Westerman, who had been a leading House GOP negotiator in ongoing permitting reform talks, released a discussion draft focused on revamping the National Environmental Policy Act, a bedrock environmental law.
His bill would speed up environmental reviews and limit legal challenges. Specifically, the legislation would:
- Restrict the use of new science in environmental reviews, as part of an effort to prevent research from stalling a project’s approval.
Give project opponents a deadline for when they can sue over a project and prevent courts from blocking projects based solely on insufficient environmental analysis.
Limit the environmental impacts that are subject to review to those that are likely to occur in areas directly affected by the project and have a direct causal relationship — an approach that critics have warned could limit consideration of downstream climate impacts.
The draft comes as Westerman and Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) have been negotiating the issue, known as permitting reform, in the House.
On the Senate side, Sens. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) announced a bipartisan compromise earlier this year.
What did everybody have to say?
- Peters’s spokesperson said talks are still ongoing and confirmed that the newly public draft is from Westerman only.
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A Westerman spokesperson described the draft as a starting point in bicameral talks.
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A Barrasso spokesperson noted that certain permitting reform issues fall outside of the lawmaker’s jurisdiction on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee — and that Barrasso is in touch with colleagues including House members.
Westerman’s draft will be discussed at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing next week.
Read more at TheHill.com.
