Permitting Reform Takes Step Forward

What happened: A bipartisan bill to streamline judicial and agency review under the National Environment Protection Act (NEPA) passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee Nov. 20.

The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act introduced by Committee Chair Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) eliminates redundancy in the permitting process, giving project sponsors transparency and more control over review timelines. ARTBA supported the bill’s passage in a July 30 letter to members of Congress.

Why it matters: Some of the nation’s largest transportation projects can take years to move through the NEPA process, while mobility and safety enhancements sit on the sidelines. The SPEED Act would codify the Supreme Court’s recent Seven County decision, restoring NEPA to its intended procedural role, introducing reforms that help deliver transportation improvements sooner without jeopardizing the environment.

What’s next: The bill may see a floor vote as soon as later this year. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is working on their own version of similar legislation, though a timeline for consideration of legislation has not been made public.