Document o9avj5NZkgmEdveYoYZ2oa0O7

INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION EPA Launches Biggest Deregulatory Action in U.S. History EPA Administrator Announces 31 Historic Actions to Power the Great American Comeback In the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in American history, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will undertake ## historic actions to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Beyond fulfilling EPA's core mission, these actions also work to deliver on President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower cost of living for Americans by rolling back TRILLIONS in regulatory costs and hidden "taxes", revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY Reconsideration of regulations on power plants (Clean Power Plan 2.0) Reconsideration of regulations throttling the oil and gas industry (OOOO b/c) Reconsideration of Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that improperly targeted coal-fired power plants (MATS) Reconsideration of mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program that imposed significant costs on the American energy supply (GHG Reporting Program) Reconsideration of limitations, guidelines and standards (ELG) for the Steam Electric Power Generating Industry to ensure low-cost electricity while protecting water resources (Steam Electric ELG) Reconsideration of wastewater regulations for coal power plants to help unleash American energy (Oil. and Gas ELG) Reconsideration of Biden-Harris Administration Risk Management Program rule that made America's oil and natural gas refineries and chemical facilities less safe (Risk Management Program Rule) LOWERING THE COST OF LIVING FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES Reconsideration of light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicle regulations that provided the foundation for the Biden-Harris electric vehicle mandate (Car GHG Rules) Reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding and regulations and actions that rely on that Finding (Endangerment Finding) Reconsideration of technology transition rule that forces companies to use certain technologies that increased costs on food at grocery stores and semiconductor manufacturing (Technology Transition Rule) Reconsideration of Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards that shut down opportunities for American manufacturing and small businesses (PM 2.5 NAAQS) Reconsideration of multiple National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for American energy and manufacturing sectors (NESHAPs) Restructuring the Regional Haze Program that threatened the supply of affordable energy for American families (Regional Haze) Overhauling Biden-Harris Administration's "Social Cost of Carbon" Redirecting enforcement resources to EPA's core mission to relieve the economy of unnecessary bureaucratic burdens that drive up costs for American consumers (Enforcement Discretion) Terminating Biden's Environmental Justice and DEI arms of the agency (EJ/DEI) Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00001 SC_FOIA_0000274 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION ADVANCING COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM Ending so-called "Good Neighbor Plan" which the Biden-Harris Administration used to expand federal rules to more states and sectors beyond the program's traditional focus and led to the rejection of nearly all State Implementation Plans Working with states and tribes to resolve massive backlog with State Implementation Plans and Tribal Implementation Plans that the Biden-Harris Administration refused to resolve (SI Ps/TI Ps) Reconsideration of exceptional events rulemaking to work with states to prioritize the allowance of prescribed fires within State and Tribal Implementation Plans (Exceptional Events) Reconstituting Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (SAB/CASAC) Prioritizing coal ash program to expedite state permit reviews and update coal ash regulations (CCR Rule) Utilizing enforcement discretion to further North Carolina's recovery from Hurricane Helene Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00002 SC_FOIA_0000275 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION MESSAGING / TOPLINE TALKING POINTS Today is the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the agency will undertake more than 25 historic actions to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. By overhauling the endangerment finding, social cost of carbon, and other massive rules we are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion and doing our part to usher in the dawn of America's Golden Age. These historic actions will roll back trillions in regulatory costs and hidden "taxes." As a result of these announcements, cost of living for American families will decrease. It will be more affordable to purchase a car, heat your home, and operate a business. It will be more affordable to bring manufacturing into local communities while Americans widely benefit from the tangible economic impacts. Under President Trump's leadership, EPA will be only focused on protecting human health and the environment and powering the great American comeback. These actions will create American jobs, including incredible progress in bringing back American auto jobs. The Biden and Obama era regulations being reconsidered have suffocated nearly every single sector of the American economy. This announcement marks the death of the Green New Scam. We will unleash American energy by reconsidering the Biden-Harris Administration's Clean Power Plan 2.0, Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, Particulate Matter 2.5, and much more. We will advance cooperative federalism by working with states that were universally rejected by the Biden-Harris "Good Neighbor" plan, and resolving the massive backlog of State Implementation Plans and Tribal Implementation Plans. From the campaign trail to Day One and beyond, President Trump has delivered on his promise to unleash American energy, lower the cost of living for all Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law and give power back to the states to make their own decisions. These actions will create savings for American taxpayers and small businesses by eliminating costly regulations, boosting economic growth, innovation and manufacturing and advancing cooperative federalism. Every single