From Casper Star-Tribune President Trump signed two executive orders Wednesday that attempt to ease restrictions on energy infrastructure development and curtail the ability of states to deny or delay energy projects. One order addresses a recurring political frustration in Wyoming with states like Washington, who have used their authority under federal law to impede developments on environmental grounds, to Wyoming’s potential economic loss. Trump’s executive order instructs the Environmental Protection Agency to clarify the state and federal balance of authority over projects that cross state waterways by rewriting the agency’s guidance of the Clean Water Act. A provision of that federal law, section 401, grants states the authority to certify water permits. In effect this provision has allowed states a veto power over projects that have federal approval. The president’s order states that the EPA’s guidance on the Clean Water Act has created “confusion.” Wyoming politicians have been more direct, accusing states[Read More…]