The National Environmental Policy Act, and the future of environmentalism in federal policy episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 27, 2026 · 12 MIN

The National Environmental Policy Act, and the future of environmentalism in federal policy

from Lake Effect Spotlight · host WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR

One of the country’s most fundamental environmental laws is under threat. President Trump is rolling back the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.NEPA requires federal agencies to consider a project’s potential environmental impacts before deciding whether to approve it. The Trump administration says scaling back NEPA would bring infrastructure and energy projects to life without unnecessary delays.  Ron Eckstein is very familiar with NEPA. He's a retired state DNR wildlife biologist who spent his career in northern Wisconsin. He saw firsthand how NEPA helped with management of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Eckstein is also a founding member of Wisconsin's Green Fire, a group that promotes science-based management of our state’s natural resources. He joins WUWM environmental reporter Susan Bence.  

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 27, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

The National Environmental Policy Act, and the future of environmentalism in federal policy

0:00 12:25

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Lake Effect Spotlight?

This episode is 12 minutes long.

When was this Lake Effect Spotlight episode published?

This episode was published on January 27, 2026.

Can I download this Lake Effect Spotlight episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!