Rep. Luz Rivas Questions Harvard Professor on Harmful Impacts of 'One Big Ugly Bill' Changes to NEPA

Confirmation of Bill Provisions

• 📌 Representative Rivas confirmed with Professor Mergen that Section 60026 of the "one big ugly bill" allows project sponsors to pay fees to expedite environmental analysis.
• 📌 It was also confirmed that Section 50101 resumes non-competitive leasing and mandates quarterly lease sales for onshore oil and gas drilling.
• 📌 Furthermore, Section 50101 mandates two offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico annually until 2039, and Section 50201 removes the Department of Interior's discretion in coal leasing.

Harmful Impacts on Communities

• ⚠️ Professor Mergen highlighted that the NEPA process is crucial for public engagement and for communities to voice concerns about potential impacts from oil and gas leasing and refining.
• 💡 He stated that these developments have substantial health effects, particularly on children, and that NEPA helps inform the public and decision-makers about these health risks, allowing for mitigation or avoidance.
• 📉 Mergen also noted the damaging effect of the administration taking down information from public sites, which hinders informed decision-making and public understanding.

Environmental Justice and NEPA's Role

• 🏥 Representative Rivas emphasized that communities, like her own in the San Fernando Valley, have historically carried the environmental burden due to lack of information and input, leading to high rates of asthma, cancer, and heart disease.
• 🗣️ She argued that dismantling NEPA would be detrimental, as it provides objective facts and facilitates essential conversations between community members, stakeholders, and industry.
• 🔬 Rivas advocated for properly funding NEPA with science-driven expertise, referencing the loss of experienced experts under the Trump administration.