By Steven Mufson and Steven Mufson Reporter covering the business of climate change Email Bio Follow Toluse Olorunnipa Toluse Olorunnipa White House reporter Email Bio Follow April 9 at 8:25 PM President Trump is planning to issue a pair of executive orders on Wednesday to “help American energy companies avoid unnecessary red tape” by making it easier for firms to build oil and gas pipelines and harder for state agencies to intervene, according to the White House.
Critics said that the president’s orders would trample on authority delegated to the states under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act and other congressional legislation. That authority has been upheld twice by the Supreme Court. Trump’s move would benefit, among others, Energy Transfer Partners, whose chief executive, Kelcy Warren, was a major contributor to Trump’s campaign.
The construction of oil and gas pipelines has become a flash point for the environmental movement, which has launched high-profile protests and court battles to block pipelines not only for concerns about local pollution but also as part of a strategy to keep oil and gas fossil fuels in the ground. In Virginia, the Southern Environmental Law Center has won a string of legal victories that have disrupted work on the $7 billion, 600-mile gas pipeline.
The NRDC said that “when it comes to weakening protections in any number of areas, Republicans in Washington often use the excuse that state leaders should have the broadest authority possible. However, once states take action to protect their environment, these so-called federalists balk.” One of the nation’s biggest pipeline companies is Energy Transfer Partners, developer of the controversial Dakota Access and Rover gas pipelines. Both lines were ultimately completed.
TRUMP GOP CIRC7MVENTS TGE PEOPLES GOVERNMENT AND SAFETY OF ITS NATION AND CITIZENS NO MATTERCWHt costs!!!
Sure that's all Trump can do executive orders, just think all these executive orders will be so easy to get rid of by the next president.
Don the Con Won't stop until he has destroyed everything in nature as well as the world. He must be stopped by rational human beings. Don the Con has got to go!
Speeding up without due diligence will likely lead to disaster.
He is so stupid and nothing but dangerous to our future!!
This bothers me. Seems to be the antithesis of 'Good for All'. Good for profits for the workers. Bad for long term Earth survival.
A REAL President!
Yeah, he's in favor of States' Rights when it's convenient, and for Federal control when it's profitable. 'He has the courage of his convictions - the problem is, he has no convictions' --- Richard Armour. The classic opportunist disguised as National Leader.
DonaldTrump 'You don't need to see my tax returns because all of my Executive Orders tell you where my money is'
Hottest Economy, oil independent on top baby Think about it we could be like Germany spreading our but checks to RUSSIANS!, or the days of the M.E Remember short sighted little people, you want to hurt our enemy's you hit there pocket book not with paper! MAGA FK Globalism!
Yes he will rush it. Knowing that if he can pinch money here and there. When it comes to money oh he good at stealing it fast.
Two things: States’ rights And, gee, how about all those executive orders which GOP argued against when it was a different president
thanks for updates the washington post
US now exporting oil and is energy efficient under the watch of realDonaldTrump !! At same time the carbon emissions etc r the lowest .. wapo can’t handle the success of this POTUS! TDS
Good news. If libs are hysterically whining, then it's good for Americans.
Let’s keep govt out of these private industries. Any conservatives with backbones left ?
Isn’t that what Obama did? Just curious. We had become exporters.
Does he even know what that mean?
Solar and wind are the future. Investment now is a priority. But no. Keep the fossil fuels moguls happy and rich.
When you destroy every international relationship you have except with the dictators of the world - you better become self sufficient really fast. Man becomes the company he keeps & his has been dictators who destroyed their countries
cheaper gas prices winning
Our earth is a Mother of beauty. It is a living thing. You cannot keep draining the 'blood' (OIL) from her body, and not expect something to happen to her. I do not support this decision. I support creative people thinking of new ones!!!! cleanitup
This will be another in the long history of cases brought to the courts that Trump will lose.
Does everybody remember the movie Dave? Is the real Donald Trump in a coma? Are we being Daved in reverse?
MAGA. USA 2020.
COLLUSION!!!!!
Good.
FAKENEWS