East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Jim Risch (both R-Idaho), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) have introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval aimed at overturning the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Phase II Final Rule.

“Our nation has needed permitting reform for quite some time, and this move by the Biden Administration pushes back progress by decades. Instead of unleashing the power of American ingenuity to complete much-needed infrastructure and energy projects, this Administration continues to bow to the misguided whims of radical environmental activists,” said Crapo. “This resolution of disapproval fights back against red-tape to move forward with meeting the needs of our communities and nation.”

“The Biden administration’s expansion of NEPA regulations is just their latest effort to strangle American innovation. This rule would allow ‘social effects’ to serve as an all-encompassing excuse for killing forest health projects, energy production, mineral development, infrastructure improvements, and any other project with a federal nexus,” said Risch. “I will continue to fight President Biden as he works to smother responsible use of our domestic natural resources.”

“The Biden administration's final NEPA Phase II rule runs roughshod over the bipartisan, bicameral consensus on streamlining federal permits for the vital infrastructure and energy projects that our country desperately needs,” said Sullivan. “If allowed to stand, this rule will bog down projects with red tape, make them harder to build, put hard-working Americans out of work, and waste taxpayer dollars. My colleagues and I are putting forward a CRA to rescind the Biden administration’s ‘death by delay’ regulatory strategy and ensure we can deliver the bridges, roads, pipelines, tunnels, ports, runways and energy projects the American people expect. I hope my colleagues will put America’s infrastructure needs and the interests of hard-working Americans above the demands of far-left radical environmentalists.”

The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Joe Manchin (I-West Virginia), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona) and John Hoeven (R-North Dakota).

The resolution is supported by various organizations including: Agricultural Retailers Association; Alaska Chamber of Commerce; Alaska Oil & Gas Association; Alaska Support Industry Alliance; Alliance for Chemical Distribution; American Chemistry Council; American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute; American Council for Capital Formation; American Exploration & Production Council; American Exploration and Mining Association; American Farm Bureau Federation; American Forest Resource Council; American Gas Association; American Petroleum Institute; American Pipeline Contractors Association; American Public Gas Association; American Road & Transportation Builders Association; American Trucking Association; Associated Builders and Contractors; Associated General Contractors of America – Alaska chapter included); Association of American Railroads; Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES); ConservAmerica Distribution Contractors Association Energy Equipment & Infrastructure Alliance Energy Workforce Technology Council Gas Oil West Virginia GPA Midstream Independent Petroleum Interstate Natural Liquid Energy Pipeline National Asphalt Pavement National Cattlemen’s Beef National Federation Independent Business Hydropower Mining Ocean Ready Mixed Concrete Rural Electric Cooperative Sand Stone Gravel Utility Plastics Pipe Power Communication Public Lands Resource Development Fertilizer Hardwood U.S Chamber Water Sewer Distributors Western Energy.