Permitting Reform Haikus Part II

Last week, the White House Council on Environmental Quality finalized revisions to the regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act. I wrote about them here, with special emphasis on all the areas of change that have bipartisan support.

But about a year ago, I had used ChatGPT to turn a different permitting document into a series of haikus – it did a pretty good job of capturing the essence of some of the policy direction. 

At the request of Karen H. , I used a different AI tool, Perplexity , to summarize some of the major sections of change in this regulation with haikus.  So here they are:

What are the purposes of these regulations?

Early knowledge shared,

Nature's needs in focus sharp,

Decisions refined.

What is the scope of action that needs review?

Scope of action weighed,

NEPA guides each careful step,

Unity in review.

What about deadlines?

Timely decisions sought,

One year, two, extend if must,

Goals set, deadlines met.

How do you decide if an action has a significant effect?

Context, intensity,

Balancing effects over time,

Significance weighed true.

Are there new ways to develop categorical exclusions?

Categorical Exclusions

through agency plans

Public gets a voice.

Can agencies share categorical exclusions?

Agencies align paths,

Shared exclusions, public informed,

Careful steps forward.

What is the role of compensatory mitigation as well as avoidance?

Mitigation defined,

Enforceable, monitored well,

Impact softened, clear.

Direction for public engagement?

Engage far and wide,

Voices shape the path ahead,

Informed decisions.

What is the environmentally preferable alternative?

Seek the greenest path,

Maximize Earth's benefits,

Share in early step.