Support Local Infrastructure Projects through Permitting Reform

ACTION NEEDED: 

Urge your Members of Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to reform the federal permitting process. Reforms to the federal permitting process should limit federal preemption of local authority and require meaningful consultation with local governments throughout the development of critical infrastructure projects such as transportation, energy, broadband deployment, air quality and water quality that require a federal permit.

BACKGROUND: 

The federal permitting process in the United States is burdensome and inefficient. Securing the necessary federal approvals for infrastructure projects often involves multiple agencies and compliance with various regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, among others. This can lead to years of delays and significant cost increases for local governments, developers and communities.

Complex permitting requirements stall critical projects that enhance safety, cut emissions and boost local economies. Recent reform efforts have emphasized that streamlining timelines, improving transparency and enhancing federal coordination would speed up projects without compromising environmental standards. Reforms to federal permitting would especially benefit rural counties, which often lack the capacity and/or technical expertise needed to navigate the lengthy process.

During the 118th Congress, energy permitting reform in particular gained significant attention, leading to the passage of the bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act (S. 4753) by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in July 2024. Despite this progress, however, no permitting reform provisions were included in the end-of-year funding legislation due to disagreements among Congressional leadership. Since taking office, President Trump has issued multiple executive orders addressing the need for permitting reform, most notably signing Executive Order 14154 titled “Unleashing American Energy”.

While these efforts signal a commitment to reform, further clarity is needed on how county governments will be involved in expedited permitting processes. Counties play a crucial role in implementing infrastructure projects and ensuring local compliance with federal regulations. Counties need a seat at the table in ongoing discussions about permitting reform to ensure the county perspectives are considered.

As Congress and the Administration continue to debate the future of permitting reform, counties support commonsense solutions that reduce unnecessary delays while maintaining environmental standards through collaborative engagement between federal, state and local governments.

KEY TALKING POINTS: 

• Counties support commonsense permitting reform to efficiently maintain and improve our nation’s infrastructure while protecting the environment.
• The current permitting system is cumbersome, inefficient and costly, causing delays to critical infrastructure projects that endanger public safety and hinder timely responses to urgent needs.
• As primary owners and operators of our nation's infrastructure, counties seek meaningful engagement with federal and state partners to streamline the federal permitting process.