Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) News

• EPA Rolls Back Climate Regulations in Historic Deregulation Move

  Listeners, the biggest environmental headline this week is the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of sweeping rollbacks on national greenhouse gas reporting and emissions standards. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described this move as the “greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in US history,” with the agency unveiling 31 major deregulatory actions in a single day.At the heart of this shift is the EPA’s new proposal to end requirements for businesses to report greenhouse gas emissions. Zeldin argues that the mandatory reporting program is “nothing more than bureaucratic red tape” and claims that it doesn’t materially improve air quality or protect public health. The agency estimates this change will save businesses $2.4 billion in regulatory costs. Additionally, the EPA is postponing data collection for petroleum and natural gas production until 2034. The change has triggered strong backlash from environmental groups. Masada Disenhouse from SanDiego350 warns that rescinding the reporting requirement makes it harder to hold polluters accountable and reduce toxic emissions, especially as climate-driven disasters like floods and fires become increasingly severe in the U.S. West.In a related move, the EPA has also proposed rolling back the key Obama-era and Biden-era greenhouse gas standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants. This would repeal performance standards first adopted under the Clean Power Plan, plus the Biden administration’s carbon pollution standards from last year. EPA’s proposal also reinterprets the Clean Air Act, arguing fossil fuel electricity plants do not significantly contribute to air pollution. Further, the agency is pushing to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding that established greenhouse gases as a pollutant requiring federal regulation. If finalized, this would strip the legal underpinning for nearly all federal climate rules, including those governing emissions from vehicles and heavy industry.For everyday Americans, these rollbacks could mean fewer safeguards against air pollution and a potential increase in climate-related health problems. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, direct health costs from climate change could reach up to $4 billion annually, with climate change causing around 250,000 additional deaths each year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. For businesses, especially in the oil, gas, and power sectors, these deregulations reduce compliance costs but may lead to legal uncertainty since environmental and state groups are already preparing to challenge the new rules in court.State and local governments will have to navigate the loss of federal climate oversight and potentially fill gaps with their own environmental policies, while internationally, the changes could undermine U.S. credibility in global climate agreements. According to the European Commission, the U.S. was responsible for over 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions last year – a reminder of the significance of these federal decisions worldwide.EPA is opening a public comment period on these proposals, with details available on its official website. Upcoming deadlines for public input and legal challenges could influence whether these rollbacks take effect or face additional hurdles.If you care about clean air, health, or the future of climate action, now is the time to get involved. Visit EPA’s website to read the proposed rules, submit your comments, or connect with local organizations working on environmental issues.Thank you for tuning in today—stay informed, get engaged, and make your voice heard. Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest on environment and policy. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

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• EPA's Sweeping Climate Rollbacks and the Battle Over PFAS Regulations

  Thanks for joining us for another episode covering the latest from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This week, the headline everyone’s talking about is the EPA’s sweeping move to roll back greenhouse gas standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants and vehicles—a shift that experts say could reshape federal climate policy for years to come. The proposed repeals, put forth on June 17 and July 29, target both the Obama- and Biden-era carbon emissions controls and challenge the foundational “Endangerment Finding” that underpins federal greenhouse gas regulation. According to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the agency’s reinterpretation of the Clean Air Act means fossil fuel plants and many vehicles might no longer be regulated as significant sources of climate pollution. The ripple effect is already being felt: environmental advocates warn of legal fights ahead, while many utilities and manufacturers face new uncertainty in planning investments. The EPA claims this approach provides “regulatory clarity,” but state leaders like California’s governor argue it risks undercutting decades of progress in air quality and public health protections.Meanwhile, the EPA’s Spring 2025 regulatory agenda lays out major initiatives beyond climate. The agency is placing a sharp focus on PFAS—those so-called “forever chemicals”—with proposals to rescind drinking water limits for several PFAS types like PFHxS and GenX, add more PFAS chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory, and tighten reporting requirements nationwide. The deadlines are looming, with proposed PFAS rulemakings expected as soon as September and new discharge standards rolling out into 2026. According to the EPA’s own data, millions of Americans have detectable PFAS in their water, so communities and water utilities are watching how these shifts could affect local safety standards and the costs of compliance.There’s more: the EPA is finalizing risk management rules for chemicals like 1-bromopropane and launching updates on lithium battery disposal standards. For industry, these actions mean potential new investments in compliance—and potential liability for past emissions or hazardous waste management. For everyday citizens, it’s about the air you breathe and the water you drink. EPA officials say their new universal waste standards for solar panels and batteries are meant to modernize recycling and protect communities from toxic materials as clean energy technologies expand.Budget allocations remain under scrutiny, with some programs seeing increases in response to Congress’s renewed focus on chemical safety and emergency response. There are also signs of greater collaboration, as EPA steps up joint regulatory efforts with states on pollution monitoring and reporting.If you’re wondering what’s next, keep your eye on the EPA’s final rules for greenhouse gas standards—expected by December—and upcoming deadlines for public comment on PFAS policies. The agency has set up online portals for citizen feedback and public hearings are in the works, especially for communities directly affected by chemical contamination.If you’d like to learn more or want to get involved, head to the EPA’s website for regulatory dockets and comment opportunities. Your voice can help shape how these decisions impact everything from local jobs to environmental health.Thanks for tuning in. Subscribe to catch next week’s deep dive on environmental policy, and don’t forget—this has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

