After field hearings in several states, the NEPA Task Force has come back to Washington, DC for one final round of testimony. While the Task Force traveled from town to town, they met strong support for the landmark environmental law and were told by witnesses, as well as 10 former Chairs of the Council on Environmental Quality, that the National Environmental Policy Act did not need legislative change. Unfortunately the Task Force has largely ignored viewpoint, as well as largely ignoring the people most acquainted with NEPA’s implementation—those men and women who work in federal agencies responsible for complying with the act.
Despite the support NEPA enjoys and even though the Task Force has not officially wrapped up, nor have their findings been formally presented, legislation to change NEPA is expected soon. Nowhere is the expectation greater than within the oil and gas industry who prior to the final hearing is hosting an event with Task Force Chairwoman Cathy McMorris (R-WA) titled “UPDATING NEPA: the legislative work begins.” (subscription required)
The truth remains that NEPA is a process that works to make sure ordinary citizens, not just corporate special interests, have a chance to participate in decisions and to ensure that mistakes are caught before they are made. Despite the critics’ charges regarding litigation, the fact is only a tiny fraction of federal actions reviewed under the law – 0.2% -- result in litigation.
Below are several documents that detail some facts that may not be covered at today’s final Task Force hearing.
For More Information
November 16, 2005
