A headlining theme for the 119th Congress has been tied to unleashing American energy dominance. So far, House Republicans have secured several wins as we press onward toward unleashing our nation’s energy potential, but we aren’t done yet. As the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, and as a Representative from Arkansas – a state with an abundance of natural resources and energy potential – it is no question that American energy dominance is a major driver for the committee this Congress. Unfortunately, our energy potential is being cut off at the knees by senseless, bureaucratic red tape baked into our permitting process.
The current federal permitting process hamstrings every corner of American life, shackling our nation’s infrastructure and energy sectors by causing extreme and unnecessary delays which keep these vital industries from pushing much-needed projects across the finish line. The National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, is a leading cause of these delays. NEPA is a procedural statute from 1970 which established parameters at the federal level for assessing and publicly disclosing the environmental impact a project may have on its surrounding communities.
Make no mistake, the NEPA process is certainly well-intended, and environmental factors and assessments are undoubtedly important to heed while in the early stages of a project. However, NEPA requirements apply to all major federal actions and nearly all areas of our daily lives such as the construction of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, transmission lines, conventional and renewable energy projects, broadband, and water infrastructure. Oftentimes, the NEPA process can push back project timelines by nearly half a decade – keeping communities from receiving critical updates that are so desperately needed. Additionally, once projects are through the NEPA process, they are often met with litigation under the statute that delays projects, on average, for another four years.
