WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), testified in front of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) about the Trump administration’s proposed regulations that would drastically change the implementation of the 50-year National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The Trump Administration’s proposal would drastically weaken implementation of the landmark environmental law, which is the only law that requires the federal government to analyze the environmental impacts of its actions, and allows for public input in federal decision-making.
“The proposal would burden the public with severe environmental and health consequences by eliminating the requirement for agencies to consider cumulative impacts and indirect effects,” Senator Carper testified. “Taking away those requirements would prohibit agencies from considering the impact to air quality – or water quality – from a proposed project. Simply put, it makes no sense.
“What’s more, this proposal hands over to the fox the keys to the henhouse by allowing companies to write their own environmental impact statements, and creates loopholes to avoid environmental review and public input,” he continued.
Below is Senator Carper’s testimony at today’s hearing, as prepared for delivery.
“Good morning, everyone. My name is Tom Carper, senior U.S. Senator for the State of Delaware. I am privileged to serve as the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has oversight of the National Environmental Policy Act, or ‘NEPA.’
“Like our Constitution, NEPA is one of the most imitated environmental laws in the world. And like changes to our Constitution, changes to NEPA regulations should be considered seriously and sparingly.
“I have always said that if something isn’t perfect, let’s work to make it better. Instead of doing so, this proposal chooses expediency over environmental protection.
“The proposal would burden the public with severe environmental and health consequences by eliminating the requirement for agencies to consider cumulative impacts and indirect effects.
“Taking away those requirements would prohibit agencies from considering the impact to air quality – or water quality – from a proposed project. Simply put, it makes no sense.
“What’s more, this proposal hands over to the fox the keys to the henhouse by allowing companies to write their own environmental impact statements, and creates loopholes to avoid environmental review and public input.
“Along with concerns about the policy, I must also mention CEQ’s refusal to open this notice of proposed rulemaking to greater public participation.
“In response to repeated concerns from more than 160 Members of Congress, and literally hundreds of stakeholder organizations, I have heard CEQ state that it is, quote, ‘engaging in extensive public outreach, including through requests for public comments, two hearings and other outreach.’
“Let me be clear: neither this CEQ nor any CEQ gets ‘extra credit’ for the mere act of requesting public comment on regulations that would change the implementation of a bedrock environmental law, and certainly not for allowing only 60 days to review and comment on this massive protection rollback.
“Further, the process CEQ is using to develop this regulation is troubling. The idea of constraining comments to a meager 3 minutes; the idea of requiring “tickets,” as if it is a prize to participate in a democratic norm; and the idea of CEQ failing to engage a single speaker in Denver, or in the first session of today’s hearings, is not emblematic of an open process.
“NEPA reminds us that our government is one that is ‘of the people, for the people and by the people.’ Sadly, this proposal and this process have been just the opposite.
“I will continue to fight to defend NEPA and the democratic tools it provides to the American people. Thank you.”
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