Army Corps Fast-Tracks 600+ Energy Projects Under Trump Order
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India-West News Desk
WASHINGTON, DC – The Army Corps of Engineers has identified more than 600 energy and infrastructure projects that could be expedited under former President Donald Trump’s National Energy Emergency declaration, according to data published on its website, Reuters reports.
West Virginia has the most projects on the list, with 141, followed by Pennsylvania (60), Texas (57), Florida (42), and Ohio (41), based on data from the Environmental Integrity Project, which is monitoring the permitting process.
The list also includes Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline beneath Lake Michigan, multiple natural gas power plants, and liquefied natural gas export terminals proposed by Cheniere and Venture Global. The Army Corps made the list public without issuing a formal announcement, marking the projects as eligible for emergency permitting Reuters said.
Trump’s executive order, issued on his first day in office, directed the Army Corps to fast-track permits allowing the filling of wetlands and construction in waterways under the National Energy Emergency. However, the move is expected to spark legal battles, with environmental groups arguing it violates federal regulations.
“This end-run around the normal environmental review process is not only harmful for our waters but is illegal under the Corps’ own emergency permitting regulations,” David Bookbinder, Director of Law and Policy at The Environmental Integrity Project, told Reuters.
Meanwhile, companies awaiting permits welcomed the move. “We are very encouraged to see this action to expedite review for responsible critical mineral development projects,” said Jon Cherry, CEO of Perpetua Resources, which is developing a U.S. antimony and gold mine in Idaho with financial backing from the Pentagon and the U.S. Export-Import Bank.
The Biden administration had previously issued a permit for the mine, though it still requires a wetlands permit, which Cherry anticipates receiving by July.
