E&E News Quotes David Quigley on Trump’s Energy Executive Orders
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E&E News has quoted David Quigley, head of the environment and natural resources practice at Akin Gump, in the article “Trump’s energy orders spark partisan and legal brawl,” which looks at the response to President Trump’s signing of a pair of executive orders designed to speed up oil and gas pipeline projects.
One of the orders seeks to ease the process for energy projects that cross international borders. Mr. Trump, the article says, revoked an earlier State Department approval and replaced it with a new presidential permit that may not be subject to National Environmental Policy Act review.
While Mr. Trump’s orders could be considered a win for industry, their benefits are an agency action — and a judicial review — away, said Quigley. The fact that the border-crossing order still requires some input from the Secretary of State, even if ultimate authority rests in the President’s hands, is concerning, he said.
“You’ll see arguments that the agency involvement may still trigger environmental review,” Quigley said. “You'll be back in the same place.”
