Fred Wagner was quoted by Law360 on August 18, 2017, in an article discussing the infrastructure executive order issued on August 15, 2017. According to the executive order, the government would have on average two-years to complete environmental reviews and approve or deny any major infrastructure projects.
"Overall, the executive order does not authorize anything that isn't authorized now," Wagner said. "Agencies can and should coordinate their decision-making on these reviews. The lead agency can and should be responsible for coordinating different approvals. All of that they can do now."
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the administration expects that permits and other required approvals for major projects be completed within 90 days after a final record of decision is issued.
"Again, that's a target that many agencies work toward now," Wagner said. "Overall, it's a good recitation of best practices and it's a good statement of policy objectives to reduce time for some of these major projects, and it reinforces many of the same things many agencies across the government has been putting in place over the last two administrations now."