Trump's EPA moves to abandon rule that sets tough standards for deadly soot pollution

"The Trump administration is seeking to abandon a rule that sets tough standards for deadly soot pollution, arguing that the Biden administration did not have authority to set the tighter standard on pollution from tailpipes, smokestacks and other industrial sources. The action follows moves by the administration last week to weaken federal rules protecting millions of acres of wetlands and streams and roll back protections for imperiled species and the places they live."

"The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule last year that imposed strict standards for soot pollution, saying that reducing fine particle matter from motor vehicles and industrial sources could prevent thousands of premature deaths a year. Twenty-five Republican-led states and a host of business groups filed lawsuits seeking to block the rule in court. A suit led by attorneys general from Kentucky and West Virginia argued that the EPA rule would raise costs for manufacturers, utilities and families and could block new manufacturing plants."

"In a court filing this week, the EPA essentially took the side of the challengers, saying the Biden-era rule was done without the rigorous, stepwise process that Congress required and was therefore unlawful. EPA now confesses error and urges this Court to vacate the Rule before 7 February, the agency said in a brief filed with the US District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit."

The administration is moving to abandon a stricter soot standard, arguing the prior administration lacked authority to set the tighter limit on tailpipe, smokestack and industrial pollution. The move follows steps to weaken protections for wetlands, streams and imperiled species and a proposal for new offshore oil drilling off California and Florida. The EPA had finalized the stricter soot rule citing thousands of potential prevented premature deaths. Lawsuits from Republican-led states and business groups challenged the rule over costs. The EPA told a court the rule lacked the required stepwise process and urged vacatur, reverting standards to an earlier level.

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