The United States Forest Service (USFS) proposed amending its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations to change the way in which the agency evaluates the environmental effects of proposed actions on national forests which could facilitate the approval of projects that contribute to climate change.

USFS published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in which it is seeking comment on how it should modify existing regulations to streamline and expedite the issuance of oil and gas permits on national forest lands.

Sen. Inhofe (R-OK) introduced a bill (S.335) to “achieve domestic energy independence by empowering States to control the development and production of all forms of energy on all available Federal land.”

The “Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2017” was introduced in both the house and senate today (H.R. 825 / S. 282). The bill, which has bipartisan support, is aimed at promoting and streamlining the development of renewable energy resources on public lands.