hard-earned tax dollar under our leadership will be dedicated to providing clean air, land, and water for every American regardless of race, religion, background, and creed. ALL ACTIONS Endangerment Finding Clean Power Plan 2.0 Good Neighbor Plan MATS NESHAPs ELG & Oil and Gas ELG Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Regional Haze Risk Management Program Social Cost of Carbon North Carolina No Action Assurance 0000 b/c State Implementation Plan Backlog Enforcement Discretion for Rules Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00003 SC_FOIA_0000276 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION CASAC and SAB Rehiring Exceptional Events Rule Technology Transition Rule (AIM) PM 2.5 NAAQS Light-, Medium- and Heavy-Duty GHG Standards GHG Reporting Program Environmental Justice/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EJ/DEI) Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00004 SC_FOIA_0000277 INTERNAL - DRAFT - DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_0l 8475D_00000036-00005 SC_FOIA_0000278 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Overarching Press Release EPA Launches Biggest Deregulatory Action in U.S. History Administrator Zeldin Announces 31 Historic Actions to Power the Great American Comeback [Insert Video of announcement w/ link] WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will undertake 31 historic actions in the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history, to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the most momentous day in the history of the EPA. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower cost of living for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. "Todayis the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen. We are drivinga dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bringauto jobs back to the U.S. and more," saidEPA AdministratorZeldin. "Alongside President Trump, we are living up to our promises to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, and work hand-in-hand with our state partners to advance our shared mission," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. These historic actions will roll back trillions in regulatory costs and hidden "taxes" on U.S. families. As a result of these announcements, the cost of living for American families will decrease. It will be more affordable to purchase a care, heat homes, and operate a business. It will be more affordable to bring manufacturing into local communities while individuals widely benefit from the tangible economic impacts. These actions will create American jobs, including incredible progress to bring back American auto jobs. The Biden and Obama era regulations being reconsidered has suffocated nearly every single sector of the American economy. Today, EPA Administrator Zeldin announced the following actions: INSERT LIST HERE FROM ONE PAGER ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00006 SC_FOIA_0000279 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Trump EPA Kicks Off Formal Reconsideration of Endangerment Finding with Agency Partners WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will be kicking off a formal reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other relevant agencies. EPA also intends to reconsider all of its prior regulations and actions that rely on the Endangerment Finding. "After 16 years, EPA will formally reconsider the Endangerment Finding," said Administrator Zeldin. "The Trump Administration will not sacrifice national prosperity, energy security, and the freedom of our people for an agenda that throttles our industries, our mobility, and our consumer choice while benefiting adversaries overseas. We will follow the science, the law, and common sense wherever it leads, and we will do so while advancing our commitment towards helping to deliver cleaner, healthier, and safer air, land, and water." VOUGHT QUOTE BURGUM QUOTE WRIGHT QUOTE LUTNICK QUOTE DUFFY QUOTE In President Trump's Day One Executive Order, "Unleashing American Energy," he gave the EPA Administrator a 30-day deadline to submit recommendations on the legality and continuing applicability of the 2009 Endangerment Finding. After submitting these recommendations, EPA can now announce its intent to reconsider the 2009 Endangerment Finding. When EPA made the Endangerment Finding in 2009, the agency did not consider any aspect of the regulations that would flow from it. EPA's view then was that the Finding itself did not impose any costs, and that EPA could not consider future costs when making the Finding. EPA has subsequently relied on the Endangerment Finding as part of its justification for seven vehicle regulations with an aggregate cost of more than one trillion dollars, according to figures in EPA's own regulatory impact analyses. The Endangerment Finding has also played a significant role in EPA's justification of regulations of other sources beyond cars and trucks. Congress tasked EPA under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act with regulating new motor vehicles when the Administrator determines that emissions of an air pollutant endanger public health and welfare. But the Endangerment Findingwent about this task in what appears to be a flawed and unorthodox way. Contrary to popular belief, the Endangerment Finding did not directly find that carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. cars endanger public welfare. Instead, the Finding looks at a combination of emissions of six different gases--and cars don't even omit all six. It then creatively added multiple leaps, arguing that the combined six gases contribute some mysterious amount above zero to climate change and that climate change creates some mysterious amount of endangerment above zero to public health. These mental leaps were the only way the Obanna- Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00007 SC_FOIA_0000280 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Biden Administration could come to its preferred conclusion, even if it did not stick to the letter of the Clean Air Act. The Endangerment Finding acknowledges and identifies significant uncertainties in the science and assumptions used to justify the decision. In the 16 years since EPA issued the Endangerment Finding, the world has seen major developments in innovative technologies, science, economics, and mitigation. EPA has never before asked for