Trump Administration Plans Overhaul of NEPA Review Process

The White House Council on Environmental Quality has published a notice of proposed rulemaking reflecting changes to the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposed changes would streamline NEPA’s environmental review process and narrow how, and whether, federal agencies consider the effects of climate change in their review of energy and infrastructure projects.

OMA Connections Partner Jones Day, in its quarterly update, notes the proposed rule “will shorten the environmental review process and improve coordination between local, state and federal permitting agencies.” The public comment period is open until March 10, as the administration seeks to get the final rule published before the November election. 2/27/2020