Appeals court rejects Trump EPA bid to abandon rule restricting deadly soot pollution
Summary
A federal appeals court rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) attempt under President Trump’s administration to cancel a 2024 rule that limits deadly soot pollution from coal plants and factories. The court’s decision keeps the stricter pollution limits in place to protect public health.Key Facts
- The ruling was unanimous by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
- The 2024 EPA rule lowers the allowed level of fine particle pollution ("soot") from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air annually.
- The Trump EPA had sought to undo this rule, claiming the previous EPA exceeded its authority and did not properly consider business costs.
- The court said the Trump EPA’s arguments “lack merit” and rejected their request to abandon the rule.
- This EPA rule targets pollution from coal power plants, factories, vehicles, and wildfires.
- Environmental groups say the tighter limits will prevent thousands of asthma cases, hospital visits, and premature deaths every year.
- Republican-led states and business groups sued to block the 2024 rule, arguing it would increase costs for manufacturers and utilities.
- The EPA is reviewing the court’s decision but has said the rule could cost hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.
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