The FAA has revoked a 10-year-old rule governing how it complies with federal environmental protection regulations.
In a notice published in the Federal Register, the agency said it is rescinding FAA Order 1050.1F in light of a recent executive order from President Donald Trump, which instructs federal departments to prioritize domestic energy needs and “economic security” over environmental protection and conservation.
The order, known as “Unleashing American Energy,” lays out a path to eventually reverse all regulations that could block the discovery and exploitation of oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, minerals, and other resources.
FAA Order 1050.1F governed how the FAA complied with the National Environmental Policy Act and guidance from the Council on Environmental Quality. It required the agency to study the potential environmental impact of aviation-related projects and proposals, and to make that information available to the public.
A new replacement rule, known as 1050.1G, “modernizes” the review process, with the goal of speeding up decision making and reducing “paperwork” and “unnecessary delays.”
“The new procedures maintain environmental amenities and protection and reduce regulatory delays that may impede aviation safety improvements and infrastructure development as well as integration of new entrant technologies,” the notice reads.
The new language also provides more grounds for exemptions from NEPA rules and requirements.
New Rulebook
Aside from the president’s order, the FAA said it took guidance from a recent decision by the Council on Environmental Quality rescinding all rules made about implementation of the NEPA since 1977.
The Trump administration said the move will streamline permitting, though environmentalists contend it will make it harder for citizens to raise concerns about pollution, destruction of natural habitats, and air and water quality.
The FAA also cited a May ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, which decried what it called the NEPA’s gradual evolution into a “substantive roadblock” that has paralyzed federal agencies. The court issued a “course correction” giving agencies more leeway in how they carry out environmental reviews.
The rule change will likely affect how the FAA proceeds as it prepares for a massive overhaul of the nation’s ATC equipment and facilities. A modernization plan laid out by the U.S. Department of Transportation in May calls for the construction of six new ATC centers and 15 towers, to be completed by 2028.
