Groups argue meaningful public participation leads to better projects and stronger outcomes, while the current proposal shifts environmental and public health costs onto taxpayers Contact: [email protected] Washington, D.C. – Today, Climate Justice Alliance, Earthworks, Food and Water Watch, Ironbound Community Corporation, and We Act for Environmental Justice joined 74 grassroots organizations and allies that represent thousands of communities across the nation, to send a letter to Senate democratic leadership urging lawmakers to reject any bipartisan permitting reform package that further weakens environmental protections or public participation. The coalition highlighted the dangers of passing a permitting reform package under the Trump Administration, and instead urged Members of Congress to work with environmental justice communities on a durable permitting reform package under a future administration that puts communities, transparency, Tribal consultation, and public health first. ‘Environmental justice and allied organizations call on you to hold the line against any permitting package that weakens community engagement, environmental and public health analysis, Tribal consultation, transparency, or judicial review. At the same time we urge you to advance a proactive, long-term vision for modernizing federal permitting that strengthens public participation, agency capacity, scientific integrity, and coordination across government.’ The full letter is available here. Mar Zepeda Salazar, legislative director at Climate Justice Alliance said, ‘We must call this permitting package what it is: not reform, but a backroom deal that shifts risk from corporations onto the communities forced to live with the consequences. At a time when families are struggling with rising utility bills, mounting medical costs, and children are missing school because of extreme heat, wildfires and other climate-related events, Congress should be listening to its constituents, not fast-tracking yet another industry wish list. Administrations come and go. Corporations move onto the next project. But communities live with the consequences for decades. Congress has a responsibility to deliver permitting policies that protect public health, respect communities’ right to participate in decisions that affect them, and earn the public’s trust—not sacrifice communities in the name of speed that will only accelerate corporate profits.’ Earthworks circular economy policy advocate, Raquel Dominguez said, ‘All people have a right to health, dignity, and a liveable environment. Congress should never put short-term profit for corporations ahead of the long-term well-being of communities. Right now, families in America are breathing air that makes them sick, depending on dwindling or polluted water supplies, and watching public lands turn into industrial sites. Oil, gas, and mining companies are causing permanent harm to communities from the Appalachians to the desert Southwest. We cannot allow this administration to continue to gut our bedrock environmental laws. Permits are a permission slip from the government on behalf of the people. They ensure that companies act in ways that ensure our children have a healthier, safer and more prosperous future.’ The letter also argues that, given the Trump administration’s record on environmental protections, there is little reason to believe a permitting package negotiated now would be implemented consistent with congressional intent or used to advance responsible clean energy deployment. Instead, the coalition urges members of Congress to oppose any proposal that weakens public participation, environmental review, Tribal consultation, transparency, or judicial oversight, and to engage with environmental justice communities and legal and scientific experts when pursuing long-term permitting reforms that strengthen agency capacity and community accountability under future administrations. ‘Environmental justice communities like the one in Ironbound, Newark, refuse to be sacrificed. We call on democratic leadership to build a permitting agenda that centers communities while ensuring responsible infrastructure development,’ stated Alejandra Torres, assistant director of advocacy and organizing at the Ironbound Community Corporation. Drew Guillory, Food and Water Watch policy advocate said, ‘‘Permitting reform’ is a disingenuous term for harmful deregulation of a polluting industry that will severely impact those that are already most vulnerable. With an administration that sprints rabidly towards corporate profit and destruction at every turn, it’s imperative that Congress stand for the American people and guard against ‘permitting reform’ and its many threats to human health and wellbeing.’ Leslie Fields, Chief Federal Officer of WE ACT for Environmental Justice shared, ‘Communities must have a say in the decision-making processes that impact their neighborhoods. While we face skyrocketing energy costs, deadly climate-driven disasters, and Trump administration-fueled health crises, we cannot stand for deregulation that will only reinforce injustices and put people in even more danger. It is a tired lie that NEPA is to blame for permitting issues in our country. Permitting reform efforts that promote deregulation create false policy choices that miss the mark, and only further the fossil fuel industry’s use of environmental justice communities as sacrifice zones. When communities are centered, we can make sure to protect people’s health and that projects actually benefit those communities. Environmental justice communities and advocates have long offered real solutions that ensure community input, use the best available science, and result in beneficial projects. Instead of spending time developing permitting legislation and trusting it will be implemented in good faith by an administration that boasts about historic attacks to environmental laws and public health protections, our leaders need to rebuild safeguards and democratic processes. We need to create a sustainable future that will actually provide opportunity and protect the health of everyone, not just the wealthy few.’ ### The post 70+ Grassroots Climate Organizations Call on Democratic Leaders to Hold the Line on Permitting Reform and Stand with Communities, not Corporations appeared first on Climate Justice Alliance.