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• EPA Proposes Rollback of Climate Rules, Raising Health Concerns and Regulatory Uncertainty

  The headline grabbing attention from the Environmental Protection Agency this week is the agency’s proposed rollback of national greenhouse gas emissions standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants—a dramatic shift that could affect climate policy, energy production, and public health. According to CBS News, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin confirmed not only the intent to repeal Obama- and Biden-era Clean Air Act carbon rules, but also to reverse the 2009 “endangerment finding” that classified greenhouse gases as threats to human health. That landmark finding laid the legal groundwork for years of federal climate action. Now, the EPA proposes that fossil fuel-fired power plants do not actually contribute significantly enough to warrant federal regulation, a pivot that would undo performance standards for both existing coal plants and new gas plants—effectively ending requirements for technologies like carbon capture and storage.For American citizens, this policy change has real stakes. The original rules targeted emissions that lead to pollution linked with severe respiratory illnesses and the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather and wildfires. Dropping those protections raises concerns among many public health advocates and climatologists.For businesses, particularly energy utilities and developers, the move promises lower compliance costs and may incentivize new fossil fuel investment. However, it also introduces regulatory uncertainty, especially for clean energy sectors and investors who have spent years planning around climate regulations. EPA Administrator Zeldin told CBS that environmental rules shouldn’t “strangulate out of existence” energy policy, emphasizing jobs and energy reliability as priorities. Legal experts from Holland & Knight note that states could respond by advancing their own, sometimes even stricter, emissions standards, setting up a new patchwork of policies for regional power grids.Meanwhile, the EPA’s updated rulemaking agenda also includes a flurry of other actions: extending deadlines for water utilities to meet new PFAS “forever chemical” standards, postponing risk assessment comment periods, and pausing workplace safety rules for certain chemicals. On the fuels front, the agency is considering new Renewable Fuel Standard targets for 2026 and 2027, directly affecting farmers and transportation sectors.While major environmental organizations argue this all spells trouble for U.S. credibility on global climate leadership, supporters in industry are cheering what they see as a necessary balance between economic growth and environmental goals. According to a recent summary in Waste Dive, expect final action on PFAS reporting and water regulations in early 2026, with opportunities for public comment from now through next spring. Americans can have their say by submitting comments on EPA’s online dockets, especially on greenhouse gas rules, PFAS timelines, and water protections.Looking ahead, listeners should watch for upcoming court battles, public hearings, and the possible release of new federal funding priorities as the agency adjusts its approach. For more information or to engage, visit epa.gov or reach out to your local representatives. Don’t miss your chance to weigh in—your input could shape the environmental protections and energy landscape for years to come.Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.aiFor more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

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• Navigating EPA's Deregulatory Agenda: Balancing Environment and Economy

