ICYMI: Senator Carper Stresses Importance of Public Engagement in Permitting Process

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, at the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Hearing “Oversight of the Permitting Council: Improving Transparency And Coordination,” U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) stressed the importance of public engagement in the permitting process for major infrastructure projects.

Senator Carper, also Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, noted the importance of early and meaningful community engagement to ensuring timely completion of project reviews. The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council works with federal agencies and project sponsors to improve federal environmental reviews and permitting for large infrastructure projects.

Senator Carper said:

“Last year, the Environment and Public Works Committee held … a couple of hearings on permitting. [The] common theme at our hearings was the importance of public engagement, as you may know. We learned that when project sponsors understand community concerns early in the process, sponsors can often include solutions in the project design. Public engagement can build trust. It can increase public buy-in. It can help resolve issues. It can help prevent litigation. And ultimately, it can help save time and money.”

Senator Carper continued:

“The Inflation Reduction Act included some $350 million … to the Environmental Review Improvement Fund, which we created, as you’ll recall, in the FAST-41 Act. Oftentimes, when federal agencies have adequate resources, permitting is more efficient…How is the Permitting Council using the Environmental Review Improvement [Fund] to promote early and meaningful community engagement?”

Eric Beightel, Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council replied:

“[The] tools that we are investing in … and the resources that we are investing in will enable the agencies to do more meaningful outreach. It will make the process more transparent for project applicants and the public.”

A video of Senator Carper’s questions at Wednesday’s hearing can be found here.

###