The states, where government is closer to the people, are the proper entities to implement environmental laws and policies. Specifically, Congress should require that agencies consult at an early stage with state and local governments in developing environmental impact statements. It should be clear in NEPA that an environmental impact statement is not adequate if it does not address fully state and local concerns. A second important principle contained in NEPA is cooperation between federal agencies in determining and implementing federal policy. In the almost 30 years since NEPA was signed into law, there has been a massive proliferation of federal environmental requirements, as contained in statutes and regulations and agency policies.
Regulated sources are subject to numerous, often conflicting, agency approvals processes.
I would recommend that Congress consider amending NEPA to better serve as a vehicle for early identification of federal requirements for projects and for consolidated approvals of those projects. Specifically, NEPA should be amended to require that the primary federal agency taking an action must identify the other federal agencies that must be involved in, or approve a project. There should then be a process set out for all the agencies to work together in an expeditious manner to either approve or disapprove the project. The most significant challenge set out in NEPA is that government must strive to find the proper balance between environmental protection and other societal needs. We certainly need a clean and healthy environment.