Trump signs order to expedite infrastructure construction

By |  August 17, 2017

President Donald Trump signed an executive order for a more efficient federal permitting process for construction infrastructure projects, allegedly without harming the environment, reports the Chicago Tribune.

According to the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), Trump signed the order in the hopes of reducing a typical highway permitting process from 17 years to two.

Photo credit: Foter.com

Trump’s order includes revoking an executive order signed by President Barack Obama that requires projects built in flood plains with federal aid to take sea-level rise (driven by climate change) into account in their design. Trump has suggested the predicted risks from sea level rise are overblown, the Chicago Tribune adds.

Trump says projects will be subjected to environmental safeguards.

“It’s going to be quick, it’s going to be a very streamlined process,” Trump says. “And, by the way, if it doesn’t meet environmental safeguards, we’re not going to approve it. Very simple.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, building trade groups have urged Trump to revoke the flood plain order, saying it was overly bureaucratic and increased the cost of projects. Environmentalists contend that ignoring the Earth’s changing climate is shortsighted, the Chicago Tribune says.

NSSGA applauds Trump’s efforts to speed up infrastructure projects.

“While we need strong federal investment into our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and it is our hope that Congress is working with the White House to rapidly address this problem, we applaud the government looking for ways to expedite projects,” says Laura O’Neill-Kaumo, senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs for NSSGA.

Allison Kral

About the Author:

Allison Kral is the former senior digital media manager for North Coast Media (NCM). She completed her undergraduate degree at Ohio University where she received a Bachelor of Science in magazine journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She works across a number of digital platforms, which include creating e-newsletters, writing articles and posting across social media sites. She also creates content for NCM's Portable Plants magazine, GPS World magazine and Geospatial Solutions. Her understanding of the ever-changing digital media world allows her to quickly grasp what a target audience desires and create content that is appealing and relevant for any client across any platform.

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