I posted my picks for core readings on permitting reform about a month ago, and a number of people have since asked for the link. This list is by no means comprehensive—but if you read through every single one of these you’ll be off to a flying start.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA):
- “How to Stop Environmental Review from Harming the Environment,” Potter, Datta & Stapp (2022)
- “How NEPA Will Tax Clean Energy,” Mackenzie (2024)
- “NEPA Litigation Over Large Energy and Transport Infrastructure Projects,” Bennon & Wilson (2023)
- “Getting Infrastructure Built: The Law and Economics of Permitting,” Liscow (2024)
- “Much More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About NEPA,” Dourado (2022)
- “A Cheat Sheet for NEPA Judicial Reform,” Datta & Mackenzie (2024)
Endangered Species Act (ESA):
- “A Field Guide for Wildlife Recovery,” Downey et al. (2023)
- “Testimony Regarding ESA Consultation Impediments…” Wood (2017)
Clean Air Act:
- “New Source Review Under the Clean Air Act: Ripe for Reform,” Gruenspecht & Stavins (2002)
- “EPA’s New Source Review Program: Time for Reform?,” Fraas, Graham, & Holmstead (2017)
- “It’s Not Just NEPA: Reforming Environmental Permitting,” Hochman (2023)
Clean Water Act:
- “Consequences of the Clean Water Act and the Demand for Water Quality,” Keiser & Shapiro (2017)
- (haven’t really come across anything else…)
General:
- “Reforming Permitting,” Davies et al. (2001)
- “The State Permitting Playbook,” Hochman (2024)
- “Pipelines and Power-Lines: Building the Energy Transport Future,” Coleman (2019)
Theory:
- “Kludgeocracy in America,” Teles (2023)
- “The Procedure Fetish,” Bagley (2021)
