Trump to dismiss climate impacts in overhaul of environmental reviews: sources

By Valerie Volcovici

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks following the U.S. Military airstrike against Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, Iraq, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 3, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major new U.S. projects like highways and pipelines will no longer require federal reviews of their environmental climate impact under new rules that the Trump administration will propose on Wednesday, sources familiar with the plan said.

 

The proposed overhaul would update how federal agencies implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a law aimed at ensuring the government protects the environment when reviewing or making decisions about projects that include building roads and bridges, cutting forests, expanding broadband to approving interstate pipelines like the Keystone XL.

 

The regulatory change would be the first in 40 years by the White House Council on Environmental Quality which coordinates U.S. environmental efforts by federal agencies and other White House offices.

 

The council is expected to announce that federal agencies will not be required to consider "cumulative" climate change impacts when considering federal projects, said two people familiar with the CEQ rulemaking.

 

The council oversees how nearly 80 government agencies meet their NEPA obligations.

 

"President (Donald) Trump promised a more efficient process to provide Americans timely decisions on permits for vital infrastructure projects that provide good jobs, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods across our great country," CEQ spokesman Daniel Schneider said by email.

 

The CEQ is also expected to limit the scope of projects that would trigger stringent environmental reviews called environmental impact studies, expand the number of project categories that can be excluded from NEPA reviews and allow companies or project developers to conduct their own environmental assessments, the sources said.

 

In a memorandum commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of NEPA on Jan. 1, Trump, who has been a vocal critic of regulations as a commercial real estate developer, signaled big changes were coming.

 

 

The Trump administration will unveil new regulations on Wednesday, which would limit the types of projects like highways and pipelines that require environmental review and no longer require federal agencies to weigh their climate impacts, sources familiar with the plan said. Yahaira Jacquez reports.

 

"CEQ has conducted a thorough review of its NEPA implementing regulations and will soon issue a proposal to update those regulations to address the many concerns my Administration has heard from hardworking Americans, small businesses, and State and local officials,” Trump said.

 

In November, over 30 of the country’s biggest industry groups ranging from the Chamber of Commerce to the American Petroleum Institute called on CEQ to hurry the release of the NEPA “modernization,” saying it was long overdue. (Read story https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-environment-nepa/industry-groups-urge-white-house-to-finish-overhauling-u-s-environmental-review-process-idUSKBN1XW1AU )

 

Environmental groups are concerned that by weakening NEPA implementation, the United States will lose a significant tool to combat and guard against climate change impacts and allow companies to harm local communities with less scrutiny.

 

Christy Goldfuss, former chair of the CEQ between 2015 and 2017, said the Trump proposal would cause lasting damage.

 

She said environmental groups have successfully blocked or delayed a dozen big polluting projects in courts by arguing that Trump agencies failed to weigh climate impacts in their reviews, a requirement created under the Obama administration.

 

“This proposal is really about trying to remove that barrier of the courts,” she said.

 

Stephen Schima, lead NEPA attorney for Earthjustice, said weakening NEPA implementation would deprive local communities of “the most widespread mechanism of citizen involvement in government.”

 

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; editing by Diane Craft and Richard Chang)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-07

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Who cares he stuffing up his own country as long as he leaves other countries alone.

Great news. Cut the ridiculous amount of red tape and build infrastructure. The leftists will hate it, which is even more important. 

thank goodness he dismiss the climate change drivel,

that will stop the imbecile european leaders dead in the track

and enlightenment will survive this test

Leave US alone with polluted air and water which will not improve their already low life expectancy. They deserved Trump. 

40 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

thank goodness he dismiss the climate change drivel,

that will stop the imbecile european leaders dead in the track

and enlightenment will survive this test

Really ????

1 hour ago, elmrfudd said:

Great news. Cut the ridiculous amount of red tape and build infrastructure. The leftists will hate it, which is even more important. 

Anything goes as long as it is against those pesky lefties. What is wrong with people, why the full on hatred for other people. That is rhetorical.

2 hours ago, elmrfudd said:

Great news. Cut the ridiculous amount of red tape and build infrastructure. The leftists will hate it, which is even more important. 

Independent like myself just HATE all trump supporter. Not red tape. 

