"The justices’ ruling aims to curtail lower court decisions requiring lengthy environmental analyses." 

"The Supreme Court on Thursday placed new limits on environmental reviews for major federal projects such as pipelines and railways.

In a unanimous 8-0 ruling, the justices found that a lower court should more narrowly tailor National Environmental Policy Act analyses to focus on effects that are close to projects under review and fall directly under the purview of approving agencies.

“Simply stated, NEPA is a procedural cross-check, not a substantive roadblock. The goal of the law is to inform agency decisionmaking, not to paralyze it,” said Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing the opinion for the court, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett."

Niina H. Farah reports for E&E News May 29, 2025. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Supreme Court Backs a Controversial Railroad in Utah for Carrying Oil" (Inside Climate  News) [3]

"Supreme Court Scales Back A Key Environmental Law In A Ruling That Could Speed Development Projects" (AP) [4]