States control infrastructure

The Clean Water Act of 1971 allowed states to stop construction of any project they felt could harm the environment. This is normally what republicans prefer, that is, state control. Trump used executive orders to try and give this power back to the federal government. On June 2, 2022 the Biden administration moved to restore authority to states and tribes to veto gas pipeline, coal terminals and other energy projects if they thought these projects would pollute. Biden is now calling on the oil and gas industry to step up production to relieve high prices but there is concern that states will block his wishes. There is now pressure on democrats to revert back to the Trump regs as many other infrastructure projects could suffer the same fate. The fear is that some states will delay and increase costs for essential energy infrastructure. This should not come as a surprise since the EPA and various environmental groups oppose many new project and they are currently in control.