Now would be a great time for trump’s supporters to show their loyalty to him by going abroad and staying in trump hotels.

Edited January 7, 20206 yr by earlinclaifornia

54 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Anything goes as long as it is against those pesky lefties. What is wrong with people, why the full on hatred for other people. That is rhetorical.

No, just common sense improvement of vital infrastructure without having a 4 year study to see if a toad may be harmed in any way. Get it? 

10 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

Independent like myself just HATE all trump supporter. Not red tape.

Well at least you are honest about the irrational emotional hatred of the people who disagree with you. Well done. California needs more of you 

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

Leave US alone with polluted air and water which will not improve their already low life expectancy. They deserved Trump. 

Where does it say anything like that? Or is this just another assumption on your end? 

1 minute ago, elmrfudd said:

Well at least you are honest about the irrational emotional hatred of the people who disagree with you. Well done. California needs more of you 

Im am not in California but honesty, respect and integrity are what I do stand for.

1 minute ago, earlinclaifornia said:

Im am not in California but honesty, respect and integrity are what I do stand for.

I am sure you think that. And yet you put HATE trump supporters in your post. The irony is amazing. 

Edited January 7, 20206 yr by elmrfudd

Good to see the president keeping yet another promise and streamlining red tape.   Hilarious how it triggers the liberals.   Wonder what 8 years of constantly being triggered feels like?    Any liberals care to share?

1 minute ago, Mick501 said:

Good to see the president keeping yet another promise and streamlining red tape.   Hilarious how it triggers the liberals.   Wonder what 8 years of constantly being triggered feels like?    Any liberals care to share?

Well said mick. But you see, these libs are much more virtuous and intelligent than those who disagree with them. As you will see in their posts 

1 hour ago, elmrfudd said:

No, just common sense improvement of vital infrastructure without having a 4 year study to see if a toad may be harmed in any way. Get it? 

This comment ignores my question. But I did not expect one, hence the remark 'rhetorical'. And your comment did confirm my opinion, so thanks for your post.

10 minutes ago, elmrfudd said:

I do? All I did was point out the obvious hypocrisy of liberals when it came to tolerance of other opinions in the avatar. Not hate like you earl. Do you need any further explanation? 

That's why folks call it a cult. There's a groupthink that mirrors cult behavior. It's not their beliefs that matter, but whatever their leader believes. If he changes his belief 180 degrees then the whole cult changes their beliefs even if it's the opposite of a day ago. Liberals have their own nuttiness, but I'll give them this much, they can't stand any leader because no one could ever fit all of their often conflicting woke standards. But at least they have something like standards. The Trump cult has only one: what does Trump believe and whatever that is becomes their belief instantly. .

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

Anything goes as long as it is against those pesky lefties. What is wrong with people, why the full on hatred for other people. That is rhetorical.

Anything goes? Like what? Cutting out the ridiculous red tape? Where is this hatred? Why can't we just use common sense and reality to make infrastructure projects feasible and affordable? Just because we see through the over the top regulatory system does not mean hatred. Where are you getting this? 

So now it is open season on what remains of  the US environment? A headlong rush  into the unregulated  rape of  assets in  corporate  capitalist interests ahead of  long term impact? In terms of the fundamental ideology the US  administration is continuing to inflict not only at home  but  globally it makes sense...to them !

The ultimate  democratic  right of the  rich and powerful  to over ride  the preservation of any other  rights  be that in  preservation of the interests of  the  "little" people in any terms including the probable infliction of environmental hazards  to  whole communities.

Why is it that there is  this blind appeal to achieve a situation of supreme power and wealth in a  world where  everyone and everything is  dead?

3 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

So now it is open season on what remains of  the US environment? A headlong rush  into the unregulated  rape of  assets in  corporate  capitalist interests ahead of  long term impact? In terms of the fundamental ideology the US  administration is continuing to inflict not only at home  but  globally it makes sense...to them !

The ultimate  democratic  right of the  rich and powerful  to over ride  the preservation of any other  rights  be that in  preservation of the interests of  the  "little" people in any terms including the probable infliction of environmental hazards  to  whole communities.

