Citing President Trump’s national energy emergency to speed up permits for new gas pipelines and other projects, the US Army Corps of Engineers has created a new class of emergency permits for fossil fuel projects.
Bracewell’s Ann Navaro told The New York Times that the Corps has the discretion to determine what would be covered under its emergency regulations, as well as to try to make the permitting process more efficient.
“I expect the regulated community will welcome any procedures the Corps will develop that would make the processing of energy permits more efficient,” she said.
Opponents fear that fast-tracking approvals could reduce opportunities for public comment or even short-circuit the National Environmental Policy Act.
