WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in introducing the Revising and Enhancing Project Authorizations Impacted by Review (REPAIR) Act which seeks to streamline the permitting process for U.S. energy, manufacturing and critical infrastructure projects. A more efficient permitting process will allow Wyoming energy producers to boost their output and help restore our nation’s energy independence.
“The federal permitting process has become a years-long slog which discourages investment and innovation all together,” said Lummis. “Wyoming energy producers have proven that new projects and technology have the power to lower costs, create jobs and provide cleaner energy. The REPAIR Act reforms the federal permitting process to function more efficiently and reduces radical activists’ ability to file frivolous lawsuits purely designed to delay and derail new projects.”
Click here to read the bill.
The legislation is supported by the American Petroleum Institute.
The REPAIR Act:
- Makes many vital changes to the judicial review process of an approved permit.
- The judicial process created by the REPAIR Act ensures all laws related to permitting have the same review process, scope of adjudication, rules for standing and statute of limitations.
- The bill removes the ability to file a suit based on the National Environmental Policy Act, instead focusing lawsuits on the statute for which the permit was issued.
- In the case of a judicial remand or other court action, the REPAIR Act establishes a mediation process that allows the project developer and the permit-issuing agency to directly address the challenge in order to allow the project to move forward.
- Increases transparency in ongoing court challenges to permits in an effort to highlight the unnecessary delays caused by frivolous lawsuits.
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