EPA plan could strip authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from factory farms

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's plan to reverse its 2009 determination that greenhouse gas emissions harm human health could block regulation of major polluters, including the meat industry.

Seth Millstein reports for Sentient Media.

In short:

The EPA’s 2009 “Endangerment Finding” provided the legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, primarily targeting transportation and energy emissions.
Rescinding the finding would also prevent the agency from regulating emissions from agriculture, which accounts for 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas output and is currently exempt from EPA limits.
Legal experts note the change could violate federal law, and environmental groups are expected to challenge it in court.

Key quote:

“This is another move by the Trump/Zeldin EPA to benefit their sponsors in the fossil fuel industry and jeopardize the health of all Americans.”

— Bill Magavern, policy director at the Coalition for Clean Air

Why this matters:

Greenhouse gas emissions trap heat in the atmosphere, driving climate change and worsening air quality, which contributes to respiratory disease, heart problems, and heat-related deaths. Agriculture, especially large-scale livestock operations, releases methane and nitrous oxide — potent greenhouse gases that warm the planet far faster than carbon dioxide. Without regulatory oversight, these emissions can increase unchecked, amplifying climate impacts while disproportionately harming rural communities near industrial farms.

sentientmedia.org

EPA plan could strip authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from factory farms

Dangerous heavy rains are getting more likely and widespread

Energy crisis fuels calls to cut methane emissions

Drought raises the stakes of New Hampshire's relationship to fire

Amsterdam becomes world's first capital city to ban public adverts for fossil fuels and meat

Inside the fiery end of Vancouver Island’s last coal mine

The Iran war has changed the global energy system forever

‘Point of no return’: New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level, study finds

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.