President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed a change to 50-year-old regulations that would speed up new mines, pipelines and hundreds of other projects across the country, including some that could harm the environment and accelerate climate change. The move also could prevent communities from having much say about what gets built in their backyards. Surrounded by members of his Cabinet, along with labor leaders and construction industry representatives in hard hats, Trump told reporters gathered at the White House that his proposal will allow highways to be built “in a fraction of the time.” “We will not stop until our nation’s gleaming new infrastructure has made America the envy of the world again,” Trump said. “It used to be the envy of the world and now we’re like a third-world country. It’s really sad.” Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said the president was making the most significant regulatory rollback of his term. “Let me tell you, this is a really, really big proposal,” Bernhardt said, turning to Trump. “The proposal affects virtually every significant decision by the federal government that affects the environment.” The proposed rules would narrow the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal agencies to assess the impact of a major project before it begins and to include the public in the process. To view the full article visit the Seattle Times.
