When the big earthquake hit the Los Angelos area and the government waived environmental impact studies, the roads were repaired in about 1/4 the time estimated on an already rushed schedule.
Environmental impact studies are a waste of time and money.
The Feds waived the EIS requirement for that one, too.
A full environmental study and alternatives assessment under Federal law makes a lot of sense when you're dealing with a new project from the ground up -- because it's aimed at determining relative performance measures for different options to address a major infrastructure need.
As an FYI, the Federal requirements for environmental studies are not all-encompassing. From what I understand, they're typically required only for major projects that are financed using Federal money. I've worked on several projects at the state level where they turned down Federal matching funds in order to avoid meeting the Federal requirements that came with the money.
“When the big earthquake hit the Los Angelos area and the government waived environmental impact studies, the roads were repaired in about 1/4 the time estimated on an already rushed schedule.”
Yea, I specifically remember the bridge on the Santa Monica Freeway that knocked to the road below. They had that one replaced in 30 days...and we’re talking a SERIOUSLY HUGE bridge...roughly 12 lanes wide (they don’t mess around on that freeway). As I remember, the governor called up a big (white-run) contractor, told him to drop his other projects, get equipment over there, and REBUILD IT. He then added some serious cash incentives.
It is doable, and we can indeed do it...but we have to get past our GUILT about past ‘inequities’. Thankfully, Obama has pretty much ended all racial guilt among whites...so the next election will be based on merit and issues (as was 2010).