Westerman floats permitting reform bill

Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) has released a draft bill aimed at speeding up approvals for the nation’s energy projects as bipartisan and bicameral talks continue. Westerman, who had been a leading House GOP negotiator in ongoing permitting reform talks, released a discussion draft focused on revamping the National Environmental Policy Act, a bedrock environmental law. His bill would speed up environmental reviews and limit legal challenges. Specifically, the legislation would: • Restrict the use of new science in environmental reviews, as part of an effort to prevent research from stalling...