E.P.A. Moves to Limit States’ Ability to Block Pipelines
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Trump administration proposed a rule to limit states' ability to block oil, gas pipelines, coal export terminals, and other energy projects that may pollute local waterways by narrowing the scope of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
- The rule would restrict states and tribes to only address direct water quality effects of projects, excluding considerations like air pollution or traffic, and impose a one-year deadline for states to act on certification requests for federal permits.
- This proposal is part of a broader effort by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce federal protections under the Clean Water Act, following a prior plan to remove protections from millions of acres of wetlands and streams.
- The move is expected to provoke legal challenges from Democratic state officials who have traditionally used