Why is it that there is  this blind appeal to achieve a situation of supreme power and wealth in a  world where  everyone and everything is  dead?

Wow, quite a bit of over the top emotional reaction without any actual problems that this will create. This is about getting infrastructure projects moving without being forced by enviro nazis to study for years how it would effect a rodent or a toad. Calm down 

45 minutes ago, elmrfudd said:

Anything goes? Like what? Cutting out the ridiculous red tape? Where is this hatred? Why can't we just use common sense and reality to make infrastructure projects feasible and affordable? Just because we see through the over the top regulatory system does not mean hatred. Where are you getting this? 

Feasibility. Affordability.  Consider the connection.

Scenario : If we  were  not  encumbered  by the constrictions  of  environmental impact or  compensations  for  disruption to normal livelihood as a Coprporate  favoured  under  legislation we  could  make  mega bucks ! "

2 minutes ago, elmrfudd said:

Wow, quite a bit of over the top emotional reaction without any actual problems that this will create. This is about getting infrastructure projects moving without being forced by enviro nazis to study for years how it would effect a rodent or a toad. Calm down 

Are people  and  communities  that will  be  effected toads?

I’ve personally been on a project multi billion $ effecting at least 70,000 people daily stopped dead in its tracks because a seagull layed an egg we figured a go around but that bit of stupidity I witnessed with my owne eyes so I agree many of the inveriomental laws are to draconian that beeing said we must find the proper balance that allows us to work and still be proper Costodians of the inverioment another words don’t throw the baby out with the bath water  

Just now, Dumbastheycome said:

Are people  and  communities  that will  be  effected toads?

Who said they were going to be effected? Do you really think that they would disregard this for an infrastructure project? How twisted are you? 

1 minute ago, Tug said:

I’ve personally been on a project multi billion $ effecting at least 70,000 people daily stopped dead in its tracks because a seagull layed an egg we figured a go around but that bit of stupidity I witnessed with my owne eyes so I agree many of the inveriomental laws are to draconian that beeing said we must find the proper balance that allows us to work and still be proper Costodians of the inverioment another words don’t throw the baby out with the bath water  

I do not agree with you about much, but yes, the stupidity behind many of the regulations and their complicit beareuacrats have hindered public works for decades 

6 hours ago, legend49 said:

Who cares he stuffing up his own country as long as he leaves other countries alone.

 

In case you weren't aware, climate change impacts don't limit themselves neatly to national borders!

 

1 minute ago, elmrfudd said:

Who said they were going to be effected? Do you really think that they would disregard this for an infrastructure project? How twisted are you? 

Obviously  you  have no idea  of  what  has been  inflicted on populations globally  by  corporate interests in pursuit  of profit. Even within the US. 

I can agree that there  have been  extreme  of conflict over  issues of  both  cultural or  other seemingly  minor  points of debate. But at  least  those  debates  have  created  some  greater consideration of the reality rather than the  realty. Even  with  prior  filters of limitation  there have been  situations where circumvention  vis  political and administrative circumvention  has  been disasterous.

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Major new U.S. projects like highways and pipelines will no longer require federal reviews of their environmental climate impact under new rules that the Trump administration will propose on Wednesday, sources familiar with the plan said.

There is no situation beyond the grasp of trump to make worse, including climate change. He is gifted at <deleted> things up.

20 minutes ago, elmrfudd said:

Wow, quite a bit of over the top emotional reaction without any actual problems that this will create. This is about getting infrastructure projects moving without being forced by enviro nazis to study for years how it would effect a rodent or a toad. Calm down 

I am not  commenting  from an emotional standpoint  at all. Instead I recognize the potential impact of the elimination of  many forms of life seemingly  irrelevant to those who  prefer scrutiny of  the stock market numbers because I personally do not subscribe to the concept  that  we as humans are quite as  clever in  our  existence as  we are taught to believe  that we  can  offset the destruction  a sustainable  environment.

So  not  emotional. Rational and logical.

51 minutes ago, elmrfudd said:

I do not agree with you about much, but yes, the stupidity behind many of the regulations and their complicit beareuacrats have hindered public works for decades 

Can you  cite specific " public  works" so hindered? That is  such works intended  to be for the  greater  community?