Schumer must fight for environmental policy act

In his commentary “Infrastructure bill must not take environmental shortcuts,” Oct. 14, Larry Shapiro picks up on Sen. Charles Schumer’s allusion to “You can’t always get what you want,” a song my grandson was taught in preschool, presumably because it extols the virtues of compromise.

But Mick Jagger’s song also makes the crucial distinction between wants — which are subject to negotiation — and needs, which are not. My grandson’s parents might adjust his allowance, but they aren’t going to reconsider his obligation to go to school.

The National Environmental Policy Act is a need. It is a 50year-old law that makes sure the government informs the public when it embarks on a major project. It must ask the public — including local communities — to voice concerns and it must solicit local expertise. Over the years, NEPA has defended communities against government mismanagement and industry abuse.

New Yorkers benefited from the NEPA when developers canceled plans to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would have carried fracked gas across the Appalachian Trail and through 600 miles of forest and farmlands.

Naturally, those who engage in projects unattractive to communities would like to weaken this act and are using calls for compromise over the reconciliation bill to do so. Of course, Schumer must use all his political savvy to fund the entire $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. In the process, however, he must not lose ground on the provisions of NEPA. Environmental review must be a bedrock principle for all infrastructure projects. John Poreba

New Lebanon