White House Proposal Will Begin to Restore NEPA, America’s Bedrock Environmental Safeguard

Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality released a proposal to restore key guidelines for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The Trump administration severely weakened NEPA protections, including by dramatically limiting how the federal government assesses the environmental effects of its policies. That action was challenged in court by a coalition of environmental justice, outdoor recreation and conservation groups, including Environmental Defense Fund. EDF released the following statement:

“NEPA has been America’s bedrock environmental safeguard for half a century, ensuring that the federal government carefully considers the impacts of its actions and that communities have a voice in what gets built in their neighborhood. Americans, especially communities of color, have long depended on NEPA to be heard in decisions that have a profound impact on their health and their well-being.

“Today’s proposal is an important first step to reestablish NEPA safeguards and ensure the federal government considers the climate and environmental justice impacts of industrial projects. We look forward to further steps that will fully embed climate and environmental justice into federal decision making and empower frontline communities.”

- Rosalie Winn, Senior Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund