The Trump Administration’s First Steps Toward Streamlining Environmental Reviews

December 2017
Citation:
47
ELR 11018
Issue
12
Author
Norman F. Carlin and Kevin J. Ashe

On August 15, 2017, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects," which seeks to expedite federal review and approval of infrastructure projects by imposing new timelines and procedures, including a two-year deadline for completing reviews under NEPA and issuing permits for major infrastructure projects. While the EO itself is broadly framed and leaves many aspects of implementation to be worked out, subsequent actions by CEQ and DOI have already begun to implement the EO’s directives. This Comment discusses its prospects for implementation.

Norman F. Carlin is a Partner with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. He helps industry, developer, and public agency clients navigate the environmental impact review process under the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Kevin J. Ashe is an Associate in the Environmental and Natural Resources practice area at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

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