Environmental Groups Challenge USDA’s Public Comment Rules (1)

Two environmental groups sued the Agriculture Department Wednesday, claiming it violated federal rulemaking procedures and environmental law by eliminating public participation requirements in new permitting rules.

The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club said in a complaint the US Department of Agriculture violated the Administrative Procedure Act and National Environmental Policy Act when it changed its “longstanding public participation procedures” last year by publishing an interim final rule. The rule removed requirements for public comment on draft environmental impact statements and public involvement in environmental assessments and eliminated requirements for public input on categorical exclusions, the plaintiffs said ...