The Trump administration on Tuesday announced new permitting reforms after years of the oil and gas industry calling on administrations and Congress to streamline a burdensome process. 

The Department of Energy published an interim final rule rescinding all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. It also published new NEPA guidance procedures that “replace outdated rules with clear deadlines, restore agency authority, and put us back on the path to energy dominance, job creation, and commonsense action,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.

The NEPA reforms restore the DOE’s role “originally envisioned by Congress – informing agency decision makers, not needlessly obstructing the development of critical infrastructure,” Deputy Energy Secretary James Danly said. “We’re eliminating the accretion of decades of unnecessary procedure and reestablishing a legally sound permitting regime that is disciplined, predictable, and fast. Agencies finally have the authority to conduct reviews efficiently, avoid duplicative reviews, and deliver timely decisions consistent with the law.”

Those in the industry said the president was delivering on his promise.

The new NEPA guidelines “will make our permitting process clear and efficient, bringing predictability and agility to the practice,” Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association, told The Center Square. “Streamlining the process allows our industry to do what it does best – deliver safe, reliable energy to Americans while strengthening energy security, driving economic growth and creating jobs. This historic, interagency effort will also help America maintain its world class environmental standards while spurring energy development when we, and our allies, need it most.”

They also said they expect Congress to take additional action to reform the permitting process.

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