AGC’s Approach to Environmental Review and Permitting Reform

In the last few years there has been a lot of action on environmental review and permitting reform. Whether it is new rules issued by the Biden Administration or reforms pushed by Congress, AGC has all of the details to help you understand them.

The Latest Rule:On July 1^st, the White House Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ's) final rule implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Phase II regulations went into effect. The rule elevates climate and community impacts to the NEPA permitting process - requiring extensive review of effects, alternatives analysis, and mitigation on top of an already protracted process. CEQ's rule ignores the intent of the environmental review and permitting reforms within the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, and instead changes the role of the NEPA from a procedural process to one that seeks to mandate agencies to enact preferred policies. New Reforms Ahead?In July 2024, Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, which limits lawsuits and expedites timelines for permitting decisions on energy construction projects.

AGC has taken a whole of association approach to navigating permitting reform. Here are some helpful links to our advocacy efforts and resources to help you understand the latest requirements.

Recent Regulations, Legislation, Fact Sheets, and Guidance: AGC Permitting Reform Advocacy Efforts

For more information, please contact John Chambers.