President Trump Issues Two Executive Orders On Energy Infrastructure

On April 10, 2019, President Trump issued two long awaited executive orders ("EOs") intended to promote the development of energy infrastructure through several regulatory reforms.  In many respects, the EOs are driven by concerns that some states are thwarting the development of much needed energy infrastructure.  Indeed, a central feature of the first EO addresses reforms seeking to expedite and remove barriers to domestic energy projects.  The second EO reforms the process for permitting international cross-border projects, including oil pipelines.

EO ON DOMESTIC INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES

President Trump's first EO takes aim at a range of regulatory issues hindering the development of energy infrastructure projects domestically, including the Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certifications and outdated safety regulations for LNG facilities.  The EO also requires reports on a number of energy issues, including, among others, constraints for entering the