So pleased to have our Op-Ed, A Big Step Forward for the National Environmental Policy Act published by the Hill today. As the Biden Administration moves into Phase 2 of revising NEPA’s implementing regulations, we encourage them to consider that many sources of delay are not caused by regulatory requirements. One source of delay identified in our research, was agency capacity. our Op-Ed points out, we found agencies hobbled by inadequate funding and staffing. The Forest Service, for example, saw its planning budget decline by 64% between 2001 and 2015, contributing to NEPA delays. We also found that the Bureau of Land Management spends more time waiting for information from operators than it spends reviewing oil well drilling permit applications. These problems are not caused by NEPA’s statutory mandate or implementing regulations. Reforms should treat the problem not the symptoms. If Congress wants expedited permitting, Congress should fully staff and fund federal agencies.
A Big Step Forward for the National Environmental Policy Act
May 02, 2022 | LPP Blog