WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) today applauded the Trump administration’s move to revise and streamline outdated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. This Interim Final Rule rescinds the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for NEPA compliance.
“For too long, western communities have waited for critical energy and infrastructure projects while paperwork piled up in Washington,” said Lummis. “I appreciate the Trump administration’s effort to initiate permitting reform. His balanced approach will ensure that environmental reviews focus on meaningful analysis rather than on endless and costly procedural hurdles.”
“Far too often the NEPA permitting process has been weaponized by liberal administrations to delay or halt necessary infrastructure in the United States,” said LaMalfa. “Fortunately, President Trump understands that rolling back burdensome regulations is an important first step to reforming permitting and driving down the cost and time necessary to deliver American energy and infrastructure projects. By removing CEQ’s unconstitutional authority our Federal land management agencies will be able to more simply manage public lands for mining, forestry, grazing, recreation, and every other beneficial purpose. The Western Caucus will continue to work with the Trump Administration to further shrink the cumbersome permitting process and release the full potential of American resources.”