public comment on the implications these developments have had on the Endangerment Finding, but now it will as part of the reconsideration process it intends to undertake. Additionally, major Supreme Court decisions in the intervening years, including Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, West Virginia v. EPA, Michigan v. EPA, and Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, have provided new guidance on how the agency should interpret statutes to discern Congressional intent and ensure that its regulations follow the law. If Congress wants EPA to regulate these emissions, then Congress should pass legislation requiring EPA to do so. As part of this reconsideration process, EPA will leverage the expertise of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other relevant agencies. It is in the best interest of the American people for EPA to ensure that any finding and regulations are based on the strongest scientific and legal foundation. The reconsideration of the Endangerment Finding and EPA's regulations that have relied on it furthers this interest. The agency cannot prejudge the outcome of this reconsideration or of any future rulemaking. EPA will follow the Administrative Procedure Act and Clean Air Act, as applicable, in a transparent way for the betterment of the American people and the fulfillment of the rule of law. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. The overhaul of the Endangerment Finding along with other massive rules represents the death of the Green New Scam and drives a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. Click here for more information on the Endangerment Finding [insert hyperlink]. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00008 SC_FOIA_0000281 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Reconsideration of Biden's CPP 2.0: unleash American electricity Trump EPA Announces Reconsideration of Biden-Harris Rule, "Clean Power Plan 2.0", That Prioritized Shutting Down Power Plants While Raising Costs on American Families WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will reconsider the Biden-Harris Administration's regulations on power plants, commonly known as "Clean Power Plan 2.0." The first Clean Power Plan was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2022. Many have voiced concerns that the last administration's replacement for that rule is similarly overreaching and an attempt to shut down affordable and reliable electricity generation in the United States, raising prices for American families, and increasing the country's reliance on foreign forms of energy. "President Trump promised to kill the Clean Power Plan in his first term, and we continue to build on that progress now. In reconsidering the Biden-Harris rule that ran afoul ofSupreme Court case law, we are seeking to ensure that the agency follows the rule oflaw while providingallAmericans with access to reliable and affordable energy," saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 2015 Clean Power Plan in West Virginia v. EPA, holding that the major questions doctrine barred EPA from misusing the Clean Air Act to manipulate Americans' energy choices and shift the balance of the nation's electrical fuel mix. The Biden Administration issued its own rule in 2024 which many critics say is just another attempt to achieve the unlawful fuel-shifting goals of the Clean Power Plan. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00009 SC_FOIA_0000282 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Reconsideration of OOOO b/c: regulations throttling the oil and gas industry Trump EPA Announces OOOO b/c Reconsideration of Biden-Harris Rules Strangling American Energy Producers WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency is reconsidering Biden-Harris regulations for the oil and gas industry under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act and Subpart W of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. "Oil and gas standards promulgated by EPA must be rooted in the rule of law, not be used as a weapon to shut down development and manufacturingin the United States. EPA is reconsidering these regulations to ensure they do not prevent America from unleashing energy dominance and continuing our trajectory as a leader in clean energy and emissions reductions. We produce energy better and cleaner than so many other countries around the world, and yet Americans are punished at the end of the day by ideologically driven regulations,"saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. This announcement is informed by major recent Supreme Court precedent providing significant guidance to federal agencies as to how they should interpret and implement governing statutes to ensure EPA is following the law of the land. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00010 SC_FOIA_0000283 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Reconsideration of PM NAAQS: shut down manufacturing and opportunities for small businesses Trump EPA Announces Path Forward on National Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (PM2.5) to Aid Manufacturing, Small Businesses EPA to release guidance on air quality standards implementation flexibility, permitting direction WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency is revisiting the Biden PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which has raised serious concerns from states across the country and served as a major obstacle to permitting. "All Americans deserve to breathe clean air while pursuing the American dream. Under President Trump, we will ensure air quality standards forparticulate matter are protective ofhuman health and the environment while we unleash the Golden Age ofAmerican prosperiV saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. EPA is also announcing that 'twill soon release guidance to increase flexibility on NAAQS implementation, reforms to New Source Review, and direction on permitting obligations. This suite of actions advances cooperative federalism and begins to undo red tape holding back American exceptionalism. The U.S. has some of the lowest fine particulate matter levels in the world. Between 2000 and 2023, average PM2.5 concentrations in the U.S. fell by 37 percent and average PM10 concentrations similarly fell by 36 percent. