Slammed by a federal court in April over lack of environmental protection in its blanket water-crossing construction permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is closing in on key changes to its Nationwide Permit program.
With public comment ended Nov. 16, the Corps is weighing revisions that would affect Keystone XL and other projects. The proposal should streamline the process for the controversial Nationwide Permit-12, a target of fossil fuel project opponents, and help permits withstand new lawsuits, says Sarah Soard, a Burns & McDonnell environmental services manager.