EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces policy rollbacks

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Trump administration announced plans on Wednesday to rollback dozens of environmental regulations.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said that the agency will take 31 “historic actions” in what he called, “the largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history.”

“EPA will be reconsidering many suffocating rules that restrict nearly every sector of our economy and cost Americans trillions of dollars,” said Zeldin, in a video posted to X.

Some of the actions that were outlined in EPA press release included reconsidering rules on pollution at power plants, regulations for the oil and gas industry, wastewater regulations for coal power plants and a set of standards that aim reduce mercury and other hazardous air pollutants in coal plants.

Zeldin said the actions will eliminate trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and will lower the cost of living for Americans.

“From the campaign trail to day one and beyond, President Trump has delivered on his promise to unleash energy dominance and lower the cost of living. We at EPA will do our part to power the Great American comeback,” he said.

Environmental experts and advocates were heavily critical of Wednesday’s announcement and described it as an attack on the environment.

“The administration is hitting the American people right between the eyes with the worst assault ever on the environment and public health,” said Bob Deans, Director of Strategic Engagement at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “This is not about cutting costs. Taking the environmental guardian off the beat doesn’t cut cost costs. It simply allows corporate polluters to force our communities and our families to bear those costs.”

Deans said the actions could result in dirtier air and water and poorer health for Americans.

He also said that the administration cannot simply “wish away” several of the EPA regulations.

“There are legal ways that these things have to be amended. They have to show a scientific basis and economic basis. And if it isn’t done properly, we will challenge it in court,” said Deans.

One of the actions that several environmentalists highlighted on Wednesday was the “reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding.” It found that planet-warming greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare.

In a press release, the Environmental Defense Fund said the finding “is built on a mountain of scientific evidence, and has been reaffirmed the U.S. Supreme Court multiple times.”

The advocacy’s group’s chief legal officer Vickie Patton said the administration’s announcement puts millions of people in harm’s way.

“This is a polluters wish list,” she said. “And it puts the interests of polluters ahead of the American people. He announced a reckless and unprecedented sort of attack on safeguards that limit pollution of toxics, soot, smog, climate, pollution from industrial sources.”

Patton also said there could be both long-term and short-term environmental impacts from the actions.

“It means more pollution in our communities,” Patton said. “It contributes to summertime smog, it contributes ot the harmful soot and it means that our children are going to miss school, it means we can’t go to work because we’re sick.”

Trade organizations for oil and gas industry and business groups were supportive of the administration’s plans.

“Voters sent a clear message in support of affordable, reliable and secure American energy, and the Trump administration is answering the call,” said Mike Sommers, the president of the American Petroleum Institute.

“American businesses were crippled with an unprecedented regulatory onslaught during the previous administration that contributed to higher costs felt by families around the country,” said Marty Durbin, Senior Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber supports a more balanced regulatory approach that will protect the environment and support greater economic growth.”

The list of actions that were announced can be found on the EPA’s website.