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00011 SC_FOIA_0000284 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Good Neighbor Plan: work with 19 states who had their air quality plans rejected by Biden-Harris Trump EPA Announces Plan to Work with States on SIPs to Improve Air Quality and Reconsider "Good Neighbor Plan" WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency is tackling the troubled "Good Neighbor Plan." EPA announced its commitment to advance cooperative federalism and work with states on State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that were nearly universally rejected by the Biden-Harris Administration. "States are our best partner to advance EPA's core mission ofprotectinghuman health and the environment. The Trump Administration is a responsive and willingpartner in this effort to tackle the so-called `Good Neighbor Plan' to advance cooperative federalism and improve air quality across the country," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. On March 15, 2023, EPA finalized its "Good Neighbor Plan" rule for 23 states to address interstate transport of air pollution which impacts National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In doing so, the Biden-Harris Administration expanded the federal rules to more states and sectors beyond this program's traditional focus on power plants and subsequently rejected 19 SIPs and partially rejected 2 SIPs. This heavy-handed, one-size-fits-all, federal mandate was emblematic of a larger regulatory onslaught that guided agency action and rules. In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the rule, finding that it was likely unreasonable and irrational in key respects. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00012 SC_FOIA_0000285 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Reconsideration of MATS: extend a lifeline to coal-fired power plants Trump EPA to Reconsider Biden-Harris MATS Regulation That Targeted Coal-Fired Power Plants to be Shut Down WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will reconsider the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) from the Biden-Harris Administration that drew a lawsuit from 23 states. The Trump Administration is considering a 2-year compliance exemption via Section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act for affected power plants while EPA goes through the rulemaking process. "EPA needs to pursue commonsense regulation to Power the Great American Comeback, not continue down the last administration's path of destruction and destitution. At EPA, we are committed to protectinghuman health and the environment; we are opposed to shutting down clean, affordable andreliable energy forAmerican families,"saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. The current MATS rule has caused significant regulatory uncertainty, especially for coal plants in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Cost estimates for this rule total over $790 million over the next decade starting in 2028, with at least $92 million per year for the power sector. These costs are large, especially given the success the industry has already achieved in reducing emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00013 SC_FOIA_0000286 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Reconsider Light, Medium, and Heavy-Duty Regulations: end Biden's EV mandate EPA Announces Action to Implement POTUS's Termination of Biden-Harris Electric Vehicle Mandate WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will reconsider the Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles regulation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles. In addition to imposing $893.8 billion in regulatory and compliance costs, these rules provided the foundation for the Biden-Harris electric vehicle mandate that takes away Americans' ability to choose a safe and affordable car for their family and increases the cost of living on all products that trucks deliver. "The American auto industryhas been hamstrungby the crushingregulatoryregime of the last administration. As we reconsider nearly one trillion dollars ofregulatory costs, we will abide by the rule oflaw to protect consumer choice and the environment,"saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. Additionally, EPA is reevaluating the other parts of the Biden EPA's problematic "Clean Trucks Plan." This includes the 2022 Heavy-Duty Nitrous Oxide (NOx) rule, that results in significant costs that will make the products our trucks deliver, like food and other household goods, more expensive. "Protecting and Bringing Back American Auto Jobs" is Pillar 5 of Administrator Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback initiative. President Trump and Administrator Zeldin are fulfilling their promise to bring back American auto jobs and invest in domestic manufacturing to revitalize a quintessential American industry. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00014 SC_FOIA_0000287 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Reconsider parts of EPA's rules implementing the AIM Act to lower the cost of living for American families (particularly important for the food and grocery store industry) Trump EPA Takes Action to Lower Costs for American Families at the Grocery Store by Reconsidering Burdensome Technology Transition Rule WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency is reconsidering the technology transition rule that forces companies to use particular technologies for refrigerant systems that raise the cost of food at the grocery store. "From the campaign trail to Day One and beyond, President Trump has delivered on his promise to unleash American energy and lower the cost of living for Americans. EPA's regulations are a large part of this equation. In reconsidering technology rules related to refrigeration systems, we can prioritize protecting the environment with a commonsense approach,"saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. In addition to grocery stores, this rule has also harmed semiconductor manufacturing, which is key to making America the Al capital of the world - one of the five pillars in Administrator Zeldin's "Powering the Great American Comeback" initiative. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00015 SC_FOIA_0000288 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION NESHAPs Trump EPA Announces Reconsideration of Air Rules Regulating American Energy, Manufacturing, Chemical Sectors (NESHAPs) WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will reconsider multiple National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) affecting a broad range of American industrial sectors. In doing so, EPA is ensuring appropriate protections for human health and the environment based on the best record possible. The Trump Administration is considering a 2-year compliance exemption via Section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act for affected facilities while EPA goes through the rulemaking process. "EPA is moving forward with the reconsideration of a number of air rules that cover nearly every sector of the American economy. During this review, we will ensure the appropriate protections for human health and the environment based on the best record possible. Breathing clean air, living on clean land, and drinking clean water are all shared goals while we also do our part to usher in a Golden Age ofAmerican success,"saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. Specifically, EPA is initially reconsidering NESHAPs for integrated iron and steel manufacturing, rubber tire manufacturing, synthetic organic chemical manufacturing industry, commercial sterilizers for medical devices and spices, lime manufacturing, coke ovens, copper smelting, and taconite ore processing. EPA intends to evaluate other NESHAPs and New Source Performance Standards to determine whether they should be reconsidered. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00016 SC_FOIA_0000289 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Exceptional Events Administrator Zeldin Takes Action to Decrease Risk of Future Catastrophic Wildfires ("Exceptional Events") WASHINGTON -Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin took action to decrease the risk of future catastrophic wildfires. Specifically, he directed EPA staff to revisit the Obama-Biden Administration's Exceptional Events rulemaking and prioritize the allowance of prescribed fires within State and Tribal Implementation Plans (SIPs/TIPs). This announcement comes in the wake of Meting the agency's largest wildfire hazardous material removal effort in its history responding to fires in Los Angeles County. "The Trump Administration is tackling our emergency response duties head on and takingaction to reduce the likelihood of these devastating disasters in the future," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. "EPA plays an important role in ensuring the best forest management practices while protecting human health and the environment. Revisiting this rulemaking will ensure that EPA doesn't get in the way ofmakingpreventative efforts like prescribed burns easier to protect communities." Prescribed fires are necessary to protect communities from catastrophic wildfires like the ones that caused untold damage to residents and businesses in Los Angeles. When EPA reviews SIPs and TIPs, EPA will work to ensure states and other entities that work within those states can use prescribed fires to properly manage their forests, without being unfairly penalized when it comes to assessing their air quality. Administrator Zeldin also directed the EPA Office of Air and Radiation to convene meetings with state and tribal air agencies and state, local, and federal forest managers to evaluate ways to ease unnecessary burdens that prevent prescribed fires. These unnecessary burdens are related to, but not limited to, Exceptional Events, Regional Haze, Interstate Transport, and International Transport. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00017 SC_FOIA_0000290 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Regional Haze Administrator Zeldin Begins Restructuring Regional Haze Program WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reconsidering its implementation of the Clean Air Act's Regional Haze Program. The way EPA has historically implemented this program has imposed significant costs on power plants and other sectors, calling into question the supply of affordable energy for American families. EPA intends to review its regulations implementing the Regional Haze Program to ensure that it fulfills Congressional intent, is based on current scientific information, and reflects recent improvements in air quality. "The United States has made significant gains in improving visibility in national parks and other wildlife areas. The Regional Haze Program was never intended to be the justification for shutting down every power plant and industrial sector in the country. It's time to restore sanity and purpose to the program," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00018 SC_FOIA_0000291 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Resolving the SIP backlog to provide environmental protections sooner Administrator Zeldin Takes Action to Prioritize Cooperative Federalism, Improve Air Quality Faster Trump EPA to clear massive backlog of State Implementation Plans from Biden-Harris Administration as soon as possible WASHINGTON -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its commitment to work with States and Tribes to resolve the massive backlog of State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and Tribal Implementation Plans (TIPs) that the Biden-Harris Administration refused to resolve. When the Biden Administration left, there were 685 unresolved SIPs with 322 considered overdue. The Trump EPA's goal is to clear this backlog as soon as possible. "The Biden Administration's focus on ideological pursuits instead of the agency's core mission and statutory duties resulted in a delay of air quality improvement. With more than 140 million Americans livingin nonattainment areas around the country, cooperative federalism and clearing out the State Implementation Plan backlog will make significant strides to improving the air we breathe,"saidEPA AdministratorZeldin. Many states have raised concerns related to being punished for emissions outside the control of their state as well as the air quality monitors not being located in most logical locations. EPA will also work with, not against, states and assist them to ensure that air quality is protected while growing the economy--including development and expansion of semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00019 SC_FOIA_0000292 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Enforcement Discretion Administrator Zeldin Directs Enforcement Resources to Align with Executive Orders and EPA's Core Mission WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced updated enforcement discretion to allow the agency to better focus on its core mission and Powering the Great American Comeback. Specifically, he announced that EPA will immediately revise National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives to ensure that enforcement does not discriminate based on race and socioeconomic status (as it has under environmental justice initiatives) or shut down energy production and that it focuses on the most pressing health and safety issues. This focus on EPA's established mission will also provide predictability as EPA considers changes to regulations, thereby lowering costs for Americans and relieving the economy of potentially unnecessary bureaucratic burdens. "The Biden-Harris Administration paired burdensome, legally questionable regulations with unpredictable but punitive enforcement aimed at shutting down American energy and manufacturingandpromoting so-called `environmentaljustice.'By re-aligning enforcement with the law instead of activist goals, we can help deliver economic prosperity and energy security while ensuring compliance with sound regulations," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. The "Ensuring Lawful Governance" Executive Order directs agencies to "preserve their limited enforcement resources by generally de-prioritizing actions to enforce regulations that are based on anything other than the best reading of a statute and de-prioritizing actions to enforce regulations that go beyond the powers vested in the Federal Government by the Constitution." EPA's realignment of enforcement also furthers this effort. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00020 SC_FOIA_0000293 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Reconsideration of Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Trump EPA Announces Reconsideration of Burdensome Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency is reconsidering the mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). Unlike every other mandatory information collection by EPA under the Clean Air Act, the GHGRP is not directly related to a potential regulation nor developed with that intention. The program requires over 8,000 facilities and suppliers in the United States to calculate and submit their emissions reporting annually. It costs hundreds of millions of dollars that could be better used to improve and upgrade environmental controls or other items at these facilities to have a noticeable impact on the improvement of the environment. "The Greenhouse Gas ReportingProgram is another example ofa bureaucratic government program that does not improve air quality. Instead, it costs American businesses and manufacturing millions of dollars, hurting small businesses and the ability to achieve the American Dream," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00021 SC_FOIA_0000294 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION SAB EPA to Accept Nominations for Science Boards WASHINGTON -Today, U.S. Enviornmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that a notice will be published in the Federal Register seeking nominations for the Science Advisory Board (SAB) and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). Nominations will be accepted for 30 days following publication of the Federal Register notice. "Reconstituting the Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee are critical to ensuring that the agency receives scientific advice consistent with its legal obligations to advance our core mission ofprotectinghuman health and the environment,"saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. "Ilook forward to receivingnominations to build an independent group of advisors to aid the agency's rulemaking." In January, EPA announced its decision to reset these federal advisory committees to reverse the politicization of SAB and CASAC under the Biden-Harris Administration. In 1978, Congress directed EPA to establish an SAB to provide independent scientific advice to the Administrator on science that underlies agency rulemaking. Following the nomination period, members will be carefully selected for their scientific expertise. Nominations can be submitted on each board's respective website. To learn more about SAB and submit a nomination, visit: www.e To learn more about CASAC and submit a nomination, visit: `Air,, This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00022 SC_FOIA_0000295 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Social cost of carbon EPA Announces Action to Address Costly Obama, Biden "Climate" Measurements (Social Cost of Carbon) WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced today that the agency is revisiting the Biden-Harris Administration's "social cost of carbon" which contributes to significant regulatory costs. "The Biden-Harris Administration's so-called `social cost of carbon'measurement was used to advance their climate agenda in a way that imposed major costs. To Power the Great American Comeback, we are fully committed to removingregulations holdingback the U.S.,"saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. The "Unleashing American Energy" Executive Order directs EPA to "issue guidance to address these harmful and detrimental inadequacies, including consideration of eliminating the `social cost of carbon' calculation from any Federal permitting or regulatory decision" within 60 days. The Executive Order states, "[t]he calculation of the `social cost of carbon' is marked by logical deficiencies, a poor basis in empirical science, politicization, and the absence of a foundation in legislation. Its abuse arbitrarily slows regulatory decisions and, by rendering the United States economy internationally uncompetitive, encourages a greater human impact on the environment by affording less efficient foreign energy producers a greater share of the global energy and natural resource market." This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00023 SC_FOIA_0000296 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION EJ OFFICE EPA Terminates Biden's Environmental Justice, DEI Arms of 0Agency WASHINGTON -Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will terminate the Biden-Harris Administration's Environmental Justice and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion arms of the agency. These organizational improvements, in line with Presidential Executive