Context:

Congress has voted to roll back a Clean Air Act regulation, allowing increased emissions of toxic air pollutants from industrial facilities such as oil refineries and chemical plants. This marks the first time Congress has reversed an environmental protection regulation since the Clean Air Act's inception, causing concern among environmental and public health advocates. The regulation targeted seven hazardous pollutants known to cause serious health issues, previously controlled under strict rules reinstated during the Biden administration. The Congressional Review Act enabled this legislative change, which President Trump is expected to sign, as part of a broader deregulatory effort. Critics warn that relaxing these regulations could lead to higher pollution levels in communities near industrial areas, posing significant health risks due to increased exposure to these dangerous toxins.

Dive Deeper:

• The rollback targets a rule finalized late in the Biden administration that regulated seven 'super pollutants,' including mercury and dioxins, which have been associated with cancer, birth defects, and neurological issues.

• Environmental and public health experts express concern that the deregulation could lead to increased hazardous air pollution, particularly affecting communities near industrial facilities concentrated in regions like the Gulf Coast and Appalachia.

• The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to reverse EPA regulations within a short implementation window, providing a pathway for the current legislative change without the possibility of similar future regulations.

• The Trump administration's deregulatory agenda aims to lower business costs, with the EPA planning further evaluations of environmental regulations such as those concerning mercury and National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

• Industry groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, support the rollback, arguing that previous regulations were economically unfeasible and technically unachievable, preferring more lenient compliance measures.

• The 'Once in, always in' policy, which kept facilities classified as major sources of pollution even if they reduced emissions, has been a point of contention, with recent changes allowing re-categorization under less strict conditions.

• Environmental advocates fear that the increased potential for pollution could lead to cumulative exposure risks, emphasizing the importance of maintaining low overall pollution levels in affected areas to protect public health.