"Trump's Environmental Protection Agency says strict air quality standards were introduced without sufficient review. United States President Donald Trump's administration has moved to roll back tougher limits on deadly soot pollution, prompting condemnation from environmental groups. The Trump administration's latest bid to weaken environmental standards comes after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a court motion arguing that former President Joe Biden's administration exceeded its authority when it tightened air quality standards in 2024."
"In a motion filed on Monday, lawyers for Trump's EPA asked a Washington, DC, appeals court to throw out the tougher standard, arguing it was introduced without the rigorous, stepwise process required under the 1963 Clean Air Act. The EPA initially defended the tougher standard amid a flurry of legal challenges from Republican-led states and business groups, which argued the rule would raise costs, before reversing course under Trump appointee Lee Zeldin."
"Under Biden appointee Michael S Regan, the EPA last year substantially lowered acceptable soot levels, from 12 micrograms per cubic metre of air to 9 micrograms per cubic metre of air. The agency said at the time that the tougher standard would prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays by 2032. Upon taking office earlier this year, Zeldin, a former Republican lawmaker, pledged to roll back dozens of environmental regulations"
The EPA under the Trump administration filed a motion asking a Washington, DC, appeals court to overturn the 2024 tighter soot standard. The agency contends the prior rule was adopted without the rigorous, stepwise review mandated by the 1963 Clean Air Act. The 2024 standard reduced acceptable fine particulate matter from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic metre, with projected public health benefits including up to 4,500 fewer premature deaths and 290,000 fewer lost workdays by 2032. The agency initially defended the standard but reversed position under administrator Lee Zeldin, prompting criticism from environmental groups.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]