Environmental Law

Trump Issues Executive Orders; Environmental Groups Prepare to Oppose His Agenda

By: Channing J. Martin

President Trump has wasted no time in acting on his environmental agenda.  On January 24, his second working day in office, the President signed two Executive Orders giving the green light to construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines.  When he signed the orders, he said the pipelines “will create great construction jobs,” and that the contracts with the pipeline companies are “subject to re-negotiation of terms by us” as to the use of American steel and American workers.  Both of these projects have been the subject of a significant litigation and were opposed and delayed by the Obama Administration, tribes and numerous environmental groups.  President Trump also signed an Executive Order requiring federal agencies to streamline the environmental permitting process for American manufacturers and reduce regulatory burdens within the confines of the law.  Finally, he signed an Executive Order requiring federal agencies to expedite environmental reviews of infrastructure projects.

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