In Washington, major industry organizations representing a vast number of chemical and petrochemical producers are pushing for universal waivers from federal mandates designed to cut down emissions of hazardous substances like mercury, arsenic, and benzene.
This appeal has been presented by the American Chemistry Council alongside the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, coinciding with the Trump administration’s move to allow industrial entities a chance to bypass Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. The EPA has established a digital submission point to enable regulated organizations to apply for a two-year presidential exemption from regulations enacted during President Joe Biden’s administration under the Clean Air Act.
The chemical and petrochemical groups emphasized in a letter to the EPA on Monday that regulations should be grounded in robust science and should “reflect a reasonable assessment of the risks and benefits involved.” They criticized an existing EPA rule targeting air emissions from stationary sources as being overly ambitious and financially burdensome.
Documents obtained indicate that the costs associated with these regulatory requirements may surpass $50 billion, significantly higher than the EPA’s previous estimate of $1.8 billion.
Meanwhile, environmental advocacy organizations are highly critical of the administration’s exemption provisions, unveiling concerns over the “polluters’ portal” which they argue could enable numerous corporations to sidestep existing environmental protection laws. These provisions could exempt entities from adhering to nine EPA regulations established during Biden’s tenure, addressing pollutants such as mercury and ethylene oxide—substances with known adverse health impacts, especially on children’s brain development.
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) accused leading chemical and petrochemical conglomerates, including ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Chevron, Dow, and DuPont, of seeking to circumvent pollution safeguards essential for public health.
Lee Zeldin, the newly appointed EPA Administrator, has been accused of providing a lenient pathway for numerous companies to flout critical air pollution regulations. This action, environmentalists warn, risks exacerbating health issues like asthma and cancer because of increased air pollution.
EDF has taken steps to extract information related to these exemption requests by filing for records under the Freedom of Information Act, affirming its commitment to publicize these details, even if legal action is required.
Zeldin’s offer to grant exemptions marks a pattern in his short tenure as EPA Administrator, highlighting at least his third attempt to dilute environmental law enforcement. Prior actions include reducing restrictions on coal-fired plant emissions, climate policy initiatives, and targets for electric vehicles.
Zeldin has also suggested severe budgetary and staffing cuts to the agency while considering shutting down its scientific research office. There are ongoing plans to retract $20 billion in green energy funding, previously sanctioned to support clean energy projects.
Presidential exemptions to EPA regulations are infrequent, but similar provisions were extended by the Biden administration last year concerning tightened ethylene oxide emissions from medical sterilization facilities.
The EPA redirected queries about these exemptions to the White House, indicating that the decision-making authority rests there. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers asserted no decision had been reached but reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to fostering American energy, maintaining national security, and ensuring environmental protection.
In a statement, the chemistry council acknowledged their gratitude toward the administration’s accommodation for regulatory relief, expressing eagerness to collaborate with the EPA to formulate scientific, policy-driven requirements that fortify public health without imposing excessive regulatory pressure on domestic manufacturers.
___