The Trump administration on Tuesday announced new permitting reforms. This is after years of the oil and gas industry calling on administrations and Congress to streamline a burdensome process.

The Department of Energy published an interim final rule rescinding all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. It also published new NEPA guidance procedures that “replace outdated rules with clear deadlines. It will restore agency authority and put us back on the path to energy dominance, job creation, and commonsense action,”. This is what Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.

The NEPA reforms restore the DOE’s role “originally envisioned by Congress. It will be informing agency decision makers, not needlessly obstructing the development of critical infrastructure,” Deputy Energy Secretary James Danly said. “We’re eliminating decades of unnecessary procedures and reestablishing a legally sound permitting regime that is disciplined, predictable, and fast.”Agencies finally have the authority to conduct reviews efficiently, avoid duplicative reviews, and deliver timely decisions consistent with the law.”

The Council on Environmental Quality coordinated an interagency effort to simplify NEPA compliance. This is to lower construction costs, eliminate years-long delays, and ensure that environmental reviews can no longer stall American energy production. There will be infrastructure development, which will result in the proposed reforms.

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Source: The Center Square

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