Virginia group opposes federal permitting rollback bill

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is urging the public to oppose the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (S. 5653), arguing that it would weaken federal environmental and historic preservation review for major infrastructure projects.

• PEC says the bill would weaken NEPA, Section 106 of the NHPA, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act, and that the Senate is expected to vote on Monday, Nov. 9; the House could act soon after.
• The article is an advocacy letter/commentary, not a new policy enactment; it cites examples in Virginia, including Dominion Energy’s James River transmission line case, where Dominion was required to donate $25 million for land conservation and Machicomoco State Park mitigation, and references a Cultural Heritage Partners claim that only about eight of more than 120,000 Section 106 reviews each year end up in court.