A new Executive Order – “Utilizing Emergency Authorities to Facilitate Infrastructure Improvements and Other Activities to Support the Nation’s Economic Recovery from the COVID-19 Emergency” – will help streamline environmental reviews and improve infrastructure project delivery timelines, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA).
Infrastructure is touted by officials across the political spectrum as the best legislative tool to put Americans back to work and restart our nation’s economic recovery, and this executive order helps reiterate the immediate economic impact infrastructure projects provide, NSSGA stated.
According to the association, duplicative and redundant bureaucratic reviews only serve to delay vital public works projects while increasing costs on the taxpayer. This executive order will expedite various construction projects, including highways, bridges, waterways, pipelines, energy and other transportation projects and is designed to support and accelerate our nation’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NSSGA said it appreciates the administration’s efforts to improve infrastructure project implementation, including the delivery of aggregates and other critical raw materials essential to every public works project across the country.