EPA to Review and Potentially Reconsider Recently Created Regulations
Other Agencies May Follow Suit EPA's new Administrator Lee Zeldin says the agency is going to focus on a new initiative to help return EPA to its core m...
EPA’s new Administrator Lee Zeldin says the agency is going to focus on a new initiative to help return EPA to its core mission of conservation rather than “environmentalist radicalism” and regulation. Called “Powering the Great American Comeback,” it will focus on 5 goals: Clean air, land, and water for every American; Restoring American energy dominance; Permitting reform, cooperative federalism, and cross-agency partnership; Making the U.S. the AI Capital of the World; and, Protecting and bringing back American auto jobs.
⚡ TL;DR: EPA launches “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative to review/reconsider 25+ recent regulations affecting energy, oil/gas, auto, and manufacturing—including GHG reporting, Clean Power Plan 2.0, MATS, and ELG standards.
A big part of this effort is to review regulations created in past administrations that targeted the energy sector, oil and gas and the auto industry or were altered for climate change considerations or other presidential directives. The following regulations are already on the list for review:
Goal: Unleash American Energy — Regulations to be Reconsidered: Mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting, The new Risk Management Plan Program Rule changes from May 2024, Clean Power Plan 2.0 for power plants, Oil and gas industry regulations OOOO b/c (Quad O), Mercury and Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal-fired power plants, Limitations, guidelines and standards (ELG) for Steam Electric Power Generating Industry, Wastewater regulations for oil and gas development.
Goal: Lowering the Cost of Living for American Families — Regulations to be Reconsidered: Multiple National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs), Redirecting enforcement resources, Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (PM 2.5 NAAQS), Car GHG Rules for vehicles, Technology Transition Rule, Regional Haze Program, Social Cost of Carbon program, Environmental Justice and DEI arms of EPA, 2009 Endangerment Finding and regulations.
Goal: Advancing Cooperative Federalism — Regulations to be Reconsidered: Ending the Good Neighbor Plan, Clearing up massive backlog with State Implementation Plans, Exceptional Events rulemaking, Reconstituting the Science Advisory Board, Prioritizing coal ash program, Utilizing enforcement discretion for North Carolina’s hurricane recovery.
Other Agency Policies
There were a number of regulations and policies that were changed in the previous administration due to Executive Orders which required agencies to consider climate change and environmental justice in rulemaking. With the change in administration, it’s unlikely that the above items will be the only regulations to be reviewed at EPA.
⚠️ What’s at stake: Regulatory uncertainty creates investment paralysis. Energy, oil/gas, auto, and manufacturing companies can’t make capital decisions without knowing which compliance rules will stick around. The review period could take 18-24 months—creating a planning vacuum.
If your industry is on EPA’s review list, now is the time to document your current compliance investments and file comments during the rulemaking period. iSi Environmental can help you build your submission.
💰 The cost of non-compliance: Companies that over-invested in compliance with rules now being repealed face stranded asset costs. Conversely, facilities that under-invested in anticipation of regulatory rollback face sudden compliance crises if rules are sustained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative?
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced “Powering the Great American Comeback,” an initiative to refocus EPA on five core goals: achieving clean air, land, and water; restoring American energy dominance; implementing permitting reform and cooperative federalism; establishing the U.S. as the AI capital; and protecting American auto industry jobs. The initiative includes reviewing regulations from past administrations affecting energy, oil and gas, and automotive sectors.
Q: Which EPA regulations are under review for potential reconsideration?
Under the “Unleash American Energy” goal, EPA is reviewing Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting, Risk Management Plan Program Rule changes, Clean Power Plan 2.0, oil and gas regulations, Mercury and Toxics Standards (MATS), Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) for steam electric plants, and wastewater regulations. Under the “Lowering Cost of Living” goal, regulations under review include multiple National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs), PM 2.5 standards, vehicle GHG rules, and the 2009 Endangerment Finding.
Q: What regulations are under consideration under EPA’s “Advancing Cooperative Federalism” goal?
EPA is reconsidering the Good Neighbor Plan, streamlining State Implementation Plans backlogs, reviewing Exceptional Events rulemaking, reconstituting the Science Advisory Board, prioritizing coal ash programs, and utilizing enforcement discretion for state hurricane recovery efforts, according to iSi Environmental’s review of EPA priorities.
Q: How might these regulatory reviews affect energy and manufacturing companies?
Companies in energy, oil and gas, automotive, and mining sectors should monitor EPA’s regulatory review process closely, as reconsideration of current standards could create new compliance opportunities or requirements. iSi Environmental recommends engaging with rulemaking comment periods to provide facility-specific input.
Regulatory uncertainty is a real cost. The smart move is to stay neutral on policy while documenting your compliance reality—and filing those comments during public periods.
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