Bedrock Enviro Laws On Chopping Block In Trump Infrastructure Push

"The Trump administration's push on infrastructure, its main legislative priority this year, is likely to call for handcuffing environmental laws to expedite permitting that the White House contends will save project developers time and money.

President Trump is expected to unveil an infrastructure package in the coming weeks. Interest groups view the effort as one of their last chances to get favored initiatives approved before the midterm elections. Observers say the legislation could turn into a massive grab bag, as every sector of the economy, seemingly, is trying to convince the administration that it, too, is important to infrastructure.

The administration has been focused on stripping away environmental requirements that it sees as a drag on project development, sources said. The emphasis on changes to permitting would benefit all infrastructure initiatives regardless of industry or project type, according to the White House."

Zack Colman reports for ClimateWire January 24, 2018.