Senate must keep dirty permitting deal out of government funding bill

Senator Joe Manchin just introduced a bill that would change permitting policy and procedures for federal projects in order to accelerate destructive fossil fuel and other development projects nationwide. 

This proposal, like the one introduced by Senator Shelley Capito (R-WV) earlier this month, would fast-track drilling, mining and pipeline projects that threaten communities’ well-being. It would also mandate and expedite construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, slated to cut through the Appalachian Mountains and endanger clean water, forests and farms.

Attaching either permitting proposal to the Continuing Resolution would force Members of Congress to choose between shutting down the government and putting communities at risk by weakening environmental reviews.

The following statement is from Lydia Weiss, Government Relations Director at The Wilderness Society.

“This bill would make it harder for communities to have a say about polluting energy development in their backyards. The Wilderness Society opposes all attempts by Congress to weaken the National Environmental Policy Act, the key law that protects people and communities. We urge Congress not to saddle its Continuing Resolution with this toxic rider.”

Additional information and resources:

• WE ACT partnered with Data for Progress to conduct polling on the permitting deal and Environmental Justice for All Act. Polling showed strong support for lawmakers listening to frontline and community voices over fossil fuel lobbyists, making permitting legislation a standalone bill (unattached to a government funding bill), and supporting the Environmental Justice for All Act.
• On September 19, 59 environmental justice and frontline organizations, along with 28 allied groups, sent a letter to the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus calling on them to oppose a permitting rider in a Continuing Resolution, reject inclusion of any elements of the Environmental Justice for All Act as a bargaining chip, and to send a letter to Leader Schumer similar to the letter Chairman Grijalva sent to Speaker Pelosi.
• On September 12, House Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva sent an updated letter signed by 77 members of Congress to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer opposing a permitting rider in a Continuing Resolution.
• On September 9, the same day Chair Grijalva sent the first version of his letter, multiple environmental justice leaders also sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi opposing the permitting rider.

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For more information, contact Tony Iallonardo at newsmedia@tws.org