WASHINGTON —

The Supreme Court backed a multibillion-dollar oil railroad expansion in Utah Thursday in a ruling that scales back the use of a key environmental law and could accelerate development projects around the country.

The 8-0 decision comes after an appeal to the high court from backers of the project, which is aimed at quadrupling oil production in the remote area of sandstone and sagebrush.

Environmental groups said the decision would have sweeping impacts on National Environmental Policy Act reviews. President Donald Trump's administration has already said it's speeding up that process after the president in January declared a “national energy emergency” and vowed to boost U.S. oil and gas production.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh referred to the decision as a “course correction

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