Lee Zeldin as EPA head

[Fenix]

How do you guys think Trump's EPA appointee, Lee Zeldin, will affect environmental permitting over the next four years? I'm hopeful that he'll cut out some of the red tape that's rife in the industry. What about you?

 

[Eric]

Good question. EPA is in charge of developing the Corps' Section 404 regulations so it will be interesting to see how far they roll things back. The 2023 Sackett decision removed ephemeral waters and lots of wetlands from our jurisdiction. I expect that Mr. Zeldin and Corps ASA will issue regs and AJD policy memos that narrow jurisdiction even further, probably removing lots of intermittent streams and non-contiguous adjacent wetlands.

 

[Bob Sweeney]

My hope and belief is that the new administration will shift agency focus from prescriptive codes to measuring actual performance. Where is the pollution? What are the real sources of contaminants? Is the air, water and land cleaner?

 

[StrictlyUrban]

My hope and belief is that the new administration will shift agency focus from prescriptive codes to measuring actual performance. Where is the pollution? What are the real sources of contaminants? Is the air, water and land cleaner?

But is it possible to do that before significant irreversible harm is done? That's my main concern with that sort of initiative.

My opinion is that Mr. Zeldin is fairly centrist, and not much will change. I just don't see him as a major disruptor. I know I'm in the minority, though.