Supreme Court limits environmental reviews of infrastructure projects

The Supreme Court made it easier to get approval for various infrastructure projects by limiting the scope of environmental reviews. The decision, which narrows the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act, simplifies the process for highways, bridges, pipelines, wind farms, and other projects. The case involved the building of an 88-mile railroad connecting Utah’s oil-rich Uinta Basin to the national freight rail network, facilitating crude oil transportation to Gulf Coast refineries. The court’s unanimous ruling reversed a previous decision, significantly restricting the NEPA law. Justice Brett Kavanaugh argued that agencies should have more leeway in determining environmental effects and criticized NEPA’s delays on projects. The decision received mixed reactions, with environmental groups expressing disappointment and various industries welcoming the ruling as a step towards more efficient project reviews.