The Department of Defense has streamlined its National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, implementing processes as part of a government effort seeking to speed up and reduce the costs of environmental reviews to allow faster construction of public and military infrastructure.
Changes to NEPA Procedures
In a press release on Monday, the DOD said the changes to the NEPA implementing processes include expanding categorical exclusions for the department, setting deadlines for the completion of environmental reviews, simplifying the ability to adapt and update NEPA implementing procedures and using information from previous evaluations to fast-track new project reviews.
The changes to the implementing processes aim to generate momentum in the defense industrial base and to support President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, Unleashing American Energy. The executive order aims to make energy more affordable and available to Americans.
DOD’s Michael Duffey Shares Thoughts
Commenting on the streamlining of NEPA, Defense Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey said it was important for modernizing infrastructure and enhancing national security.
“By streamlining the environmental review process, we will deliver critical projects more efficiently, ensuring our military and defense industrial base have the facilities and resources needed to defend our nation,” he added.
