The Nature Conservancy : Administration Proposes Restoration Of NEPA Guidelines

Press release from The Nature Conservancy:

October 06, 2021

Will restore full consideration of direct, indirect and cumulative impacts

Media Contacts

The Nature Conservancy

Phone:
703-887-0559

Email:
eric.bontrager@tnc.org

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced today it is planning to restore several critical components of federal reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The proposed provisions would restore longstanding and critical safeguards rescinded last year under the previous administration. Federal agencies would be required to evaluate all the potential environmental impacts – direct, indirect and cumulative – of a planned federal project. These reviews cover projects ranging from new pipelines and roads and will now prioritize impacts of climate change and environmental justice.

The provisions would also restore authority for federal agencies to work with local communities to determine the “purpose and need” and to fully consider alternatives to potential projects to minimize their environmental and health effects. Finally, the proposed revisions would affirm once again that CEQ’s NEPA regulations serve as the floor for federal agencies’ environmental reviews, allowing agencies to adapt and strengthen their own review procedures under NEPA as needed. 

Lynn Scarlett

Chief External Affairs Officer for The Nature Conservancy

The following is a statement by Lynn Scarlett, Chief External Affairs Officer at The Nature Conservancy:

“Today’s announcement is another welcome step toward restoring the integrity of federal environmental reviews. For over five decades, the National Environmental Policy Act has been a critical safeguard for communities and nature. It ensures that, before a single shovel is put into the ground, we carefully consider the potential environmental and social impacts of a project. This helps these projects succeed, ensures communities have a voice in the process and minimizes the effects on ecosystems.

“The guidelines restoring consideration of the full breadth of impacts from a project are especially important to address climate change. Comprehensive analysis of a project’s impacts will help ensure that we're making the best decisions and not unintentionally hampering our response to climate change. We commend the administration for moving to restore these safeguards for our communities and our planet. We look forward to working with the administration to further improve upon the federal environmental review process.”

This press release was produced by The Nature Conservancy. The views expressed here are the author’s own.