AFPI Files Comments Opposing the Biden Administration’s Latest Disastrous Permitting Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 29, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) submitted comments opposing the Biden Administration’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2 proposed rule. This disastrous proposal rolls back critical modernizing reforms and creates additional confusion, complexity, and delays in the permitting process. Below is an excerpt from AFPI’s comments.

Regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), through which every major federal action must be assessed, are a central challenge to efficient permitting. Americans need solutions that preserve needed environmental safeguards while providing timely and clear federal decisions to allow viable projects to move forward. The Trump Administration took action with its 2020 Reform rule, the first comprehensive modernizing reforms to the NEPA implementing regulations in 40 years.

Unfortunately, the Biden Administration immediately sought to undo the 2020 Reform Rule. Moreover, despite recent bipartisan congressional action to streamline the permitting process, the CEQ’s Phase 2 Proposal adds additional burdens and complexities to the NEPA process, far outweighing the positive progress introduced by congressional reforms.

READ AFPI’S COMMENTS FULL HERE