Bullet train clears hurdle as Trump administration OKs state environmental oversight
The Trump administration has lifted a major hurdle for California’s efforts to develop its ambitious high-speed rail program, effectively delegating its federal responsibility for environmental review of route sections to the state.
The approval by the Federal Railroad Administration allows the California High-Speed Rail Authority to assume the federal agency’s role in evaluating compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal environmental laws, according to a July 1 letter to the state from FRA Administrator Ronald Batory.
But the environmental delegation does not affect the FRA’s termination earlier this year of a $929 million federal grant for the state’s rail project, or the potential for the agency to seek repayment of more than $2 billion in federal stimulus grants awarded to California under the Obama administration.
“This is the first time FRA has assigned its environmental review responsibilities, and follows the Federal Highway Administration’s assigning National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) responsibilities to California in 2007,” the FRA said through a spokesperson. “FRA is taking this step after working diligently with the State through technical issues and considering public comment.”
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