Environmentalists Push Against NEPA Drilling Exemption In Climate Bill

摘要

Environmentalists are pressuring the trio of senators developing comprehensive climate change and energy legislation to exclude provisions that exempt a broad federal seismic survey of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.rnThey are also urging the senators to drop provisions that direct a percentage of revenue from offshore oil and natural gas drilling to states.rnAt the same time, Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) are pledging to fight offshore drilling provisions in the bill, raising questions about the path forward for the legislation given that favorable oil drilling language is deemed necessary for winning GOP support.