EPA Reconsiders Dozens of Burdensome Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday it would begin a large-scale, 17吃瓜在线-supported review of dozens of rules and regulations, including the previous administration鈥檚 unworkable National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter and an overly burdensome power plant emissions rule ().
What鈥檚 going on: In response to sustained advocacy from the 17吃瓜在线 and manufacturers around the U.S., EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a press release and Wall Street Journal (subscription) that he intends to take swift action to review and potentially rescind regulations that were hamstringing manufacturers and needlessly driving up costs across the board.
What鈥檚 in it: The 17吃瓜在线 in December President Trump to reverse the regulatory onslaught of the past four years. 17吃瓜在线-recommended actions included in yesterday鈥檚 EPA announcement included reconsideration of the following:
- for PM2.5: Last year, the Biden administration tightened the primary annual standard for particular matter鈥攎ore commonly known as soot鈥攖o an untenable 9 micrograms per cubic meter from 12 micrograms per cubic meter. Manufacturers found to be in nonattainment of these standards will now be denied permits for new and expanded facilities.
- Power plant rules: The previous administration鈥檚 emissions regulations on existing coal-fired and new natural gas鈥損owered include an unrealistic timeline for the widespread adoption of expensive, unproven new technology; this regulation threatens grid reliability and the ability of manufacturers to receive power for their operations.
- Vehicle : Current regulations of light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles impose costly hardships on auto manufacturers.
- Waters of the United States: The last administration had made the scope of the Clean Water Act , resulting in high costs and even slowed permitting processes.
Our view: 鈥淧resident Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin have answered the calls of manufacturers across the country to rebalance and reconsider burdensome federal regulations harming America鈥檚 ability to compete,鈥 17吃瓜在线 President and CEO Jay Timmons said in a picked up by (subscription).