Orders, ensure the EPA is best positioned to meet its core mission of protecting human health and the environment, and Powering the Great American Comeback. Following President Trump's Executive Order "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing," EPA placed 171 employees in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Environmental Justice on administrative leave. "President Trump was elected with a mandate from the American people. Part of this mandate includes the elimination of forced discrimination programs,"saidAdministrator Zeldin. "Under the Trump Administration, EPA is affirming our commitment to serve every American with equal dignity and respect." "Some believe that so-called environmentaljustice is warranted to assist communities that have been left behind and this idea sounds goods and receives strongbipartisan support. But in reality, environmentaljustice has been used to fund left-wingactivists instead for spending those dollars to directlyremediate environmentalissues for those communities,"addedAdministrator Zeldin. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00024 SC_FOIA_0000297 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION NC NAA Trump EPA Announces Use of Enforcement Discretion to Further North Carolina's Recovery from Hurricane Helene WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency is granting an extension of the no action assurance that North Carolina requested to allow use of large air curtain incinerators to clear debris without requiring Title V permits. This will allow more efficient burning of debris with lower emissions than would occur through open burning or the use of smaller incinerators not subject to permitting requirements. "GrantingNorth Carolina's request not only cuts through bureaucratic red tape and assists in disaster recovery but also makes the air cleaner, and is a particularly appropriate use of enforcement discretion. We are committed to facilitating emergency response efforts that get Americans back on their feet quickly and safely while advancing cooperative federalism," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00025 SC_FOIA_0000298 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION ELG (oil and gas) EPA Will Revise Wastewater Regulations for Oil and Gas Extraction to Help Unleash American Energy (ELGs: Oil and Gas) WASHINGTON -Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will modernize outdated regulations on wastewater discharges for oil and gas extraction facilities to lower energy costs while supporting environmentally sustainable water reuse. This action advances the goals of President Trump's ,oleashingAmerican F- ._,,, re Order. The agency's review will evaluate modern technologies and management strategies to provide regulatory flexibility for oil and gas wastewater -also known as produced water -to be treated for beneficial reuse, including for Artificial Intelligence and data center cooling, rangeland irrigation, fire control, power generation, and ecological needs. "EPA is playinga centralrole delivering on President Trump's energy agenda," saidEPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "EPA will revise wastewater regulations from the 1970s that do not reflect modern capability to treat and reuse water for good. As a result, we will lower production costs for oil and gas extraction to boost American energy while increasing water supplies and protecting water quality." Under current regulations, discharge of treated wastewater is only allowed for agricultural and wildlife water uses in the western United States. EPA will consider expanding the geographic scope where treated wastewater can be used and discharged in the United States. In addition to prioritizing cost savings, EPA's rulemaking to revise the regulations will consider expanding opportunities for using treated wastewater, such as extraction of lithium and other critical minerals. EPA will also explore additional flexibilities to discharge treated wastewater from centralized wastewater treatment facilities that manage wastewater produced in the extraction of oil and gas. The Clean Water Act requires EPA to revise industry-wide wastewater treatment limits, called effluent limitations guidelines, to keep pace with innovations in pollution control technology. Technologies to treat produced water to a quality for safe discharge and reuse have become more effective and affordable. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. Background: Effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) are national industry-specific wastewater regulations based on the performance of demonstrated wastewater treatment technologies (often called "technology-based limits"). They are intended to represent the greatest pollutant reductions that are economically achievable for an entire industry. Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00026 SC_FOIA_0000299 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Today's announcement focuses on Subpart E of the current Oil and Gas Extraction Effluent Guidelines regulations at Title 40 Part 435 of the Code of Federal Regulations. EPA promulgated the Subpart E regulations in 1979. Many changes have occurred in the oil and gas extraction industry since then. Learn more about the current Oil and Gas.Extraction ELGs. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00027 SC_FOIA_0000300 INTERNAL- DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION ELG (steam electric) EPA Announces It Will Reconsider 2024 Water Pollution Limits for Coal Power Plants to Help Unleash American Energy (ELG: Steam Electric) WASHINGTON -Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will revise costly wastewater regulations for coal burning power plants issued in 2024. This action advances the goals of President Trump's by ensuring the country has reliable, affordable electricity while protecting our nation's water resources under the Clean Water Act. "President Trump's direction is clear, and EPA is committed to delivering on the vision ofAmerican energy dominance," saidEPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "Byreviewing the Biden-era rule establishing discharge limits for coal-fired power plants under the Clean Water Act, we will ensure that all Americans can rely on low-cost electricity while also protecting our nation's water resources." The effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the Steam Electric