The Trump administration has recently announced a new policy that allows industrial facilities, including coal- and oil-burning power plants, to apply for exemptions from new clean-air rules put in place by the Biden administration. The Environmental Protection Agency is invoking an obscure section of the Clean Air Act that enables the president to temporarily exempt companies from these rules if certain conditions are met. This move has raised concerns from environmental advocates and experts who fear that companies will be able to bypass important pollution limits without adequate oversight.
Former E.P.A. officials have criticized the new policy, saying that it goes against the intended purpose of the Clean Air Act and could have negative impacts on public health. They argue that there is no clear criteria for exemptions and that the decisions to grant them will be arbitrary. The new rules target toxic chemicals like mercury and arsenic, as well as ethylene oxide, and the exemptions could last for up to two years.
Environmental groups and experts believe that the exemptions are unlawful and unnecessary, as alternative technologies to reduce emissions already exist. They also question whether the ability to pollute is truly in the national interest. As of now, it is unclear how many companies will apply for exemptions and how the process will be monitored and disclosed. Major industry groups, such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Petroleum Institute, have not yet commented on the new policy.
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