Friends of the Earth joins a nationwide coalition suit to defend NEPA
Represented by Earthjustice and the Western Environmental Law Center, 20 organizations challenge the Trump administration’s assault on the National Environmental Policy ActWASHINGTON – Friends of the Earth joined a nationwide coalition of organizations from the environmental justice, outdoor recreation, environmental and conservation communities in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attack on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) yesterday.
The administration finalized its rules that will eviscerate core components of NEPA in mid-July. Under new regulations put forth by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), polluting projects of all kinds will be exempt from basic environmental reviews, and the public will be cut out of one of its best tools to prevent dangerous, shortsighted projects.
Marcie Keever, Friends of the Earth legal director issued the following statement in response:
The administration’s attack on NEPA silences communities across the nation fighting corporate polluters. This dangerous and unforgivable rollback weakens communities’ efforts to protect their air, water, and public health. Big Oil, Big Mining and Big Ag are determined to destroy our environment for profit and now it’s easier than ever. We will not allow this critical tool for public engagement to be eliminated by an administration more concerned with bolstering corporate profits than protecting communities. We stand with communities around the country in opposing this dangerous move by the administration.
Expert contact: Marcie Keever, [email protected]
Communications contact: Aisha Dukule, 202-893-3502, [email protected]