Critics said that the president’s orders would trample on authority delegated to the states under the Clean Water Act and other congressional legislation.
By Steven Mufson and Steven Mufson Reporter covering the business of climate change Email Bio Follow Toluse Olorunnipa Toluse Olorunnipa White House reporter Email Bio Follow April 9 at 8:25 PM President Trump is planning to issue a pair of executive orders on Wednesday to “help American energy companies avoid unnecessary red tape” by making it easier for firms to build oil and gas pipelines and harder for state agencies to intervene, according to the White House.
Critics said that the president’s orders would trample on authority delegated to the states under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act and other congressional legislation. That authority has been upheld twice by the Supreme Court. Trump’s move would benefit, among others, Energy Transfer Partners, whose chief executive, Kelcy Warren, was a major contributor to Trump’s campaign.
The construction of oil and gas pipelines has become a flash point for the environmental movement, which has launched high-profile protests and court battles to block pipelines not only for concerns about local pollution but also as part of a strategy to keep oil and gas fossil fuels in the ground. In Virginia, the Southern Environmental Law Center has won a string of legal victories that have disrupted work on the $7 billion, 600-mile gas pipeline.
The NRDC said that “when it comes to weakening protections in any number of areas, Republicans in Washington often use the excuse that state leaders should have the broadest authority possible. However, once states take action to protect their environment, these so-called federalists balk.” One of the nation’s biggest pipeline companies is Energy Transfer Partners, developer of the controversial Dakota Access and Rover gas pipelines. Both lines were ultimately completed.
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