RE: The BUILDER Act and Update to Regulations Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Dear [Official]:

I stand with Pipeliners Local 798, a trades union representing the nation’s most skilled and dedicated industry craftsmen, in supporting legislation, such as the proposed BUILDER Act, that modernizes the outdated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to make infrastructure project reviews more efficient, reduce project costs, spur economic recovery and rebuild America.

The proposed changes will modernize and streamline the permitting process for critical energy infrastructure projects, while respecting the integrity of the regulations already in place.

Under the current NEPA process, the average environmental impact statement takes about four and a half years to complete, and 25% of completed impact statements have taken more than six years. This is critical time wasted while craftsmen wait for job opportunities and communities are denied associated economic activity. In addition, studies have shown that $157 billion in energy investment is simply holding in NEPA pipeline review, and a two-year NEPA review time limit could spur $67 billion in energy investment. 

I support the common-sense provisions outlined in the BUILDER Act, specifically its impact on NEPA, for the following reasons:

• Implementing time limits for completing EAs and EISs, and shortening the page limits for those submissions, will help stakeholders complete reviews more efficiently, ultimately avoiding long delays on critical project approvals;
• Emphasizing early coordination with stakeholders and federal agencies allows for increased collaboration between project leadership teams, environmental experts and community members;
• The bill requires those who have abused or weaponized NEPA in the past to have participated meaningfully in the NEPA process before filing suit and provides a reasonable timeline to file those lawsuits, eliminating some litigation during the permitting process for important projects;
• Establishing and clarifying the threshold determinations for preparing environmental documents will help avoid costly delays and litigation under NEPA.

Hard-working members of Local 798, along with all industry craftsmen who have struggled to make a living while waiting for construction approvals for infrastructure projects, support the BUILDER Act and other similar legislation aimed at streamlining the pipeline review process. This is why I urge you and your colleagues to help push such legislation forward.

Signed,

[Names below]