NEPA Modernization Pt 2
I’m Bob Larson. We talked yesterday about the modernization of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, and cutting down on paperwork and delays getting NEPA policies implemented.
U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says NEPA was put into place more than 40 years ago …
NEWHOUSE … “And so, delays of four to six years are not uncommon at all. In fact, I think that’s the average is about four-and-a-half years in order to complete a NEPA report.”
Newhouse says that’s too much time and needs to be addressed …
NEWHOUSE … “So, this is an effort to streamline that process, not to compromise the environment in any way, but to make sure that we can move forward in a faster way on necessary infrastructure improvements. And, I think that that will have big implications in all parts of our economy, and agriculture included.”
In the end, Newhouse says it’s not out of neglect for the environment …
NEWHOUSE … “And, so I think it will be a good thing and it will be a, I think, a return to the reason for the inception of NEPA that we need to pay particular attention to the needs of our environment, but also be able to move forward in a growing economy and make improvements to our infrastructure.”
The Council on Environmental Quality has not comprehensively updated its regulations since their inception in 1978.
