Judith Ruiz-Branch
As federal lawmakers move forward with proposed environmental protection rollbacks, advocates are sounding the alarm and requesting additional time for public feedback.
One proposal would repeal a Biden-era rule regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The Environmental Protection Agency previously found the rule would save thousands of lives and provide $20 billion per year in public health and environmental benefits.
Brian Lynk, senior attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Center, emphasized regulation provides benefits on multiple levels.
“There are just so many things that flow from taking steps to reduce pollution and improve the air that in fact, benefit us economically as well,” Lynk explained. “We stand the risk of losing that.”
The EPA has also proposed reversing changes made to the regulation of mercury and other airborne toxins from power plants, potentially affecting coal-fired plants in Illinois. The agency said the original rule already reduced mercury pollution but advocates argued the earlier rule does not apply to all power plants.
Lynk pointed out the EPA is looking to prove power plants do not significantly contribute to harmful air pollution. He stressed it contradicts previous findings showing carbon emissions from power plants are equivalent to adding over 300 million new gas-powered cars to the road each year. Lynk added power plants account for about one quarter of all carbon emissions in the U.S.
“When we say ‘not significant,’ that’s the magnitude of pollution that we’re talking about,” Lynk observed. “It’s pretty obvious that it is in fact very significant, and the proposal to simply leave that uncontrolled, bury our head in the sand and do nothing about it is a big problem.”
Lynk contended the EPA’s proposals also set a dangerous precedent for not regulating pollution in other industries. The public has 45 days to provide comments on the proposed rules after they are published in the Federal Register. A virtual hearing is also scheduled for July 8. Lynk emphasized the public comment process is a critical component the agency must respond to or potentially face legal challenges.
“It’s very important for people who are concerned to make their submissions to the EPA, to attend the virtual hearing,” Lynk underscored. “There will even be opportunities to speak at the hearing for those who registered to do so in advance. And I would encourage anyone with a stake in this to take advantage of that process.”
The deadline for the public to submit comments on the proposals to the EPA is Aug. 7 but at least 10 environmental groups, including Lynk’s organization, have requested the deadline be extended to Aug. 29. The deadline to register to speak at the virtual hearing is June 29.
