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State Lawmakers Encourage Congressional Delegation to Continue Support for Bipartisan Permitting Reform
(JUNEAU) – A bipartisan group of thirty members of the Alaska State Legislature sent a letter to Alaska’s Congressional Delegation on Friday encouraging their continued support of bipartisan federal permitting reform aimed at reducing burdensome regulations and streamlining the approval process to the benefit of Alaskans, the environment, and the development of meaningful infrastructure projects. In the letter, they write:
“As Congress renews its efforts later this year to advance meaningful permitting reform, including critical policies like the National Environmental Policy Act, Congress must work toward a bipartisan solution to these overly bureaucratic permitting and environmental review processes. Importantly, these changes should not lower the exceptional environmental standards that Alaska and the rest of the United States currently maintain. We ask that you work to make infrastructure project approvals more efficient, coordinated, and predictable for all parties involved. The right kind of permitting reforms should increase transparency and accountability while reducing the duplication of efforts made at the federal, state, and local levels, which are the unfortunate norm of our current system.”
The bipartisan letter was spearheaded by the Senate Transportation Committee Chair Senator James Kaufman (R-Anchorage) and was signed by ten members of the Alaska State Senate and 20 members of the Alaska State House.
"We need to strike a balance between protecting our environment and promoting economic development," said Sen. Kaufman. "By streamlining federal permitting processes, we can create a more favorable business environment and attract new investment to Alaska."
The letter comes as numerous infrastructure and energy projects have been announced for Alaska as a result of federal infrastructure-related legislation, stating:
“Many of these critical projects will experience onerous delays because of our nation's slow and inefficient permitting processes. Not only do these delays undermine the value of taxpayer investments, but they can also prevent projects from moving forward—blocking otherwise shovel-ready projects with significant economic, national security, climate, and quality-of-life implications for communities throughout Alaska and across the country.”
State lawmakers also note that the current federal permitting process is plagued by inefficiencies and needless delays, leading to increased costs, decreased overall investment – including private-sector investment – and delays the economic and environmental benefits of modern, more sustainable infrastructure.
Recognizing Congress’ efforts to advance meaningful permitting reform through legislation like the National Environmental Policy Act, the legislators emphasized the importance of upholding the exceptional environmental standards maintained by Alaska and the nation.
“As has been emphasized time and time again, these efforts will help streamline the already-onerous federal permitting process and will help the hard-working men and women who build, feed, and grow this country get their jobs done,” the letter concludes. “Please continue working with your colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make federal permitting reform the priority it deserves to be in the 118th Congress in order to help our nation maximize the benefits of federal investments you continue to champion in Congress.”
To review the entire letter, click here.
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