The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday withdrew a policy that imposed strict limits on hazardous air pollutants emitted by factories, plants, or other types of facilities considered “major” polluters.
The longstanding “once-in-always-in” policy, established in 1995, said major polluting facilities failing to meet certain emission thresholds always had to meet those standards from then on, even if the facility made changes to reduce its pollution.
With the new Trump administration policy, sources of hazardous air pollutants previously classified as “major sources” for their high amount of polluting may be reclassified as “area” sources when the facility limits its potential to emit pollution.
“This guidance is based on a plain language reading of the statute that is in line with EPA’s guidance for other provisions of the Clean Air Act,” said Bill Wehrum, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “It will reduce regulatory burden for industries and the states, while continuing to ensure stringent and effective controls on hazardous air pollutants.”
The EPA said the “once-in-always-in” policy has discouraged facilities from implementing pollution control technology to reduce emissions. Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., had asked the Trump administration to abandon the policy.
“The EPA’s decision today is consistent with President Trump’s agenda to keep America’s air clean and our economy growing,” Barrasso said. “Withdrawal of this policy means manufacturers, oil and gas operations, and other types of industrial facilities will have greater incentive to reduce emissions. Now these companies can help protect the environment without wasting time and money on unnecessary red tape.”
Environmentalists said the EPA’s change would allow facilities to emit more pollution and vowed to fight the move.
“This is among the most dangerous actions that the Trump EPA has taken yet against public health,” said John Walke, clean air director and a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Rolling back longstanding protections to allow the greatest increase in hazardous air pollutants in our nation’s history is unconscionable. Those harmed most would be nearby and downwind communities already suffering a legacy of toxic pollution. NRDC will fight this terrible decision to unleash toxic pollutants nationwide with every available tool.”
