Overview

• The Department of the Interior announced new emergency permitting rules, reducing approval times for energy and mining projects on federal lands to a maximum of 28 days.
• The streamlined process applies to oil, gas, coal, uranium, geothermal, biofuels, kinetic hydropower, and critical minerals, but excludes wind and solar projects.
• The administration is using alternative compliance methods under NEPA, ESA, and NHPA to expedite reviews, cutting timelines that previously took years to as little as 14 days for some assessments.
• Environmental advocates, including the Center for Biological Diversity, argue the measures undermine public input and environmental protections, vowing to challenge the legality of the changes in court.
• Industry groups have welcomed the reforms, citing long-standing frustrations with slow permitting processes, while some experts question the potential risks of reduced environmental oversight.