July 16, 2020
OEC Statement on the Trump Administration’s Rollback of National Environmental Policy Act
Columbus, OH — On Wednesday, the Trump administration finalized its rollback of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For decades, NEPA has ensured that government agencies undertake a thorough, community-based review process that considers the public health and environmental impacts of construction projects and alternative actions before they take place.
The following statement can be attributed in full, or in part, to Nathan Johnson, Ohio Environmental Council Public Lands Director:
“The Trump administration just finalized a major attack on one of America’s bedrock environmental protection laws. The administration’s NEPA rollback threatens to eliminate the public’s voice and public oversight over countless polluting industrial projects like major oil and gas pipelines. Often these polluting projects are located in at-risk and historically underserved communities, and NEPA is often the only tool these communities have to fight back. Additionally, the rollback aims to eliminate discussion of climate change from federal government decision-making at a time when bold climate action is needed. This is an assault on science, on vulnerable communities, and on public health. The OEC will fight these unlawful NEPA rollbacks as we continue to challenge bad federal projects that threaten our communities and our climate.”
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