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On behalf of members of the Alaska Laborers Union, I want to say “thank you” to Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Mary Peltola for helping pass the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act. This legislation avoided financial default, which is critical to continue our economic recovery. It also has permitting reforms that are huge for Alaska jobs and development.
Alaska is on the front lines of domestic energy production and national security. Fortunately, the Fiscal Responsibility Act supported by Murkowski and Peltola contained key provisions to streamline permitting on critical new infrastructure projects.
Our outdated and often cumbersome permitting system is one of our nation’s largest obstacles to building new infrastructure for our nation. With significant infrastructure opportunities on the horizon — from new roads and water and sewer systems, to traditional and new renewable-energy investments — these meaningful first steps to reduce costly permitting delays and unlock American infrastructure will benefit Alaska workers.
The Fiscal Responsibility Act amends the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by streamlining the application and documentation process, sets time limits for agency review, and narrows the scope of agency consideration. This legislation also advances modernization of the U.S. power grid, makes energy storage projects eligible for a streamlined federal permitting process, and approves expanded natural gas infrastructure. Energy storage is critically important for Railbelt communities as we reduce our exposure to cost increases that would result from LNG imports.
Other key permitting reforms in the Fiscal Responsibility Act include:
• Time limits: Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) would be required to be completed within two years of the date the agency determines that an EIS is required. Environmental Assessments (EAs) would be required to be completed within one year.
• Page limits: In most cases, EISs would be limited to 150 pages (not including appendices), with a 300-page limit for analyses of “extraordinary complexity.” EAs would be limited to 75 pages.
• Require a lead agency: Where more than one agency is involved in a decision, the federal government would be required to designate a lead agency to conduct any required environmental analysis.
• Update NEPA mandate: The core requirements of NEPA would be amended, primarily to limit the obligation to consider environmental impacts to those that are “reasonably foreseeable.”
Alaskans understand that jobs and conservation of our natural resources go hand in hand. We need to develop our resources while ensuring healthy populations of fish and game that have sustained our families for generations. Thanks to the work of Sen. Murkowski, Rep. Peltola and many other bipartisan legislators, federal permitting reforms just signed into law by President Joe Biden will mean projects get approved faster so we can put Alaskans to work, expand domestic energy production and improve Alaska’s economic competitiveness.
Brandon Calcaterra is president and assistant business manager of Laborers Local 341. He and his family live in Eagle River.
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