Senators Seek to Rein in State Power Over Key Environmental Permit

Route Fifty: Senate Republicans from states with sizable coal and natural gas industries are looking to impose new restrictions on the authority states have to issue a clean water permit required for the construction of some pipelines and other energy infrastructure projects.

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, is the lead sponsor of the legislation. “The water quality certification process is being abused by a few states in order to delay important projects,” Barrasso said in a statement.

Read article