In response to President Trump’s efforts to expedite energy projects, more than a dozen states, the most of which are Democratic, have filed lawsuits against the administration, claiming that the administration is operating outside of environmental protection regulations.
On the first day of his office, President Trump issued an executive order that declared a “national energy emergency.” This action was taken as part of Mr. Trump’s efforts to increase the amount of oil and gas that is produced in the United States.
This order encourages the increase of oil and gas production through the use of eminent domain by the federal government and the Defense Production Act, which gives the government the authority to use private land and resources in order to manufacture items that are regarded to be a national need.
The attorneys general said in the case that was filed in the state of Washington on Friday that these kinds of actions are supposed to be kept for true emergencies, such as projects that are required in the aftermath of disasters such as storms, flooding, or big oil spills.
However, the fifteen states that filed the lawsuit claim that at this time, federal agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Interior are evading the mandatory reviews that are mandated by federal statutes such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.
The states contend that an inappropriate procedure for permission “will result in significant and irreparable harm to state natural and historic resources and the people and biota that rely on those resources for drinking, farming, recreating, and habitat.”
“The President of the United States has the authority to determine what is a national emergency, not state attorneys or the courts. President Trump recognizes that unleashing American energy is crucial to both our economic and national security,” Rogers stated.
Despite the fact that energy output is already at an all-time high, the attorneys general who are joining the lawsuit against the government have stated that they believe that the nation is in dire need of electricity that is both inexpensive and reliable.
“The Executive Order is unlawful, and its commands that federal agencies disregard the law and in many cases their own regulations to fast-track extensive categories of activities will result in damage to waters, wetlands, critical habitat, historic and cultural resources, endangered species, and the people and wildlife that rely on these precious resources,” they stated in the lawsuit.
The attorneys general stated, “The shortcuts inherent in rushing through emergency processes fundamentally undermine the rights of States,” pointing out that states have the authority to protect water quality inside their own borders under the federal Clean Water Act.
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Their goal is for a federal judge to rule that the executive order is illegal and prevent the agencies from obtaining emergency permits for projects that are not emergencies.
“Just another unlawful directive from the President, this time acting well beyond the scope of his emergency powers,” according to a statement announcing the lawsuit from Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
