skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Teen student, teacher killed in WI; two students reported to be in critical condition; Nearly 90 food banks, pantries across CO get more than $2.6 million; Report: Fossil-fuel lobbyists fail to disclose in WA; Simplifying SNAP benefits to fight senior hunger.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A deadly school shooting is under investigation in Wisconsin. The Electoral College convenes today as the Senate considers abolishing it, and Trump discusses media lawsuits, TikTok's future and drone sightings in a scattered news conference.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Conservative voters surprised pundits by casting election votes for Trump but also against school vouchers, Pennsylvania's Black mayors work to unite their communities, and America's mental health providers try new techniques.

Denver Hosting Hearing on Trump Environmental Review Law

play audio
Play

Tuesday, February 11, 2020   

DENVER -- The White House Council for Environmental Quality is holding one of just two hearings today in Denver on its plans to modify the National Environmental Policy Act, often called the "Magna Carta" of Federal environmental laws. The proposal calls for narrowing the scope of projects falling under the law's jurisdiction, and limiting public participation.

Lew Carpenter, director of conservation with the National Wildlife Federation, said the act is critical for giving local voices a chance to influence what happens to public lands and waterways.

"Part of our democratic process, part of what we do here in the United States, involves transparent decision making and real evaluation of impacts," Carpenter said. "And I think that this act has provided us that for 50 years."

The act currently requires that federal agencies take a hard and serious look at environmental and public health impacts of major projects, and to consider public input before giving a thumbs up. Carpenter said the new proposal would create loopholes to allow federal agencies to ignore public comments altogether.

Proponents of the Trump plan claim the 50-year-old legislation has bogged down oil and gas development, prevents investment and slows economic growth.

Carpenter said public participation in evaluating projects proposed in South Park helped protect waterways thriving with trout, elk and other wildlife. He said protecting the Platte River headwaters has big downstream benefits through Nebraska, and habitat along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Carpenter said he doesn't buy the argument that being cautious and careful is bad for business.

"I'm sure there are some places where moving a little quicker might be OK, but it's hard for me to justify that when you have such big environmental and health impacts that could come from it," he said.

The Trump administration's proposal would allow companies to conduct their own environmental reviews. It also eliminates all references to "indirect" effects of development, including downstream water pollution, and "cumulative" impacts such as climate change.

The public can comment on the proposal at the Denver hearing, in Washington, D.C., on February 25, or online at NWF.org/NEPA.

Disclosure: National Wildlife Federation contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Energy Policy, Environment, Public Lands/Wilderness, Salmon Recovery, Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
A report from the Child Health and Development Institute found 74% of kids were discharged after completing treatment through Connecticut's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

A new report found Connecticut's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services are improving. The Child Health and Development Institute report showed more …


Social Issues

play sound

A conflict between federal child labor regulations and those passed by the Iowa Legislature has increased the number of businesses fined for hiring ch…

Social Issues

play sound

Hunger doesn't retire, yet millions of older Americans struggling to afford food may not realize help is within reach. Misconceptions and stigma …


Julie Su, acting Secretary of Labor and Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, joined labor advocates to celebrate President Joe Biden's establishment of the Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine. (Maine AFL-CIO)

Social Issues

play sound

A new national monument in the town of Newcastle in Maine will honor FDR-era Labor Secretary Frances Perkins. The first woman to serve in a …

Environment

play sound

By Lisa Held for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for New Jersey News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News S…

Coastal erosion threatens Washington state as sea levels rise, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A new report found fossil fuel lobbyists in two states with strong transparency and disclosure laws were not making full disclosures, including …

Environment

play sound

After years of double-digit rate hikes on electricity bills, some relief might be in sight. Oregon Citizens' Utility Board, or CUB, has proposed a 7…

Social Issues

play sound

Colorado is distributing over $2.6 million to food banks and pantries to ensure that the state's one in seven children facing hunger can access nutrit…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021