The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is undergoing significant changes that are likely to impact its ability to regulate climate and air pollution. The decision to eliminate the Office of Atmospheric Protection (OAP) and the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) by the end of the fiscal year has raised concerns about the future of the agency’s climate-related work.
According to EPA political appointees, the reorganization plan will involve moving programs aimed at curbing smog, soot, and toxic emissions into other offices within the agency. However, much of OAP’s work, including a program that requires major polluters to report their greenhouse gas emissions, is expected to be discontinued.
The new structure will include the creation of two offices within the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) – the Office of Clean Air Programs and the Office of State Air Partnerships. The clean air office will focus on aligning statutory obligations and essential functions to protect human health and the environment, as stated in an agency press release.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized the agency’s commitment to fulfilling its statutory obligations and core mission through these organizational changes. The reorganization plan also involves the elimination of the Office of Research and Development, a significant arm for research and science within the agency.
The shift away from greenhouse gas regulations towards minimizing criteria and hazardous air pollutants in partnership with states is a key aspect of Project 2025, which is influencing EPA’s direction in the current administration. The agency is working to remove greenhouse gases from its list of regulated pollutants by reassessing a foundational scientific finding from 2009 that informs all Clean Air Act climate regulations.
Additionally, EPA has proposed repealing Biden-era rules for power plant carbon and mercury without replacement, signaling a departure from previous approaches to climate regulation. The decision to not regulate the second-highest-emitting sector for carbon pollution has raised concerns among former EPA officials and environmental advocates.
The future of pollution reporting and greenhouse gas inventory programs at EPA remains uncertain. While some programs may be absorbed by the new clean air office, others are at risk of being eliminated. The loss of reliable federal data on greenhouse gas emissions could have significant implications for climate action at various levels of government and the private sector.
Despite the potential challenges posed by these reorganization efforts, EPA is forging ahead with its new direction under the current administration. The impact of these changes on the agency’s ability to protect human health and the environment remains a topic of ongoing debate and scrutiny.
Overall, the reorganization of EPA’s offices responsible for regulating climate and air pollution reflects a shift in priorities and approaches within the agency. The long-term implications of these changes on environmental protection and public health outcomes will be closely monitored in the coming months and years.
