Biden administration gives states more authority to block pipeline projects

The Biden administration has introduced a new Environmental Protection Agency rule that grants states and tribes more power to block projects affecting water quality, such as pipelines crossing their waters. This reverses the previous Trump administration’s efforts to limit state authority in this regard. Under the new rule, states and tribes can assess any aspect of a project’s potential impact on water quality when deciding to approve or reject it. The EPA aims to restore state authority and streamline critical infrastructure project approvals. Democratic governors, including New Mexico’s Michelle Lujan Grisham, have welcomed the rule, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding water quality. Additionally, the rule encourages early engagement between industry and states or tribes to facilitate project approval discussions.

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