From Preservation Action:

Federal agencies are moving quickly to implement changes that would significantly alter the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA provides fundamental protections for historic, cultural, and natural resources and is one of historic preservations most important laws. 

These changes at the agency level follow recent Executive Orders aimed at speeding up permitting for energy projects and multiple court orders that limited the scope of NEPA. This includes the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County Supreme Court decision in May, which limited project reviews to direct and reasonably foreseeable effects and overturned a lower court ruling that required the consideration of indirect effects. Agencies are now moving quickly to update their NEPA procedures, which could significantly impact the consideration of natural. cultural, and historic resources.

Several agencies are proposing changes to their NEPA process. Preservation advocates are responding by underscoring the importance of NEPA in protecting historic and cultural resources and encouraging agencies to maintain early public comment and review process as one of the best ways ensure an efficiency, allow for robust public engagement, and the meaningful consideration of environmental and cultural resources. The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the Section 106 process is intended to work in coordination with NEPA. Advocates are encouraging agencies to continue to integrate NEPA with the NHPA which requires assessing reasonably foreseeable impacts on historic and cultural resources during the review process.

Preservation Action is concerned by how these changes to NEPA will impact the consideration of cultural and historic resources and is encouraging NEPA's continued role in protecting our shared heritage. Stay tuned for more!