Manchin’s Agreement Paves Way for Permitting Changes in Fall

Democrats’ agreement to move ahead with a tax-and-climate economic package included the promise of separate legislation—expected to move this fall—that would accomplish a bipartisan goal to speed up environmental permitting.

The efforts to overhaul permitting through legislation is a recognition that the federal government doesn’t have adequate tools to expedite the process, according to a Trump-era official who was involved in the permitting talks.

The statutory changes in the eventual legislation “won’t be earth-shattering,” said Alex Herrgott, who led the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) under President Donald Trump and provided technical assistance during the White House and congressional ...