Republican Governors Raise Concerns on Biden’s Phase II NEPA Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 17 Republican governors, led by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and Utah Governor Spencer Cox, sent a letter to the Biden Administration criticizing efforts to make the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) less efficient, less effective, invite litigation, and fail to fully consider state-specific information in the NEPA process.

Read the full letter here.

Led by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and Utah Governor Spencer Cox, additional signatories include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Mike Parson (MO), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Doug Burgum (ND), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).

Background:

Biden’s proposed rule expands the size and scope of government agencies that will open future energy, infrastructure, and other building projects to new litigation and excessive delays. Additionally, the proposed rule fails to streamline the permitting process and ignores the will of Congress, expressed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, of clear deadlines, page limits, and directives regarding environmental reviews.

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