Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) News

Welcome to your weekly EPA update, where we cut through the noise to spotlight what's changing our air, water, and world. This week’s top headline: The EPA just postponed its perchlorate drinking water proposal deadline to January 2, 2026, after the longest federal shutdown in history delayed things from November 21, 2025. Perchlorate, that sneaky chemical in rocket fuel, fireworks, and airbags, contaminates water in arid spots like the Southwest—think potential thyroid risks for kids and pregnant women.On regulatory fronts, EPA's tweaking HFC rules under the AIM Act to ease transitions. Higher-GWP equipment made before January 1, 2026, can now install until 2027 for variable refrigerant flow systems, and until 2026 for residential AC—buying time so builders aren't stuck with stranded inventory. Meanwhile, the proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026-2027 slash RIN credits for imported biofuels to half, boosting U.S. energy independence and rural jobs. Total renewable volumes? Aiming for 24.02 billion gallons in 2026, up to 24.46 in 2027. Public comments close August 8, 2025, with final rule by October.These moves hit home differently. Citizens get safer tap water timelines and lower climate pollution from cleaner fuels and refrigerants—EPA's strategic plan eyes GHG cuts through 2026 models. Businesses face adaptation costs but gain domestic biofuel edges; importers take a hit. States and locals prep for WOTUS comment deadlines through January 5, 2026, shaping wetland protections. Globally, HFC phase-downs align with international pacts.EPA Administrator Michael Regan notes, "We're balancing innovation with safeguards." Experts at NRDC pushed the perchlorate delay, stressing the May 2027 final rule.Watch for RFS finalization this fall and WOTUS comments now. Dive deeper at epa.gov, submit input on regulations.gov. Your voice matters—comment today!Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Welcome to your weekly EPA update, listeners. The biggest headline this week: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin just announced a major rollback of the Reactivation Policy, letting idled factories restart without full new permits unless emissions spike, as detailed in his September 18, 2025 memo. This clears decades of red tape for businesses eyeing comebacks.On the regulatory front, EPA proposed tweaking hydrofluorocarbon rules under the 2020 American Innovation Act, raising the global warming potential threshold for cold storage warehouses to 700 starting January 1, 2026, then tightening it again by 2032. They also extended deadlines for lab equipment to 2028 and eased installs for pre-2025 AC systems. Meanwhile, the perchlorate drinking water proposal deadline slipped to today, January 2, 2026, after a government shutdown delay, with final rules due by May 2027. And watch for the WOTUS definition narrowing—public comments close January 5—dropping interstate qualifiers to empower states, per Zeldin's statement: "EPA is delivering on President Trump’s promise... advancing cooperative federalism."These shifts hit hard. American citizens get cleaner air options without stranding fridges, but critics like Sierra Club's Erin Carey warn of weakened water protections risking pollution. Businesses win big—faster restarts and permitting reforms cut timelines, boosting jobs in manufacturing and energy. States gain flexibility on wetlands and haze rules, though local enforcers might tighten up. No big international ripples yet, but HFC changes align with global phase-downs.Key data: Renewable Fuel Standards propose 9.46 billion gallons of advanced biofuel for 2027. PFAS reporting deadline? Pushed to January 11, 2026, for most firms.Citizens, submit WOTUS comments by Monday via epa.gov. Upcoming: NSR preconstruction rule proposal in 2026, power plant GHG repeals early next year.Stay tuned for final rules and budget details at epa.gov. Engage now—your voice shapes this.Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Welcome to your weekly EPA update, listeners. This week, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history, launching 31 historic moves to slash red tape on air quality standards, hazardous pollutants, and energy programs, as detailed in the agency's official news release.Under Trump's second term, the EPA is rolling back major rules from the Obama and Biden eras. Key moves include proposing repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding on greenhouse gases, which underpinned vehicle and power plant emissions limits—standards that drove corporate average fuel economy up from 23 mpg in 2010 to 40 mpg this year. NZero reports June proposals to scrap carbon capture mandates for power plants, the second-largest U.S. GHG source at 25% of emissions. They're also narrowing Waters of the U.S. protections after December public sessions with the Army, easing rules for farmers and builders, and shifting enforcement to a compliance-first approach per a December OECA memo. Positive notes: $58 million in recycling grants awarded December 16, per Waste Dive, and cleanups like the historic oil removal at Dunsmuir Railyard.For American citizens, this means potentially lower energy bills and reliable power, but critics from EDF warn of risks like prolonged dirty air and formaldehyde cancer threats. Businesses in manufacturing and energy cheer billions in saved compliance costs and revived projects, while environmental groups brace for lawsuits. States gain flexibility on wetlands and haze rules, though some may challenge in court. No big international ripples yet.Zeldin stated, "These actions restore opportunities for American manufacturing and affordable energy for families." Experts note power sector changes could boost grid reliability amid demand surges. Watch 2026 final rules and court fights; vehicle standards face 2026 deadlines.Citizens, comment via regulations.gov on open proposals—your voice shapes this.Next, track WOTUS finals and recycling fund apps. Visit epa.gov for details.Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Welcome to your weekly EPA update, listeners. I'm your host, diving into the agency's biggest move this week: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin just announced 31 massive deregulatory actions, calling it the greatest day of deregulation in U.S. history, according to EPA's official news release.Under Zeldin's lead in Trump's second term, the EPA is rolling back Obama and Biden-era rules left and right. Key moves include proposing to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding on greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane, which could wipe out vehicle emission standards entirely, as detailed in The Regulatory Review. They're also reconsidering power plant emission limits, easing oil and gas rules with extended compliance deadlines, narrowing Waters of the United States protections, and revising wastewater standards for power plants to boost energy reliability—NZero reports these target about 25% of U.S. GHG emissions from power.On the enforcement front, EPA teamed up with Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Los Angeles to crack down on toxic imports like illegal pesticides from China. "At the Trump EPA, we’re committed to securing clean air, land, and water for all Americans," says EPA Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall.For Americans, this means potentially lower energy bills and more reliable power, but critics from groups like the Environmental Defense Fund warn of dirtier air and higher cancer risks from things like relaxed formaldehyde rules. Businesses in energy, manufacturing, and autos stand to save billions in compliance costs, per industry analyses, while states face fewer federal mandates but possible legal battles over wetlands and streams. Globally, it signals a U.S. pivot from climate leadership, straining ties with emission-focused partners.Data point: CAFE standards jumped from 23 mpg in 2010 to 40 mpg now, pushing EVs—but rollbacks could ease that to realistic levels, SEMA notes. Public comment periods are open now through early 2026; check epa.gov for deadlines.Watch for court challenges and final rules next year. Head to epa.gov/newsreleases for details, and submit comments if you're fired up.Thanks for tuning in, listeners—subscribe for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

The Environmental Protection Agency is undertaking what Administrator Lee Zeldin calls the biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history, with 31 major rollbacks announced that are reshaping American environmental policy in dramatic ways.This summer and fall, the EPA launched an aggressive assault on decades of climate and pollution regulations. In June, the agency proposed repealing greenhouse gas emissions standards for power plants, which had been the cornerstone of Obama and Biden-era climate policy. Then in August, the EPA went further, proposing to eliminate all greenhouse gas standards for vehicles, from cars to heavy-duty trucks. The agency is also reconsidering the Endangerment Finding from 2009, the legal foundation that allowed the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide as a threat to public health in the first place.What does this mean for you? If you drive a car, fuel costs might drop in the short term, but air quality could suffer. Power plants will face fewer restrictions on emissions, which utilities argue will improve grid reliability and lower energy costs. Environmental groups and public health advocates warn that allowing higher-emitting plants to operate longer will degrade air quality and increase respiratory illnesses, particularly in low-income and communities of color.The changes extend beyond climate. The EPA is reconsidering water protections, narrowing the definition of wetlands that receive federal protection. It's revising wastewater discharge rules for power plants, raising concerns about mercury, arsenic, and selenium contaminating waterways. For the oil and gas industry, the EPA announced plans to reconsider wastewater regulations to what the agency calls unleash American energy. Supporters say these moves reduce regulatory burdens and stimulate economic growth. Critics contend they weaken environmental accountability and expose communities to pollution.Several key deadlines are approaching. Public comments on a new PFAS reporting rule are due December 29th, so if you work in manufacturing or chemicals and want your voice heard, act quickly. These regulatory changes are expected to face legal challenges from states and environmental groups, and court rulings could reshape EPA authority for years to come.For citizens wanting to engage, you can submit comments on proposed rules through the Federal Register. State governments are also mobilizing, with some considering their own environmental protections.As we head into the new year, watch for court decisions that will determine whether these rollbacks stick. The EPA is fundamentally rewriting the rules, and the outcomes will affect the air you breathe and the water your community depends on for decades.Thank you for tuning in. Please subscribe for more updates on environmental policy. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI