ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT/REGULATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Aiming to streamline oil and gas pipeline projects, President Donald Trump on Wednesday [4-10-19] signed two executive orders making it harder for states to block construction because of environmental concerns. The orders were prompted by fossil fuel industry pressure after officials in New York and Washington state had stopped new projects with permitting processes in recent years…In 2017, Washington blocked construction for a coal terminal, citing air pollution, rail safety and vehicle traffic concerns. Regulators in New York likewise blocked a natural gas pipeline because of standards to protect streams and wet lands, despite the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approving the project in 2014. Trump called out New York, saying ‘obstruction’ by the state ‘was hurting the country.’ Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo described the orders as a gross overreach threatening environmental protections…One order requests the Environmental Protection Agency meet with states and tribes before creating new rules for complying with the Clean Water Act. It also calls for proposing a rule allowing liquefied natural gas to be shipped in approved rail tank cars.”
–Kristin Lam, “Trump brushes aside environmental concerns, signs 2 executive orders to speed up gas, oil projects,” USA Today, April 11, 2019 8:47 am