US EPA Faces Backlash for Suing to Roll Back Soot Limits, Putting Public Health at Risk
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has filed a lawsuit to strike down tighter soot limits for power plants and factories, a move that has sparked widespread criticism from environmental groups and public health advocates. The EPA is seeking to reverse a 2024 standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which was introduced by the agency under President Joe Biden's administration. The standard aims to reduce soot emissions from industrial sources, which have been linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health issues. Critics argue that the rollback would put public health at risk, particularly for communities living near the country's dirtiest coal plants. The Colstrip Power Plant in Montana, for example, is the only coal plant in the US without modern pollution controls for particulate matter. Environmental groups have accused the EPA of attempting to avoid its legal obligations to enforce the tighter soot standard. 'This is a blatant attempt to avoid taking action to protect public health,' said Hayden Hashimoto, an attorney at the Clean Air Task Force. The lawsuit was filed in response to a challenge from 24 states, led by Kentucky, and industry groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers. The EPA's move is seen as a continuation of the Trump administration's efforts to roll back environmental regulations, which targeted dozens of rules, including soot limits. The tighter soot standard, which was set at 9 micrograms per cubic meter, was expected to prevent over 800,000 cases of asthma symptoms, 2,000 hospital visits, and 4,500 premature deaths annually. The rollback of these limits would likely benefit the country's dirtiest coal plants, including those in Montana, which would be exempt from modern pollution controls.
