CleanTechnica•1 day ago
US EPA Plans to Undercut State Authority to Protect Clean Water from Pipeline & Other Infrastructure Projects
Key Takeaway
This policy change could streamline permitting for certain infrastructure projects by reducing state environmental oversight, potentially accelerating development but also increasing environmental risk and public opposition.
AI Summary
- •The Trump administration's EPA is proposing changes to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, aiming to limit state and tribal authority over water quality permitting for major infrastructure projects.
- •The proposed rule would make it more difficult for states and tribes to block or delay projects, such as pipelines and potentially transmission lines, based on local water quality concerns.
- •For developers, this could streamline federal permitting processes and potentially accelerate project timelines by reducing state-level environmental hurdles.
- •Large power consumers might see faster development of energy infrastructure serving their needs, but also face potential long-term environmental risks associated with reduced oversight.
Topics
emissionspolicytransmission
Article Content
Today, the Trump administration announced a plan to limit the authority of states and tribes to protect clean water from pollution resulting from pipelines and other major infrastructure projects during the permitting process. The proposed changes to rules interpreting Section 401 of the Clean Water Act would make it more difficult for ... [continued] The post US EPA Plans to Undercut State Authority to Protect Clean Water from Pipeline & Other Infrastructure Projects appeared first on CleanTechnica .