The US Maritime Administration now has sole authority to determine whether prospective deepwater ports conform to the National Environmental Policy Act, the Coast Guard and Transportation Department announced Monday.
Prospective operators of such off-shore facilities—which accommodate vessels such as oil tankers that are too large to access land-based ports—previously needed environmental approval from the US Coast Guard as well. The military service will still oversee their construction and operations, according to a Coast Guard press release.
Environmental groups have fought federal approval of deepwater facilities over issues such as potential disruptions to wildlife. The Trump administration has largely dismissed their ...