The Trump administration has directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite approvals for fossil fuel infrastructure, citing an “energy emergency.” Environmental advocates say bypassing environmental reviews and public input will harm wetlands and waterways and worsen climate change.
Dharna Noor reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- A new Army Corps policy allows for “emergency” permits, fast-tracking 688 pending infrastructure projects, including over 100 pipelines and gas plants.
- Environmental groups argue the move circumvents laws meant to protect wetlands and waterways from pollution and destruction.
- Some projects benefiting from the policy, such as a housing development and a gold mine, are unrelated to energy production.
Key quote:
“This emergency proposal will increase climate change, destroy wetlands and leave people even more vulnerable in its wake.”
— Matt Rota, senior policy director, Healthy Gulf
Why this matters:
Wetlands act as natural flood barriers, absorbing storm surges and reducing climate-related damage. They also store carbon, making their destruction a double blow to efforts to curb global warming. Fast-tracking fossil fuel projects without proper environmental review threatens water quality, biodiversity, and public health. The designation of an “energy emergency” to justify these changes raises concerns about government overreach and the long-term consequences of weakened environmental protections.
