“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has created a new class of ’emergency’ permits for fossil fuel projects, raising the possibility that pipelines, mines, power plants and other facilities could be fast-tracked for approval as part of President Trump’s demand to increase oil, gas and coal production,” the New York Times reports.
“The move could reduce the opportunities for the public and local officials to weigh in on the effects of proposed projects. It may even short-circuit the National Environmental Policy Act, a 55-year-old law that requires federal agencies to analyze the environmental effects of major projects before they are built. That process can take months or even years, depending on the project’s complexity.”
