Photo: Kusa Dogwood, Lois Barber
February - An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been required for every major federally funded project since the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the "Magna Carta" of environmental protection laws, was signed into law in 1970 by President Nixon. EISs have become our most important defense against proposals which would harm the environment, public health, and the climate.
Now, President Trump wants to substantially undermine this law. Since taking office, he has proposed over 90 rollbacks of environmental laws; this one is the most significant yet. According to his Interior Secretary, “The proposal affects virtually every significant decision by the federal government that affects the environment.” His critics agree. This proposal would remove a key obstacle to heavily polluting projects and to unfettered fossil fuel development.
NEPA requires that major projects with significant impacts be studied to understand the potential consequences before projects are approved. It gives the public a voice in projects that would impact their environment, and requires that alternatives be sought that would minimize harm. The proposed new rules would 1) narrow the types of projects that would require an EIS; 2) restrict the time and the number of pages allowed for the studies; 3) eliminate the need to consider indirect or cumulative impacts, including the climate change impacts of increased greenhouse gas emissions; 4) limit public input: groups that fail to weigh in during the public comment period would forfeit any right to raise objections later in litigation. These proposals would open the way for continuing fossil fuel development and building highways in areas subject to flooding from rising seas, and would give administrations free rein to hide the impacts of dangerous projects. They would bring us closer to climate catastrophe.
TAKE ACTION: Public comment period ends March 10. Be sure to submit your comment to our government in time. Oppose this dangerous and damaging proposal from this president.
CONTACT: Go to: https://www.regulations.gov. Enter the docket number CEQ-2019-0003 in the search bar and click. Then look to right for ‘Comment Now’, click, and enter your comment.
Or Fax your comment to: 202-456-6546. Include the docket # and agency (Council for Environmental Quality) in your fax.
Multiply this Message: Write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others.
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