President Trump signed an executive order on August 15 that streamlines the complex federal permitting process before work on infrastructure projects can begin.
By “establishing discipline and accountability in the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure projects,” the president said that he hopes to cut a typical highway permitting process from 17 years to two, the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association says.
“Our infrastructure will again be the best in the world,” Trump said during a media event. A key campaign promise, Trump has proposed spending $1 trillion on roads, highways, bridges and other public works projects by investing $200 billion in government dollars and seeking private sector support.
“While we need strong federal investment into our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and it is our hope that Congress is working with the White House to rapidly address this problem, we applaud the government looking for ways to expedite projects,” said Laura O’Neill-Kaumo, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs.
The aggregates industry is expecting to make significant connections with members of Congress to hold the president to his $1 trillion infrastructure promise during the upcoming Legislative and Policy Forum/Fall Board meeting, September 24-28.
