Relaxed Environmental Study Rules?

One of the most frustrating aspects of grant-funded projects for the public is that it takes years from the announcement that their neighborhood is covered by a grant until they see the new infrastructure. One of the reasons for these delays has been environmental studies that are mandatory when projects are funded by federal funds. On April 9, the Council on Environmental Quality issued a memorandum to all federal departments that suggests new guidelines for how to implement the laws that require environmental studies. The issues covered in the memo haven’t been mandated by Congress, and don’t carry the force of law. However, it’s likely that most federal agencies will follow the new guidance. The new guidelines could eliminate the time and paperwork involved in conducting the environmental review for a majority of federal grant-funded projects.