Industry coalition targets EPA veto authority over infrastructure permits
WASHINGTON (UI) — A new industry coalition is calling on the Trump administration to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to block infrastructure and energy projects after federal permits have already been issued.
The Fix the EPA Veto Coalition said it wants changes to Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act, which allows the EPA to veto certain projects permitted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Coalition members argue the provision creates long-term uncertainty for infrastructure, mining and energy developments by allowing future administrations to halt projects after construction or operations have already begun.
The group said the issue could affect major infrastructure developments, including pipelines, LNG terminals, mining projects and other energy-related facilities across the U.S.
Energy policy adviser Myron Ebell said the coalition supports broader federal permitting reforms but believes the EPA veto authority still creates significant regulatory risk for infrastructure investment.
“That is a political risk more commonly found in a banana republic, not the U.S.A.,” Ebell said.
The coalition is backing legislation previously introduced in Congress that would limit when EPA veto authority could be used and establish clearer timelines during the permitting process.
Industry groups representing mining and energy interests said the current framework discourages long-term infrastructure investment by creating uncertainty around projects that have already secured federal approvals.
The debate centers on Section 404 permitting under the Clean Water Act, which governs dredge and fill activities affecting wetlands and waterways. Coalition members said they want future reforms to create a more predictable regulatory process for large-scale infrastructure projects.
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