Limiting NEPA: Practice Implications of the Seven County Decision

Environmental attorney Alexandra Ward will speak at a BARBRI webinar on the recent Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, where the Court clarified NEPA requirements, emphasizing the scope of review and agency deference. This ruling is expected to significantly impact infrastructure, energy, and property projects by resetting regulatory review expectations and affecting permitting timelines and risk assessments. The Court held that NEPA does not require consideration of "upstream" or "downstream" impacts outside the "project at hand" and reaffirmed substantial deference to agency conclusions within a "broad zone of reasonableness." The program will also discuss related precedents, such as Loper Bright, Chevron and Public Citizen, and explore best practices for advising clients and navigating the evolving landscape of environmental review.