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This is how pretty much all of this stuff goes for natural resource extraction in western US. Same thing happens for timber extraction/runoff/roads, etc. out w
by beauzero 6y ago
This is how pretty much all of this stuff goes for natural resource extraction in western US. Same thing happens for timber extraction/runoff/roads, etc. out west. If you want to stop it you throw speed bumps in its way and hope that administrations change. It is very likely that under Biden the EPA/Forest Service/BLM/BIA may have different priorities.
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 6y agoAlso infrastructure projects. Environmental lawsuits are used to drive up the time and monetary costs until it no longer becomes viable.
- smt88 6y agoDo you expect that the behavior of the Forest Service, BLM, and BIA will be drastically different under Biden? Are those orgs that under the sway of political appointees rather than career civil servants? My limited experience with Forest Service is that they were much the same org under Trump, but could not always say so publicly. Maybe that's wrong though.
- beerandt 6y agoYes. (Edit: not necessarily the specific ones you listed, but yes, in general.) For example, every jurisdictional pipeline project under the Obama admin was "delayed" in a manner that never had to be completed. (Not for the environment, but as a political favor to the railroads.) Some departments or offices are less flexible in their discretion, as you suggest, but it only takes one out of dozens+ to drag their feet and effectively kill a project. It has become a serious problem in the last ~20 years, especially as an avenue abused by lawfare type suits. All it takes is the government to not object to the suit, for which there is almost obligation of the executive to defend.