Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman and U.S. Representative Jared Golden introduced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which has been in place for over fifty years.
Chairman Westerman stated, “America’s model of successful environmental stewardship alongside strong economic growth is being hobbled by a more than half-century old permitting process that is overdue for a tuneup.” He emphasized the need for “commonsense upgrades” to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and enhance infrastructure development while maintaining environmental standards.
Representative Golden echoed these sentiments, saying, “Being a good steward of our environment doesn’t mean we must tolerate a yearslong permitting process that is onerous, overly complex and ripe for litigation abuse.” He highlighted the importance of modern infrastructure and energy production to support economic growth and energy independence.
The SPEED Act seeks to modernize NEPA by streamlining its processes. The bill proposes reducing permitting timelines, minimizing frivolous litigation, simplifying analysis requirements in NEPA documents, clarifying when NEPA applies by defining “Major Federal Action,” and setting judicial review limitations for NEPA claims.
NEPA was originally designed as a procedural statute to assess environmental impacts of major federal actions. However, it has become known for its lengthy processes and increased costs. The SPEED Act aims to address these issues by returning NEPA to its intended purpose.
