Both Congress and the White House have turned to AGC for common-sense recommendations on streamlining the federal environmental permitting and review processes. And, AGC has delivered. The primary reforms AGC shared in its May 2017 testimony before Congress include:
- Requiring a nationwide merger of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting processes, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issuing a 404 permit at the end of the NEPA process, based on the information generated by NEPA. Data show these processes take the longest, are the most costly, and are subject to the most disagreements;
- To reduce duplication, the monitoring, mitigation and other environmental planning work performed during the NEPA process must satisfy federal environmental permitting requirements unless there is a material change in the project; and
- A reasonable and measured approach to citizen suit reform to prevent misuse of environmental laws.
AGC also testified before Congress in March 2017 on how to reduce environmental permitting paperwork. AGC has met and shared its reforms with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps, among others. In addition, the association submitted detailed proposals at the request of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which was covered in the Washington Post. And, the House Natural Resources Committee sought and received AGC’s advice on reforming the Endangered Species Act.
For more information, please contact AGC’s Leah Pilconis at pilconisl@agc.org.