Energy & Environment

In line with an AGC recommendation, on July 27 the Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew two policies from 2016 regarding mitigation and Endangered Species Act compensatory mitigation — indicating that the Service lacks the authority to require the "net conservation gain" goal that underpinned the policies.  AGC submitted comments to the Service earlier this year on these policies and urged the Fish and Wildlife Serve to remove the net gain goal, stating that it goes above and beyond the law. 

Last week, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed streamlining updates to multiple sections of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  In addition, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is considering an AGC-supported discussion draft of a new bill to amend the Act.

Following Scott Pruitt’s resignation late last week, Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler assumed the role of acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on July 9.  In his first address to EPA staff, Wheeler indicated that he would continue President Trump’s goals for the agency to reign in federal regulatory overreach and refocus EPA on its core responsibilities. AGC supported Andrew Wheeler’s confirmation as deputy administrator in a letter to the senate earlier this year.

AGC Fights Back Against Obama-Era Rule that Would Have Slowed Project Approval