  The biggest headline from the EPA this week is the agency’s formal withdrawal of its proposed effluent limitations guidelines for meat and poultry producers, a decision effective September 3. EPA had been considering stronger wastewater rules for slaughterhouses, aiming to limit water pollution caused by nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from these plants. According to The New Lede, critics have long pushed for tighter standards, highlighting that in 2019 alone, slaughterhouses released more than 28 million pounds of these pollution-causing nutrients directly into US waterways, impacting the drinking water and river health for over 60 million people living near affected streams. However, the agency ultimately concluded the added regulations would not align with its current priorities—citing the need to protect national food supply chains and avoid potential food price increases. The EPA also warned that stricter wastewater requirements could backfire by increasing other types of pollution, including air and solid waste, and potentially close up to sixteen facilities, although EPA stated those closures would have been “minimal, temporary and localized.”This withdrawal was welcomed by the meat and poultry industry, especially smaller processors who feared new costs and regulatory burdens. The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy had previously commented that the rules could create barriers for small businesses and duplicate existing efforts by local sewage treatment plants. But environmental groups responded with frustration. Jen Duggan of the Environmental Integrity Project stated that the decision “means slaughterhouses will continue to dump huge amounts of pollution into America’s waterways, making them unhealthy for swimming, fishing, and drinking,” underscoring the continuing tensions between environmental protection and industry flexibility.Meanwhile, the EPA continues to advance its broader deregulatory agenda. Recent moves include the proposal to repeal greenhouse gas emissions standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants and to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, which underpins federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from both vehicles and power plants. According to policy analysis from Baker Botts, these reversals represent a substantial pivot in US climate strategy and could reshape regulatory obligations for the electricity and transportation sectors for years. The EPA insists it is updating its approach based on the latest research and economic concerns, but environmental organizations warn that the rollback could unravel hard-fought progress, with potential increases in both pollution levels and public health risks.For American citizens, these changes affect the quality of local air and water, public health, and—for those working in the meat, energy, and transport industries—job security or regulation compliance costs. Business owners, particularly small ones, may see relief from compliance expenses, but may also need to adapt quickly if policies swing again in the future. State and local governments are left with adjusting their enforcement resources and navigating federal-state partnerships, while internationally, the policy reversal could strain US credibility in global climate talks.EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin maintains that the agency’s efforts are “about balancing robust environmental protection with America’s economic resilience.” According to recent data cited by the EPA, their regulatory changes are reviewed not just for environmental impact but for broader economic and supply chain effects.For those wanting to comment, the EPA is opening several public comment periods on both the withdrawn water pollution guides and the greenhouse gas proposals. Key deadlines and instructions are set to be published in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. Listeners concerned about their local waterways or interested in climate regulation can visit the EPA website for more details on how to submit feedback or get involved.Next steps to watch include pending court challenges to some of these withdrawals and rollbacks, as well as the open public comment windows. For ongoing updates and to get involved, head to epa.gov or follow the EPA’s latest news releases. If you care about these issues, consider submitting a public comment or reaching out to your local representatives.Thanks for tuning in to this week’s EPA update. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss the latest federal environmental news that really matters. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

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• EPA Proposals Spark Debates on Climate Regulations, Air Pollution Rules, and Economic Impacts

  This week’s most headline-grabbing move from the Environmental Protection Agency comes as the agency proposes repealing its foundational authority for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. If finalized, this so-called Endangerment Finding Proposed Rule would overturn the 2009 assessment that greenhouse gases pose a danger to public health and welfare—calling into question not just longstanding vehicle emission standards, but potentially the legal basis for regulating power plant and industrial emissions as well. This proposal has prompted widespread concern among environmental advocates, business leaders, and legal experts, as it could dismantle more than a decade of national climate regulations and reshape America’s approach to air pollution policy. According to the influential law firm Kirkland & Ellis, public input on this proposal is open through September 22nd, and sharply contested legal battles are all but certain if the rule moves forward.It’s not the only major shift. Over the summer, the EPA announced a rollback of greenhouse gas standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, including rescinding rules from both the Obama and Biden administrations. The agency is now arguing that emissions from these plants do not contribute significantly to regulated air pollution, eliminating the “significant contribution finding” that underpinned previous climate-focused regulations. Industry groups see this as a victory that could lower compliance costs, while climate experts warn it may dramatically increase carbon pollution at a time when extreme weather is already affecting American communities and businesses.Meanwhile, the agency is extending compliance deadlines for several air pollution rules, including methane emission limits in the oil and gas sector, responding to industry calls for more realistic timelines. States now have more time to submit plans for cutting methane from thousands of existing sources, which directly impacts local economies with strong oil and natural gas sectors. Public hearings are being held this week, giving citizens, states, and business owners a chance to speak up about these proposed changes. As Small Business Administration counsel Nick Goldstein highlights, these comment periods provide a key opportunity for affected businesses to weigh in before decisions are finalized.Recent data from the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory analysis shows an encouraging decline in chemical releases, even as the U.S. economy continues to grow. This signals that regulatory efforts—when enforced—can work hand-in-hand with economic expansion. Nonetheless, ongoing debates about the agency’s authority, budget, and policy direction signal continued uncertainty both domestically and in the nation’s climate reputation abroad.For those wanting a say in these pivotal decisions, the EPA is holding virtual public hearings throughout the week, and public comment deadlines on air and hazardous pollutant rules are fast approaching. For up-to-date details or to register for a hearing, head to the EPA website or email [email protected]. Your voice matters—these rules will affect air quality, business costs, and community health for years.Thanks for tuning in. Remember to subscribe for weekly updates on environmental policy and its impact on your world. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

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