California Attorney General Xavier Becerra / Twitter @AGBecerra
Sadly, here in Erie the controversial plan to demolish the the McBride Viaduct was never subjected to a Public Hearing. In 2020, PennDOT’s $100M plan to encourage through-traffic along Erie’s waterfront was inappropriately downgraded to “Categorical Exclusion” status that exempted the requirement for a Public Hearing. To gain that status, PennDOT told the Federal Highway Association that their controversial project wasn’t controversial, and, doubling traffic (by expanding the waterfront roadway with roundabouts and an underpass) will have no impact on the water, air, noise, light, cultural resources or social justice communities. PennDOT’s falsehoods should trigger the much needed ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT and required Public Hearing. Impressively, Erie City Council members voted 6 to 1 to host a Public Hearing before they will consider allowing PennDOT to proceed.
The Trump administration’s “final rule also limits public participation in the review process, robbing vulnerable communities of the opportunity to make their voices heard on actions that are likely to have adverse environmental and health impacts. In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that the final rule abandons informed decision making, public participation, and environmental and public health protections in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and NEPA. “