US EPA seeks to reverse dozens of environmental, climate rules
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under US President Donald Trump intends to repeal numerous environmental rules, including the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a pivotal scientific analysis that determined greenhouse gasses endanger public health, providing legal justification for regulations limiting emissions.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Mar. 13 said the administration would also evaluate rules related to wastewater regulation on oil and gas production to “help unleash American energy” (OGJ Online, Jan. 30, 2025).
Read more about the proposed revisions on wastewater discharges for oil and gas extraction in our sister publication Wastewater Digest.
EPA’s efforts seek to gut the Clean Power Plan, currently under legal challenge by the fossil fuel industry. That rule has accelerated the switch away from coal to cleaner sources of energy, such as natural gas and renewable energy.
EPA also will target the “good neighbor” rule to restrict smokestack emissions; rules constraining industrial pollution of mercury, soot, and other emissions; and regulations related to greenhouse gas reporting.
The agency also aims to remove many regulations issued during the Obama and Biden administrations related to the Waters of America Clean Air; standards on emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed stationary sources; the 2024 Risk Management Plan rule to increase safety at refineries and chemical plants; National Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (PM2.5); and the Waters of the United States Act.
The federal government would remove “trillions of dollars in regulatory costs” on the industry if the changes go through, Zeldin said in a statement.
American Petroleum Institute (API) President Mike Sommers said it and other associations advocated for many of the changes.
“Voters sent a clear message in support of affordable, reliable and secure American energy, and the Trump administration is answering the call,” he said.
It takes years to change environmental regulations, with most proposed rules requiring two rounds of public comments and environmental studies.
Environmental opposition
Environmental groups said they will sue if the administration reverses the endangerment finding.
“Should the EPA undo settled law and irrefutable facts, we expect to see this administration in court,” said Earthjustice president Abigail Dillen said in a statement.
“It’s impossible to think that the EPA could develop a contradictory finding that would stand up in court, added David Doniger, a climate expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, especially “in the face of overwhelming science.”
EPA already eliminated its diversity, equity and inclusion programs and nixed most EPA employees focused on environmental justice, Zeldin said. At Trump’s request, Zeldin seeks to eliminate about 65% of EPA staff.
Cathy Landry | Washington Correspondent
Cathy Landry has worked over 20 years as a journalist, including 17 years as an energy reporter with Platts News Service (now S&P Global) in Washington and London.
She has served as a wire-service reporter, general news and sports reporter for local newspapers and a feature writer for association and company publications.
Cathy has deep public policy experience, having worked 15 years in Washington energy circles.
She earned a master’s degree in government from The Johns Hopkins University and studied newspaper journalism and psychology at Syracuse University.
