Obama Asked to Waive Environmental Protection Requirements by Gov. Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger Sends Letter To Obama Asking For A Waiver On National Environmental Policy Act Requirements.

On Monday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked President-Elect Barack Obama to waive the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements to help jump start the Nation’s flailing economy.

Schwarzenegger met with Obama last month in Philadelphia, where he urged the Federal government to invest in infrastructure. Something he’s been peddling alongside New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg since early 2008.

The Governor’s administration has identified four key areas where they “can work together” in stabilizing and expanding California’s economy: investment in infrastructure, energy security, stabilization of the housing market, and assistance to states to help meet the needs of the medically indigent.

>>More on Schwarzenegger’s environmental policy

During their meeting Schwarzenegger had identified $28 billion in infrastructure projects ready to break ground, that number is now $44 billion! The projects are in communities across California and include:

• $11.8 billion in energy efficiency projects
• $11 billion in investment of road, transit and rail construction
• $4 billion in health care investment
• $1.1 billion in schools
• More than $5 billion in parks and public safety

This would lead to an estimated 800,000 jobs for the Golden State. But there is a bit of a rub. The Governor’s office requested that the NEPA requirements be waived, or at the very least “streamlined,” such that the California Environment Quality Act (CEQA) requirements will satisfy NEPA.

From what I can find, it seems that the two acts are not that much different. But some of Arnold’s past environmental decisions have made me more than skeptical (see: Gov. Schwarzenegger Terminates California’s Endangered Fish).

But if he gets his way, Schwarzenegger claims major greenhouse gas emission reductions from these upgrades. He is also requesting tax credits for renewable energy projects. For projects placed in service in 2009, he is asking that accelerated depreciations be refundable.

Read the full press release here.

Photo: Governor Schwarzenegger’s website

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