Power Generating industry apply to power plants that generate electricity through the creation of steam. The 2024 regulations established stringent discharge standards for four wastewaters generated at these facilities: flue gas desulfurization wastewater, bottom ash transport water, combustion residual leachate, and legacy wastewater. EPA will reconsider these standards, including technology-based ELGs it promulgated for leachate under the 2024 Supplemental Steam Electric ELGs, which are projected to cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars that could be passed on to consumers. As part of this effort, the agency will consider how it might provide immediate relief from some of the existing leachate requirements. In a series of related actions, the agency will also provide clarifying updates to other leachate requirements from the same rule to prevent unintended misapplication of the existing rule. Additionally, the agency will reevaluate existing information on the availability and cost of membrane technology. The 2024 rule is currently being challenged in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. EPA has received two petitions for reconsideration from the Edison Electric Institute and Utility Water Act Group, trade associations representing electric utilities. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. Learn more about the Steam Electric ELG regulations. Background: Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00028 SC_FOIA_0000301 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION ELGs are national industry-specific wastewater regulations based on the performance of demonstrated wastewater treatment technologies (often called "technology-based limits"). They are intended to represent the greatest pollutant reductions that are economically achievable for an entire industry. Steam electric plants use fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) or nuclear reactions to heat water in boilers, which generates steam. The steam is used to drive turbines connected to electric generators. The plants generate wastewater in the form of chemical pollutants and thermal pollution from their water treatment, power cycle, ash handling and air pollution control systems, as well as from coal piles, yard and floor drainage, and other miscellaneous wastes. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00029 SC_FOIA_0000302 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION CCR EPA Announces Swift Actions on Coal Ash Program (Coal Combustion Residuals) WASHINGTON -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is prioritizing a number of timely actions on coal ash, including state permit program reviews and updates to the coal ash regulations. "Under President Trump's leadership, EPA will advance cooperative federalism to allow states to lead the charge on local issues, with federal support. This is just one ofmany examples where this agency can and will work with our state partners to deliver for the American people."saidEPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. Consistent with Administrator Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback initiative, prioritizing state permit programs for coal ash advances pillars on Clean Air, Land, and Water for every American as well as Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership. EPA will work with state partners to place implementation of the coal ash regulations more fully into state hands. This will empower those with local expertise to oversee more effective coal ash disposal operations. The agency will work with several states on preparing their regulations and applications. EPA encourages state agencies to pursue oversight of coal ash management within their borders. The agency is committed to working with state partners as they establish coal ash programs tailored to their unique circumstances that are also protective of human health and the environment. To exemplify the agency's commitment, EPA will propose a determination on the North Dakota permit program within the next 60 days. EPA is also reviewing the Legacy-Coal Combustion Residuals Management Units Rule. A key part of that review is evaluating whether to grant short- and long-term relief such as extending compliance deadlines. The agency aims to complete rule changes within a year. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00030 SC_FOIA_0000303 INTERNAL - DRAFT- DELIBERATIVE - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION Risk Management Plan EPA Announces Reconsideration of the Risk Management Plan to Boost Safety, Competitiveness of American Businesses WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency is reconsidering the 2024 Risk Management Plan (RMP) rule. This rule has raised significant concerns relating to national security and the value of the prescriptive requirements within the rule. As a result, the 2024 RMP rule makes America's oil and natural gas refineries and chemical facilities less safe and less competitive. "The Biden EPA's costly Risk Management Plan rule ignored recommendations from national security experts on how their rule makes chemical and other sensitive facilities in America more vulnerable to attack,"saidEPA Administrator Zeldin. Accident prevention was and continues to be a priority for EPA in the Trump Administration. In 2019, the agency implemented rules that promoted coordination between chemical facilities and emergency responders, cut red tape and regulatory burdens, and addressed security risks associated with prior amendments to the rule. Biden's costly rules negated this progress. EPA is committed to delivering common sense policy decisions that safeguard human health and the environment and bolster economic growth. This was announced in conjunction with a number of historic actions (LINK TO OVERALL PRESS RELEASE) to advance President Trump's Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. Combined, these announcements represent the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the United States. While accomplishing EPA's core mission of protecting the environment, the agency is committed to fulfilling President Trump's promise to unleash American energy, lower costs for Americans, revitalize the American auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to states to make their own decisions. ### Sierra Club FOIA Request: 2025-EPA-04193 ED_018475D_00000036-00031 SC_FOIA_0000304