Comment on Debt ceiling deal advances pipeline and tweaks environmental rules. But more work remains.

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and MATTHEW DALY (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite weeks of negotiations, the White House and House Republicans were unable to reach a comprehensive agreement to overhaul environmental regulations and streamline federal permitting as part of their debt ceiling deal, instead settling for limited changes that could simplify and expedite some project reviews. The legislation, approved late Wednesday by the House, includes provisions to speed up infrastructure projects under the landmark National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.