H.R. 348, RAPID Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, September 25, 2015, I voted against H.R. 348, the RAPID Act, which, if enacted, would severely weaken the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Under current law, NEPA requires federal agencies to go through a public assessment of the environmental impacts of certain proposed federal actions and mandates the consideration of alternatives to those actions. This process often identifies alternatives that are less costly and have fewer impacts on the environment.
While I support efforts to refine our regulatory process in a manner that rewards outcomes instead of dictating onerous processes, H.R. 348 adds confusion and would lead to worse outcomes for our environment, communities and future generations. This bill would allow potential developers to prepare environmental review documents for their proposed projects, creating clear conflicts of interest. The bill prohibits agencies from using the social cost of carbon in the environmental review or decision-making process and it limits the ability of an aggrieved party to seek judicial review of a permit or license. The bill imposes arbitrary and rigid deadlines for review and approval, and it provides for default approvals of permits or licenses if deadlines are not met; a measure thUnknownat wholly undermines the environmental review process.
The stated goal of this bill is to help projects--including infrastructure projects--to move forward more quickly. The NEPA process, however, is not the reason for project delays; other factors such as project complexity and under-resourced agencies are to blame. At the Army Corps of Engineers, there is a $60 billion backlog of authorized water resources projects that were successfully approved under NEPA, but have not been built due to lack of funding. Our roads and bridges are in disrepair, not due to NEPA, but because the Congress has failed to act to raise the gas tax, leaving the federal government short of resources. The Highway Trust Fund is projected to need $90 billion in additional revenue over the next six years just to stay solvent. Additionally, the NEPA process, which ensures the public has a voice in the planning of major projects that impact their communities, leads to better decision-making and better projects. In the end, NEPA saves time, money and reduces negative impacts.
NEPA's positive impact is unquestionable--it is one of the nation's bedrock environmental laws, ensuring careful decision making and public participation. I am disappointed to see H.R. 348 pass the House, which will only limit the public's participation, increase confusion and undermine responsible agency reviews.
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