{"id":2378585,"date":"2024-12-10T15:21:03","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T20:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-looks-poised-to-curb-environmental-studies-hindering-energy-projects-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-10T15:27:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T20:27:58","slug":"supreme-court-looks-poised-to-curb-environmental-studies-hindering-energy-projects-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-looks-poised-to-curb-environmental-studies-hindering-energy-projects-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court looks poised to curb environmental studies hindering energy projects &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsupreme-court-looks-poised-to-curb-environmental-studies-hindering-energy-projects-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2378585&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Supreme Court is likely to limit the requirements for environmental \u200cstudies stipulated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which has mandated\u200d such assessments for \u2064over 50 years.critics argue that these requirements \u2064have caused delays and increased costs for large-scale energy projects. During recent hearings, the justices reviewed a specific case\u200b concerning an 88-mile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/n-j-declares-state-of-emergency-as-severe-winter-storm-brings-snow-and-high-winds\/\" title=\"N.J. declares state of emergency as severe winter storm brings snow and high winds\">rail line<\/a> in \u2063Utah that aims to transport\u2064 crude oil to \u2063refineries along the Gulf Coast. environmentalists and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-spike-in-florida-coronavirus-cases-despite-no-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"No Spike in Florida Coronavirus Cases Despite No Mask Mandate\">local governments<\/a> \u200cclaim that the project did not adequately address potential broader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-democrat-senator-urges-biden-to-reverse-on-keystone-pipeline-14-ags-threaten-legal-action\/\" title=\"Top Democrat Senator Urges Biden To Reverse On Keystone Pipeline, 14 AGs Threaten Legal Action\">environmental impacts<\/a>, such as pollution and \u200drail accident risks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Supreme Court looks poised to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">curb environmental studies hindering energy projects<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> appears poised to narrow the scope of law requiring research on &ldquo;environmental impacts&rdquo; before starting large development projects, a more than 50-year-old requirement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that critics say has led to delays and increased costs for large-scale energy projects.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>During arguments on Tuesday, the justices considered a case <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3254898\/supreme-court-weighs-fate-environmental-reviews-energy-projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">involving an 88-mile rail line in Utah<\/a> designed to transport crude oil to Gulf Coast refineries. Environmentalists and local governments have argued that regulators failed to assess the broader environmental consequences of the project, including Gulf Coast air pollution and risks of rail accidents along the route.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; The Supreme Court building is seen, June 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit previously sided with these challengers, requiring the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to evaluate the project&rsquo;s &ldquo;upstream and downstream&rdquo; effects on the environment. However, the justices signaled skepticism toward such an expansive interpretation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Throughout the argument, a majority of the Court seemed to signal that the D.C. Circuit under review had required the federal&nbsp;government to consider environmental impacts too far afield from the railroad project that was under review,&rdquo; University of Minnesota Law School professor James Coleman told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Paul Clement, a veteran litigant with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2710355\/mark-meadows-taps-former-bush-solicitor-general-to-fight-georgia-rico-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">high record of success at the high court<\/a>, represented seven Utah counties supporting the rail line, urging the justices to limit NEPA reviews to only &ldquo;direct impacts&rdquo; of projects under an agency&rsquo;s jurisdiction. He argued that the current standard requiring analysis of effects &ldquo;remote in time and space&rdquo; creates unnecessary delays that discourage investment. &ldquo;For investors, time is money,&rdquo; Clement noted.<\/p>\n<p>Environmental advocates, including the Center for Biological Diversity, have said that NEPA&rsquo;s broad scope is vital to protecting ecosystems and communities. &ldquo;Communities in the Uinta Basin and the Gulf Coast will suffer the most from this oil railroad,&rdquo; said Wendy Park, an attorney for the center. She warned that scaling back NEPA reviews would prioritize industry profits over public health.<\/p>\n<p>But most if not all of the justices appeared&nbsp;hesitant to uphold the status quo for NEPA&nbsp;and appeared open to embracing a new and narrower set of standards under the law, though how exactly they would rule remains to be seen.<\/p>\n<p>Justice Amy Coney Barrett suggested the eventual decision could clarify existing guidelines without establishing a sweeping precedent, asking whether they might simply &ldquo;put more flesh on the bone.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, Justice Elena Kagan questioned the practicality of assessing the environmental effects that an agency cannot regulate. &ldquo;If the STB can&rsquo;t do anything about refineries, one wonders what all this fuss and bother is about,&rdquo; she remarked.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Several justices, including Kagan, Sotomayor, Jackson, and Coney-Barrett, questioned whether this test was too narrow given the purposes of NEPA and too hard to implement,&rdquo; Michael Drysdale of Dorsey &amp; Whitney told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>after oral arguments.<\/p>\n<p>Coleman said the justices appeared focused on finding a way to write a &ldquo;decision that would establish general rules describing the kinds of effects that are too remote for agencies to require consideration of them.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A ruling in favor of Utah&rsquo;s counties could significantly limit the reach of environmental reviews, a prospect welcomed by developers, energy companies, and incoming President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed similar complaints about the time and money spent prioritizing environmental studies over actually completing developments like the one at issue in this case.<\/p>\n<p>Justice Neil Gorsuch, who recused himself due to a potential conflict of interest, did not participate.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court may limit environmental studies delaying energy projects<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2378586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AP23221778221358.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36765,46533,5270,32275,32076],"class_list":["post-2378585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-energy-projects","tag-environmental-studies","tag-regulation","tag-supreme-court","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AP23221778221358.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2378585"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378585\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2378594,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2378585\/revisions\/2378594"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2378586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2378585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2378585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2378585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}