The Trump Administration just announced a devastating plan to gut the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). According to the proposed changes:

• Federal agencies will no longer be required to consider “cumulative” climate change impacts when considering federal projects under NEPA.

• Fewer projects will be required to undergo environmental impact studies. 

• In addition to the environmental implications, communities would also lose the right they have under NEPA to comment on projects impacting the air, land, and water in their backyard.

NEPA ensures that government agencies undertake a thorough, community-based review process that considers the public health and environmental impacts of construction projects and alternative actions before they take place. We must speak out against these attacks on NEPA because they undermine one of our most important tools to fight against environmental injustice. 

Public voice is the heart of NEPA, and now, public voice can save NEPA. Today, will you join OEC members across the state who are speaking up to protect NEPA? 

SIGN NOW:

To the White House Council on Environmental Quality:

I urge you to reject the proposed changes to its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rules. Several items in the proposed rulemaking threaten to weaken science-based decision-making and to eliminate public participation in major projects affecting our communities.

NEPA ensures that our communities have a say in major federal decisions that affect our environment, health and safety. As NEPA reviews are often the only way for people to voice their concerns about the consequences federal projects will have on their communities and demonstrate how local expertise can improve them, we need these laws in place to ensure the most at-risk communities have a voice in the process. Our communities are safer and healthier because of NEPA. 

Any attack on NEPA is an attack on our ability to keep our communities safe and healthy. We must protect our voice and protect our environment – I urge you not to undertake any actions that would undermine NEPA.