Interior Offers Expedited NEPA Option For Many Energy, Mineral Projects

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is moving to implement “alternative arrangements” that could significantly shorten National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews for fossil fuel, mineral, geothermal, biofuel and hydropower projects on public lands, based on President Donald Trump’s energy “emergency” declaration. The agency’s April 23 policy offers the prospect of far quicker reviews for the projects -- with officials promising that rigorous environmental impact statements (EIS) could be done in about a month -- but it is sparking questions...