Photo: Protect NEPA
The United States has millions of acres of land on which projects by corporations are carried out and reap massive profits. Do those corporations care about destroying the federal property? Your land? My land? Not compared to boosting earnings to shareholders of their respective corporations. This is why news from the Trump administration has potentially increased their share prices.
Reporting from Politico Energy states briefly how the changes to NEPA will help streamline corporate projects on federally owned land:
TRUMP TO ANNOUNCE FINAL NEPA CHANGES: During a visit to a UPS airport hub in Atlanta today, President Donald Trump will unveil final changes to the National Environmental Policy Act — the bedrock permitting law that requires agencies to conduct detailed environmental reviews for major projects. Trump has lined up on the side of industry groups that contend NEPA has been weaponized by greens to sideline pipelines, highways and other infrastructure projects. The new regulations will provide certainty for project sponsors and speed up the environmental review process for U.S. projects spanning roads, bridges and highways, a White House official told ME.The policy overhaul delivers a major win to the energy industry on the heels of a series of blows to nameplate energy projects that were driven by the 50-year-old environmental law, including court setbacks for the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, and the cancellation of the Atlantic Coast project.If the changes hew to the version proposed from January, project proponents can expect strict, short deadlines for environmental impact statements that agencies must conduct before construction can begin, and a broader scope to the types of projects that can be excluded from NEPA reviews altogether, such as those that receive little federal funding.One of the key anticipated changes surrounds how broadly federal agencies should weigh the effects of things like greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed version suggested that agencies no longer need to consider the "cumulative" impact of permitting decisions — language that environmentalists say would all but eliminate consideration of a project's contribution to climate change.Expect a fight from green groups and Democrats, who say changes to NEPA would undercut protections for environmental justice communities that are often subject to the effects of the most significant development projects. Democrats from both chambers last week urged Trump to reverse course on the NEPA changes, arguing they "would further endanger the very communities that have faced the greatest burdens of legacy environmental injustice and structural racism."
Environmental groups have challenged rules concocted by the Trump administration over the last few years, which aim to undo Obama era regulations. The challenges have resulted in numerous court battles -- some of which are still ongoing today. The Trump administration has had quite a struggle trying to support corporate destruction of environmental laws enacted under the Obama administration, which is good.
Now, some of the existing environmental laws are outdated. How many compared to those which are still safe and essential? No idea. Although, the Trump administration is trying to hide under the veil of 'updating laws' to really help corporate projects such as oil pipelines, oil drilling, large infrastructure projects which are destructive to the environment.
This is why the current changes to the 'environmental review process' could potentially expose the environment to even more destruction. The changes will end up in court and result in a ruling which protects the environment. At least, that is the current aim of environmental groups and many members of the Chambers of Congress. Stay tuned.
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