The William L. Guy Federal Building pictured on Dec. 18, 2024, in Bismarck, North Dakota. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
A North Dakota federal judge on Monday delivered the latest blow to the federal Council on Environmental Quality, finding that the agency for decades has exercised regulatory authority it doesn’t actually have.
U.S. District Court Judge Dan Traynor in an order concluded that the council, established by Congress in 1969, was created to be an advisory body and cannot issue rules. He struck down a 2024 regulation adopted by the council that amends the environmental review process for projects the federal government funds and permits, including pipelines, highways, airports and other infrastructure…