President Trump issued on August 15 an Executive Order to streamline the approval process for infrastructure projects, including pipelines. The order, entitled “Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure,” establishes as a goal that the “processing of environmental reviews and authorization decisions for new major infrastructure projects should be reduced to not more than an average of approximately 2 years.” A Fact Sheet released with the Executive Order highlighted oil and natural gas pipeline projects as an important beneficiary of the streamlining move. From an initial review of the Executive Order it would appear the new procedures will have an impact on the timetables for future infrastructure projects, but not necessarily on projects that are currently underway in the regulatory review process, such as the Atlantic Coast Pipeline or the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Executive Order Issued to Streamline Pipeline Environmental Reviews

ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.