Trump Waiving EPA Requirements to Build Wall
The Trump administration is moving ahead with building a wall along the southern border of the United States, separating the U.S. from Mexico. Along a 14 mile stretch the Department of Homeland Security has stated they will proceed with plans to build the wall and will waive over 30 (thirty) laws and regulations to do so. The laws being waived relate mostly to the environment and endangered species.
Given the insanity of the Trump administration’s first 200 days, this should come as no surprise, the President ignoring rules, laws, procedure, and regulations to achieve what he wants to achieve. This speaks to a broader issue of the Trump administration’s message, which is to preach law and order even if you have to bend rules to achieve it.
The President is looking for a tangible victory to offer to his base. His first 200 days have been riddled with set backs, loses, and unfulfilled promises. Building this wall, even if it is a small section, and ignoring federal regulation to do so, is a tangible win to present to the base. The message is two-fold, first, he promised a wall, and even if it’s only 14 miles he can point to it and say “more to come”. Second it is a giant middle finger to the EPA, and all those environmental scientist, and don’t forget liberals!!!! In terms of the EPA and the environment this is only the tip of the iceberg of middle fingers and “fuck you’s” to those who want to fight for, protect, and preserve the environment.
Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security says it will waive more than three dozen laws and regulations — most of them requiring environmental review — as it pushes ahead with the first phase of construction of an enhanced wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The announcement Tuesday by the department’s Customs and Border Protection Unit pertains to a 14-mile stretch of the wall in the San Diego area — stretching from the Pacific Ocean to a point inland known as Border Monument 251.
President Trump issued an executive order in January for construction of the wall along the border. His administration says it can waive the environmental laws but opponents have already said the wall could be “catastrophic” to the environment and now charge that a waiver of further review is unconstitutional.
An environmental group that has already called for more scrutiny of the construction said it believes its lawsuit previously filed over the construction will force enhanced review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a host of other laws.
“Trump wants to scare people into letting him ignore the law and endanger wildlife and people,” said Brian Segee, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Trump’s wall is a divisive symbol of fear and hatred, and it does real harm to the landscape and communities.”
The announcement by DHS said the sections of the wall near San Diego could not go under construction in December, as planned, if the project was subjected to standard environmental review. Biological surveys required under federal environmental law would stretch into next June, according to the announcement of the waiver.
Despite its attempt to waive NEPA and scores of other regulations — ranging from the Endangered Species Act, to the Clean Air Act and the National Trails System Act — Homeland Security still claimed in a statement that it would “implement sound environmental practices.”
The statement added that the CBP officials overseeing the work are “committed to the protection of the environment” and that they would “continue to perform all important surveys for biological and natural resources, wetlands, culturally significant sites, and environmentally sensitive areas.”
Those remarks did not reassure activists at the Center for Biological Diversity, which first sued in May to demand enhanced review of the wall. Joining the environmental group in the litigation was U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., the top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources.
“This isn’t just a wall they’re in a rush to build. It’s roads, lighting and all of the infrastructure that comes with it. All of this without any environmental review or public input. It’s a travesty and it has to be stopped,” Segee said in a statement. “We believe the waiver is unconstitutional, and we’re confident the courts will agree.”
Steve
Steve is an affordable multifamily housing professional that is also the co-founder of Whiskey Congress. Steve has written for national publications such as The National Marijuana News and other outlets as a guest blogger on topics covering sports, politics, and cannabis. Steve loves whiskey, cigars, and uses powerlifting as an outlet to deal with the fact that no one listens to his brilliant ideas.
