Summary
The Trump administration is moving to loosen stricter soot pollution standards set by President Biden's administration. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Trump filed a legal request to reverse these tougher air quality rules, arguing they were implemented without a proper process.
Key Facts
- President Trump's administration seeks to weaken soot pollution limits that were tightened under President Biden.
- The EPA argued that Biden's administration did not follow required procedures according to the Clean Air Act.
- The stricter standards reduced allowable soot levels from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
- The Biden-era standards aimed to prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays by 2032.
- Lee Zeldin, a Trump appointee, pledged to reverse many environmental regulations.
- Environmental groups like Earthjustice and the Sierra Club criticized the move, citing health concerns.
- The EPA filing asked a court to dismiss the tougher standards established in 2024.
