Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – Senators Manchin and Schumer have announced that Manchin’s proposed provisions to gut federal permitting requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) have been removed from the must-pass government funding bill set to be voted on this evening.
If passed, the provisions would have weakened NEPA protections, limited opportunities for public input on proposed infrastructure projects, and greenlit the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Hundreds of frontline activists from Appalachia and across the country came together in Washington, DC this month to call on Congress to reject any attempts to weaken critical environmental safeguards.
In response, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Mahyar Sorour released the following statement:
“This is a win for communities and our climate, and a testament to the power of frontline advocates demanding that their representatives in Congress prioritize their health and safety and not the wishes of fossil fuel executives. We will continue to fight back against any future attempts to weaken critical environmental protections and rubber-stamp the Mountain Valley Pipeline and dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.