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.

 

[rogerthat]

Ridiculous. What a corrupt government

 

[Khunter]

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.

the endless review and analysis is absurd. More s the frequency of lawsuits after they are complete. And the anti everything activists getting fed money to do the suing.

 

[brownbear932008]

Ridiculous. What a corrupt government

Is it that or is the problem lawyers filing suit after suit and effectively handcuffing the agencies tasked with these issues? I don't think either side finds it enjoyable it appears. They are both forced through this terrible process.

 

[Bonasababy]

Problem is the only ones calling for a reasonable process...are the ones involved in the work. And of late they have been gutted and don't want to stick their head up when the government is run by rubber stampers.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

Is it that or is the problem lawyers filing suit after suit and effectively handcuffing the agencies tasked with these issues?

Quite a bit of both, IMO.

I don't think either side finds it enjoyable it appears.

Enjoyment of the process appears to depend on if the Admin in place approves of the project or not.

They are both forced through this terrible process.

Which they created.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

Problem is the only ones calling for a reasonable process...are the ones involved in the work.

Reasonable process has been floated before, by many different Admins. Process always seems to get manipulated. During the first Trump Admin he signed an EO (13807) to help standardize and reduce the timelines for NEPA process. CEQ implemented EA and EIS timelines of 1 yr and 2 yrs, respectively. Clock starts when the NOI for the project is signed. Here is where games were played. There is no timeline on how long it should take to get an NOI. Following the completion of an EA and EIS, then you have Solicitor review. Once again, no timeline for this process. Intentional delays are implemented depending on the Admins support or lack thereof for the project in question. IME, when it came to fossil fuel projects, the Biden Admin was the worst offender of intentional roadblocks, followed closely by Obama. I suspect if I were working on a project unrelated to FF's I would have had a very different experience.

And of late they have been gutted and don't want to stick their head up when the government is run by rubber stampers.

The Fed folks I work with seem to be trying to play by the rules in place at the time. Definity have concerns about not showing support for the current guidance. Oddly enough during the prior Admin, I saw multiple DOI people quit out of total and complete frustration with their work never getting them any closer to resolution. Moving goal posts and rework was just too much. Its a shame as they were intelligent, trustworthy and hard-working, everything you would hope for. Pendulum swings both ways for sure!

 

[Bonasababy]

It would sure help get assements and statements done faster if staffing in the agencies was adequate to allow that to happen.

There's the rub-with many of those wanting to simplify/shorten. That takes people. When you work so hard to get rid of those people you have to look in the mirror for some of the problem.

 

[Handlebar]

It would sure help get assements and statements done faster if staffing in the agencies was adequate to allow that to happen.

There's the rub-with many of those wanting to simplify/shorten. That takes people. When you work so hard to get rid of those people you have to look in the mirror for some of the problem.

I don't know if you work for an agency, but I do, and the agencies definitely share blame

 

[rogerthat]

I don't know if you work for an agency, but I do, and the agencies definitely share blame

Are you trying to fix your agency than?

 

[Handlebar]

Are you trying to fix your agency than?

It can be very frustrating, lower mid-level personnel point out and try to run things up the chain of command.