14 days...

[Oak]

...for the BLM to complete an EA for a uranium mine.

Interior Expedites Permitting for Critical Energy Project to Address National Energy Emergency | U.S. Department of the Interior

The Department of the Interior announced today the expedited permitting review of a major energy project—the Velvet-Wood mine in Utah—under its newly established emergency procedures

www.doi.gov

And to think one of my local BLM offices has taken 13 years and counting to renew permits for 10 domestic sheep grazing allotments....

 

[rtraverdavis]

I like how everything is an "emergency." GMAFB. Are we really in an energy shortage? Wish wllm were here to throw up some charts and graphs on the reality of energy production.

 

[Chama Grande]

Found a doc about the project here: https://anfieldenergy.com/wp-conten...k_Rock_Shootaring_43-101_Final-May-6-2023.pdf

Quick google Velvet Wood about here: (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.129...=EgoyMDI1MDUxMS4wIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNDU1SAFQAw==)

Reduced staffing and a two week analysis window lol ok

 

[Schaaf]

Well the M doesn’t stand for Mining just for fun?

 

[Bonasababy]

I like how everything is an "emergency." GMAFB. Are we really in an energy shortage? Wish wllm were here to throw up some charts and graphs on the reality of energy production.

He told the energy industry if they gave him millions for his campaign he'd pay them back.

They did and he was not kidding.

Honestly don't think this is helping them though. Nothing works better to convince a judge to put a stop to something than a rushed EA or EIS.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

This is a reaction to the unmanageable process that had been put in place by all prior Administrations. Coincidently, I just requested an expedited EA for a project yesterday as well. In the case of this project, it went through an EIS when the BLM developed the RMP (15 years). It went through an EA to obtain the lease (8 years). It went through the NEPA process to obtain the permit amendment from the State (2 years). DOI of requested another supplemental EA to address social cost of carbon(3 years). After the last solicitor review we were told to go back and complete a new EIS( 1 year). As of one month ago DOI reverted it back to an EA as it never met internal criteria required to go the EIS route. Now I can request Expedited procedures. DOI has all they need to complete an EA. Just need to bundle it all together and submit for review. This is to develop a 200 acre coal deposit bounded by prior coal pits and an Interstate.

This is what the process has been since 2011. Unworkable. Unmanageable. Unreasonable. What you have now is the pendulum swing to the other direction. Really wish it had not gotten to this point but if it's an option, I damn sure will take it.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

This is a reaction to the unmanageable process that had been put in place by all prior Administrations. Coincidently, I just requested an expedited EA for a project yesterday as well. In the case of this project, it went through an EIS when the BLM developed the RMP (15 years). It went through an EA to obtain the lease (8 years). It went through the NEPA process to obtain the permit amendment from the State (2 years). DOI of requested another supplemental EA to address social cost of carbon(3 years). After the last solicitor review we were told to go back and complete a new EIS( 1 year). As of one month ago DOI reverted it back to an EA as it never met internal criteria required to go the EIS route. Now I can request Expedited procedures. DOI has all they need to complete an EA. Just need to bundle it all together and submit for review. This is to develop a 200 acre coal deposit bounded by prior coal pits and an Interstate.

This is what the process has been since 2011. Unworkable. Unmanageable. Unreasonable. What you have now is the pendulum swing to the other direction. Really wish it had not gotten to this point but if it's an option, I damn sure will take it.

Hard to argue with this. I'm sure there were a lot of folks who worked on all those EA's and EIS's that felt the same way too. Knee jerk protectionism and obstacle creation so a person can "feel" like they are making an ecological difference is just as bad as unbridled development IMO, and it leads to these overreactions. I sure miss the days when compromise wasn't a bad thing.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

Took DOI and contractor performing the EA on a site tour earlier today. To a person, they state the same frustration and distain for what has become of the NEPA process. And the contractors make bank on these projects. A typical Fed coal EIS is a $3.0M+ spend. Even they are frustrated by the seemingly endless review and analysis.