In a significant shift in regulatory policy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief, Lee Zeldin, has publicized what he termed the “greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in US history.” As part of this initiative, Zeldin unveiled 31 deregulatory actions aimed at fulfilling the Trump administration’s goal to “restore the rule of law” and decentralize environmental policymaking from federal hands back to the states. This announcement underscores a pivotal move in the agency’s approach to managing environmental concerns at a federal level.
Zeldin’s announcement is framed as an effort to address what he perceives as the financial burdens imposed by prior environmental regulations. He articulated that these newly introduced deregulatory measures will reduce costs for American families and alleviate what he describes as “hidden taxes.” For additional context, the EPA has outlined these plans under an initiative titled ‘Power the Great American Comeback‘.
The scope of the changes is considerable, touching several major components of national environmental policy. According to the EPA, these include a reconsideration of former regulations affecting power plants, oil, and gas industries, as well as a reassessment of what Zeldin terms “burdensome” greenhouse gas reporting programs. In pursuing changes, the EPA aims to revise existing regulations, such as those governing wastewater from coal power plants and the 2009 endangerment finding, a critical policy underpinning federal climate regulations. More information on these changes can be found here.
Furthermore, the deregulatory actions involve the termination of specific programs introduced during the Biden administration, including environmental justice and diversity initiatives within the EPA. The overhaul of the social cost of carbon measurement, which had been a central element of climate assessments under previous administrations, signifies a fundamental change in how the agency approaches environmental economics and climate change.
An intriguing element of Zeldin’s plan is the advocacy for “cooperative federalism,” which purports to enhance state authority in environmental policy-making. This includes the reconsideration of the Good Neighbor Plan, with claims that it has been misapplied under previous administrations to override state input.
Zeldin’s reforms may herald significant changes across various sectors, particularly in how businesses navigate environmental regulations in energy and automotive industries. This sweeping deregulation move is poised to engage intense scrutiny and varied reactions as stakeholders assess its implications for environmental law and policy at both state and federal levels. The full article detailing the developments can be accessed on JURIST.