The Supreme Court on Thursday sharply limited the reach of environmental impact statements in a victory for developers. In an 8-0 decision, the justices said these claims of the potential impact on the environment have been used too often to delay or block new projects. … In Thursday’s unanimous decision, the high court ruled for the developers of a proposed 88-mile railroad in northeastern Utah, a spur line that could carry crude oil that would be refined along the Gulf Coast. … Sections of the rail line would run along the Colorado River. … Agency officials said they haven’t yet had a chance to study the Supreme Court’s decision, and so it is unclear what the ruling’s effect will be (on California high-speed rail), if any. The same is true for the Delta Conveyance Project — a proposed $20-billion tunnel that would move water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to cities and farmlands to the south that is undergoing NEPA review. 

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• The New York Times: Supreme Court curbs scope of environmental reviews
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• Denver Gazette (Colo.): Supreme Court backs Utah oil railroad expansion and scales back a key environmental law
• Utah News Dispatch (Salt Lake City): U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of controversial Utah oil train