Harriet Hageman on Curbing NEPA Reviews to Boost US Energy Production

Modernizing Permitting Systems

• 💡 Representative Hageman supports modernizing the US permitting system through the Speed Act to compete globally in energy and infrastructure.
• ⚠️ She criticizes the current National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, stating it has been corrupted from its original intent into a tool to block development and innovation.

Judicial Misuse of NEPA

• ⚖️ The Seven Counties Supreme Court decision is highlighted as providing relief by ruling that project opponents cannot block rail projects based on the commodity to be shipped.
• 📈 NEPA appeals have increased by 56% in the last decade, with environmental organizations instigating over 70% of these challenges.
• 🎯 Agencies win roughly 80% of challenges to environmental reviews, yet opponents use the statute of limitations to file lawsuits, slow down projects, and increase costs.

The Speed Act's Purpose

• ⏱️ The Speed Act aims to clarify the courts' role in this procedural statute and implement shot clocks for filing and deciding lawsuits.
• 🤝 The bill is described as project-agnostic and bipartisan, reflecting its broad applicability and support.
• 🚀 Hageman emphasizes that a broken permitting system impacts every aspect of the economy, and the Speed Act will provide much-needed certainty for American industries.