Trump’s EPA Offers Corporations a Roadmap to Sidestep Clean Air Protections

This week, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a process that tries to short circuit and delay existing health standards required by federal law, through the unprecedented use of a presidential exemption under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.

Under the new process, corporations can request a renewable two-year exemption from clean air standards by submitting an email claiming that the technology to implement the standard is unavailable, and alleging that an extension is in the national security interests of the United States. The Trump administration is offering big corporations a free pass to pollute while flouting rulemaking requirements, including public notice and comment periods. This action attempts to weaken and waive limits on toxic air pollutants like ethylene oxide, benzene, and formaldehyde, which are all linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental harm, as well as respiratory illnesses.

Patrice Simms, Earthjustice Vice President of Litigation for Healthy Communities, issued the following statement:

“Trump’s EPA is creating a shortcut for corporations to avoid clean air safeguards at the expense of people’s health, especially children who face the most severe harm from breathing toxic air. Communities exposed to cancer-causing pollution deserve health protections, not to be the victims of backroom deals. This action flies in the face of the Clean Air Act and betrays Administrator Zeldin’s promise to protect clean air for all communities.”