US Supreme Court Narrows Environmental Review Scope for Major Projects

On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, narrowing the scope of environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and emphasizing that NEPA is intended to inform agency decision-making rather than obstruct it. The Court reversed the D.C. Circuit's vacating of approval for the 88-mile Uinta Basin Railway project, which connects Utah's oil fields to the national rail network, holding that agencies deserve substantial deference and are not required to evaluate indirect environmental impacts separate in time or place. The ruling aligns with the Trump administration's broader regulatory agenda aimed at reducing regulatory burdens and expediting infrastructure projects. The decision drew an 8-0 majority, with Justice Kavanaugh noting that NEPA's purpose is to avoid paralysis of agency actions. Meanwhile, environmental litigation continues in other areas, highlighted by a recent New Mexico appeals court dismissal of a suit seeking greater state regulation of oil and gas under the state constitution. Additionally, a call for papers for a 2026 symposium on constitutional limits on environmental law reflects ongoing debates about federal authority and regulatory reach over natural resources and environmental policy.