Despite Partisan Rancor, Optimism Abounds For NEPA Permitting Deal

Key lawmakers, state officials and industry lobbyists are expressing renewed optimism that a bipartisan deal on long-sought permit streamlining under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other laws is still possible, a major reversal from many recent assessments which doubted prospects for a deal amid partisan divisions. A major development this week was Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, saying he expects to release a plan for bipartisan NEPA legislation...