NEPA Under Threat — Act Now to Protect Your Voice in Environmental Decisions

Published July 28th, 2025 in Conservation, News, Wilderness

80+ Federal Agencies Are Gutting Public Participation — We Need Your Help

Over 80 federal agencies have just released sweeping changes to how they implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) — the cornerstone of environmental protection and public input in federal decisions. These changes were released all at once, with only 30 days for public comment — many without any meaningful opportunity for public engagement.

Most of these rules were issued as interim final, bypassing the usual public process by invoking an emergency loophole in the Administrative Procedure Act. There is no emergency here — just a coordinated attempt to silence the public on decisions that will impact our forests, water, climate, wildlife, and communities for decades to come.

At Umpqua Watersheds, we believe this is a direct threat to democracy and transparency. This rushed and overwhelming rollout creates the appearance of a strategy to limit public involvement and shield controversial projects from scrutiny.

We must speak out now — before it’s too late. For more background and specific comments submitted on behalf of Umpqua Watersheds, see the documents:

📝 TAKE ACTION Submit a public comment today. Let federal agencies know that the public demands a transparent, lawful process that upholds NEPA’s intent.

✔️ Ask agencies to:

Withdraw interim final rules
Initiate full notice-and-comment rulemaking
Align regulations with the improved 2023 CEQ NEPA guidelines — not the flawed 2020 rollbacks

🗓️ Deadline: July 30, 2025 (some agencies accepting comments until August 4). There are 4 Government Departments that we ask that you comment on at this time. More may come out soon so keep checking back here. US Department of Agriculture (DOA), US Department of the Interior (DOI), US Department of Transportation (DOT), US Department of Energy (DOE).

👉 How to Comment: Visit Regulations.gov and search for the docket numbers below: