Impact of Administrative Law on Infrastructure Projects

The discussion revolves around the significant impact of administrative law, particularly the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), on the progression of infrastructure projects in the United States. Initially enacted in 1969 to require consideration of environmental consequences before federal actions, NEPA was intended as a straightforward review process. However, over the decades, the judicial interpretation of NEPA has evolved, leading to increasingly stringent requirements that have contributed to extensive delays and complications in project approvals. This shift illustrates a growing disconnect between the original intent of NEPA and its current application, where environmental groups leverage the law to halt projects on potentially tenuous grounds, complicating the bureaucracy further.