Agriculture groups are welcoming announced changes by the Trump Administration to the National Environmental Policy Act. The final rule will modernize and accelerate environmental reviews of infrastructure projects that will let them be build in a timely, efficient and affordable manner. Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says balance in those NEPA rules are needed to ensure the environment is protected but also so infrastructure projects can move ahead.
He says without NEPA being streamlined it allows project opponents to unnecessarily delay or stop those projects before they ever get off the ground.
Steenhoek says the current NEPA needed rewriting and updating to assist infrastructure development and still protect the environment.
The Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups are objecting to the NEPA changes. They believe it will make it easier for industry to pollute communities.
