THE VOICE OF THE MERIT SHOP

On Sept. 10, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a legislative hearing on H.R. 573, the Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act, H.R. 4503, the ePermit Act, and H.R. 4776, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act. Ahead of the hearing, ABC sent a letter to the committee in support of the bills, which streamline the permitting process and provide greater transparency for the construction industry, project developers and the public.

The House Natural Resources Committee is seeking nationwide support for the SPEED Act, introduced by Committee Chair Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., and Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine. The legislation would codify NEPA’s intent is to prescribe the necessary processes rather than mandate particular results, narrow the scope of NEPA review, clarify that federal funding and assistance should not be the determinant of whether an agency action is determined to be a “major Federal action,” and set reasonable timelines for filing judicial review claims. These reforms would reduce permitting delays and the potential for activist groups to block projects they oppose through excessive delays that can ultimately lead to project cancellations, providing project sponsors and contractors with increased certainty that enables them to plan and invest with confidence.

Please contact [email protected] if your chapter is interested in writing Congress in support of the legislation.

House Committee Considers NEPA Reforms

On Sept. 10, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a legislative hearing on H.R. 573, the Studying NEPA’s Impact on Projects Act, H.R. 4503, the ePermit Act, and H.R. 4776, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act. Ahead of the hearing, ABC sent a letter to the committee in support of the bills, which streamline the permitting process and provide greater transparency for the construction industry, project developers and the public.

The House Natural Resources Committee is seeking nationwide support for the SPEED Act, introduced by Committee Chair Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., and Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine. The legislation would codify NEPA’s intent is to prescribe the necessary processes rather than mandate particular results, narrow the scope of NEPA review, clarify that federal funding and assistance should not be the determinant of whether an agency action is determined to be a “major Federal action,” and set reasonable timelines for filing judicial review claims. These reforms would reduce permitting delays and the potential for activist groups to block projects they oppose through excessive delays that can ultimately lead to project cancellations, providing project sponsors and contractors with increased certainty that enables them to plan and invest with confidence.

Please contact [email protected] if your chapter is interested in writing Congress in support of the legislation.