In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration is taking steps to dismantle the 'good neighbor' rule that limits smoke emissions from coal-fired power plants, aiming instead for what they describe as 'cooperative federalism.'<\/p>
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed plans by eight states to self-regulate ozone air pollution, effectively removing the need for federal approval. This move follows a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 that restricted the EPA's ability to enforce these regulations.
States affected by this plan include Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, and Tennessee. Under the previous Biden administration, all these states had their ozone plans disapproved for not adequately addressing cross-state pollution.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the aim is to allow states to advance cleaner air now without having to adhere to federal mandates that may take years to implement. However, this decision has raised alarms among environmental groups, who argue that it could lead to increased pollution levels and have detrimental health effects on populations in downwind states.
Zeldin criticized the Biden-era policies as overly burdensome and emphasized that this approach will enable states to manage their air quality based on local needs. However, critics from environmental advocacy groups contend that this places profits above public health, voicing concerns that loosening restrictions will perpetuate unhealthy air quality.
The EPA's action is open for public comment for 30 days, after which it may finalize its decision.
