The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the release of the Administration's Proposal to Reform the National Environmental Protection Act Permitting Process on Jan. 9:

"The administration is right to seek to make the review process more efficient and cost effective without sacrificing environmental protections, thereby allowing the public to receive and benefit from cleaner water, safer roads and bridges, and a more reliable energy system in a timelier fashion. Upon initial review, this proposal appears to do just that.

"The problem with the current environmental review process is that it long ago stopped being about evaluating the environmental impacts of a proposed project and has become a way for special interest groups to further their agenda by holding needed infrastructure and development projects hostage to countless lawsuits and delays.

"Moving forward, we are committed to working with the Administration to help ensure that the final rule reflects the same commitment to streamlining the federal review process while maintaining rigorous environmental protections."

For more information, visit www.agc.org.