Environmental reviews are waived to expedite projects.
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order that would expedite permitting for infrastructure projects, building on earlier orders to ease regulations for industry. The White House states the move will help speed the nation’s recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.
The executive order would direct federal agencies, including Interior, Agriculture and Defense Departments and the Army Corps of Engineers, to use emergency and other authorities to accelerate the nation’s economic recovery and approve infrastructure projects.
The order signed at the Oval Office would waive environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act for projects such as highways, bridges, and pipelines, as well as for oil and gas leases and mines.
According to legal experts, the federal government can waive environmental regulations during an emergency, but it’s primarily been used in the past for physical reasons rather than for economic ones.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- That President Trump’s executive order would have a positive impact on the economy without negatively impacting the environment.
- For discernment for the president and his administration as they remove regulations to stimulate the economy.
Sources: Roll Call, Washington Examiner
