and clarifying regulatory requirements, and incorporating key elements of President Trump’s One Federal Decision policy, including a two-year goal for completing environmental reviews, among numerous other provisions, according to the lawmakers.