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Tag: permitting

  • Schumer slams House GOP’s energy permitting bid

    Schumer slams House GOP’s energy permitting bid

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    The bill combines measures to streamline permitting reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act for energy projects and mines, which Republicans hope will form a basis to negotiate with Senate Democrats, with longtime partisan priorities like prohibiting a ban on fracking, mandating oil and gas lease sales and disapproving of President Joe Biden’s decision to kill the Keystone XL pipeline. But these provisions are unlikely to gain traction in the upper chamber given Democratic opposition.

    The bill, which is expected to receive a vote on the floor the last week of March, would also repeal major programs in the Inflation Reduction Act such as the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the methane tax.

    Schumer criticized the GOP’s opening bid on easing the permitting review process, saying it includes “none of the important permitting reforms that would help bring transmission and clean energy online faster.”

    Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) introduced a permitting proposal last Congress — backed by Schumer and the White House — that was rejected by most Republicans and failed to pass that would have set targets on the length of environmental reviews under NEPA. It also would have granted more authority to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to site transmission lines needed to connect wind and solar generation to far away demand centers.

    Despite that failure, House Republicans have insisted they’re serious about negotiating with Democrats on a permitting bill.

    While their “all of the above” energy bill is designed to unite the GOP’s fractious conference around combating high oil and gasoline prices, Speaker Kevin McCarthy told POLITICO Tuesday in a statement that he aims to work with Democrats to pass a permitting bill into law once the partisan phase is over.

    “It’s no secret that permitting reform is a top priority for House Republicans,” McCarthy said. “I’m pleased to see more Democrats join us in working to address this issue. We’re long overdue in addressing this challenge, and House Republicans will start by passing H.R. 1.”

    Schumer, despite his criticism of the GOP’s effort, held out the potential for bipartisan talks.

    “I’m glad that there are good-faith talks underway right now between both parties in both houses to figure out what sort of permitting deal is possible,” Schumer said.

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    ( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

  • SC to hear plea of Tamil Nadu against HC order permitting RSS to take out march

    SC to hear plea of Tamil Nadu against HC order permitting RSS to take out march

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    New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday agreed to hear on March 3 an appeal of the Tamil Nadu government against the Madras High Court order permitting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to take out a march in the state.

    A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submissions of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state government, that the plea needed an urgent hearing as the march is scheduled to commence from March 5.

    “I am asking for a Friday hearing,” the senior lawyer said.

    “We will keep it on Friday,” the bench said.

    Rohatgi said the state had refused permission to hold a march on roads in six districts keeping in mind the presence of PFI (Popular Front of India) and the law and order.

    The organisation was allowed to hold its function at closed spaces like stadiums in six districts but not a march on streets, he said, adding the single judge bench of the high court had agreed with the state’s decision.

    However, a division bench of the high court, on February 10, permitted the RSS to take out its route march in Tamil Nadu on rescheduled dates, and observed that protests are essential for a healthy democracy, the senior lawyer said.

    As the march is proposed to begin from March 5, the matter needed consideration before that, he said.

    Earlier, the state government had moved the top court against the permission granted to RSS to take out its route march on rescheduled dates.

    The state government, in its plea before the top court, said the route march would pose a law and order problem and sought a stay on the high court order.

    Setting aside the order passed on November 4, 2022 by a single judge that had imposed conditions on the proposed state-wide route march asking the RSS to hold the march indoors or in enclosed space, the larger division bench court had restored the order dated September 22, 2022, which directed the Tamil Nadu police to consider the RSS’ representation seeking permission to conduct the march and a public meeting, as well, and to grant permission for the same.

    Accordingly, it had directed the appellants to approach the state authorities with three different dates of their choice for the purpose of holding the route march/peaceful procession and the state authorities were directed to grant permission to them on one of the chosen dates out of the three.

    Also, the RSS was asked to ensure strict discipline and make sure there is no provocation or incitement on their part during the march. The state, on its part, should take adequate safety measures and make traffic arrangements to ensure the procession and the meeting are held peacefully, the high court had said.

    Challenging the single judge order, the RSS sought a direction to the authorities to permit their members to conduct the procession wearing their uniform through various routes throughout the state.

    The organisation had earlier sought permission for the route march to commemorate the 75th year of Independence, the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna B R Ambedkar and Vijayadasami festival, on October 2, 2022, at various places and to also conduct a public meeting on the same day.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )