The House of Representatives has paved the way for a comprehensive revision of the federal environmental review process following a vote last Thursday. This decision came despite last-minute amendments that caused several clean energy advocates and moderate Democrats to retract their initial support.
The legislation, titled the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, or SPEED Act, overcame opposition from many environmentalists and Democrats who resisted its extensive changes to a crucial environmental statute. The bill, introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and supported by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), was approved with a 221-196 vote, with 11 Democrats joining Republicans in favor of the reform. It will now progress to the Senate, where it faces mixed opinions, leaving its future uncertain.
The SPEED Act aims to amend essential environmental regulations that dictate the assessment and approval process for major government initiatives by altering the landmark 1970 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA, enacted during the Nixon administration, mandates federal agencies to evaluate and publicize the environmental effects of significant projects prior to giving permits or funding. Although NEPA assessments are just one component of the federal permitting system, proponents contend they are vital, offering both the government and the public an opportunity to scrutinize the potential environmental consequences of large-scale ventures.
For years, critics have claimed that the increasing complexity of reviews, paired with legal disputes over their outcomes, has transformed NEPA into a source of considerable delays that impede major projects like power plants, transmission lines, and renewable energy developments on federal lands.
During the House session on Thursday prior to the vote, Westerman characterized the SPEED Act as a measure to reintroduce 'common sense and accountability' to federal permitting. While commending NEPA's original purpose, Westerman expressed that its intended environmental safeguards have been overshadowed by what he described as NEPA becoming synonymous with 'red tape and waste.'