EPA plan would begin rolling back ‘good neighbor’ rule on downwind pollution from smokestacks

US EPA Proposal Paves Way for Rollback of 'Good Neighbor' Rule on Transboundary Air Pollution

The Trump administration has taken a step towards dismantling a long-standing environmental regulation aimed at curbing air pollution that affects neighboring states. The proposed rule would allow eight US states to disregard the "good neighbor" standard, which requires industrial sites to limit emissions that cross state lines.

The Supreme Court's 2024 ruling cleared the way for this move by stating that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot enforce the rule. Under President Joe Biden, the EPA had rejected or disapproved the air quality plans submitted by these states, citing inadequate measures to control ozone-forming emissions.

However, under President Donald Trump, the EPA is pushing forward with "cooperative federalism," a policy that gives states more control over environmental regulations. Administrator Lee Zeldin defended this approach, calling it "unfair" and stating that it would allow states to move forward with their own air quality goals without excessive federal oversight.

The affected states – Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, and Tennessee – would no longer be subject to the EPA's approval process for their ozone plans. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, have expressed strong opposition to this move, warning that it would put neighboring states at risk of continued air pollution harm.

Critics argue that the Trump administration is prioritizing polluters' interests over public health and environmental protection. The Sierra Club's Zachary Fabish stated that letting states "off the hook" while their pollution continues to affect others would be "dangerous" and would lead to more illnesses and higher energy costs for Americans.

The EPA has announced a 30-day public comment period, which may help mitigate concerns about this move. However, environmental advocates urge caution, as the impact of this policy on air quality across the country remains uncertain.

Ugh, this is so predictable . The Trump administration's plan to roll back the "good neighbor" rule is a no-brainer considering their track record on the environment . They're just going to let these states do whatever they want and see who gets hurt first? It's like playing a game of whack-a-mole, except instead of mallets, it's people's lives at stake .

I mean, come on, eight states can't even be bothered to follow the rules? The EPA is basically saying "good luck" to neighboring states as they continue to breathe in toxic air. And what's with this "cooperative federalism" nonsense? Sounds like just a fancy way of saying "we're not going to do anything about it" .

This move is going to be a disaster, mark my words . Environmental groups are right to sound the alarm and warn people about the potential consequences. It's not just about saving the planet, it's about basic human decency and ensuring that everyone has access to clean air and water .

like seriously what's next? the US just gonna let its neighboring states burn their own people alive and we're supposed to be a global leader in clean energy ‍?! i mean, didn't we learn from our environmental disasters back in the 70s and 80s? it's not like the 'good neighbor' rule was a huge burden on these states or anything... just peachy .

omg u guys I'm low-key worried about this... so the Trump admin is basically saying that states can just make their own rules when it comes to emissions and it's gonna be a disaster for our air quality like what if one state lets some industrial site spew all sorts of pollution but another state is like "oh no, my air is getting bad" and then they have to go through this whole mess with the EPA and it'll just get delayed and more people will suffer from asthma and other respiratory issues meanwhile polluters are gonna be raking in the cash without anyone checking their emissions and it's just not right

ugh I'm so worried about all these states getting away with releasing yuck pollution ... like how can they just make their own rules and not think about others breathing their toxic air? isn't that kinda counterproductive to, like, taking care of the planet or something? I don't get why President Trump would wanna do this if it's gonna hurt people's health... isn't public health more important than just letting states be free to pollute?

Can't believe the good neighbor rule is being axed . Like, isn't that just common courtesy? Next thing you know, they'll be letting corporations decide what's best for our air quality without consulting anyone . Alabama and co. are gonna love having more freedom to pollute their way into neighboring states' lungs. Meanwhile, I'm over here wondering when we'll see a " pollution tax" to make up for it . The EPA's 30-day comment period is basically just a PR stunt – they know what they're doing and don't care . It's gonna be super interesting to watch how this all plays out, especially with the whole public health vs corporate profits thing

The US is taking a huge risk with this new proposal... it's like they're playing catch-up and expecting everyone to fall into line . These states have been making their own rules, causing harm to others nearby, and now they get to just wing it? The science is clear: air pollution affects everyone, not just the ones directly downwind . It's crazy that we're still debating this stuff – shouldn't we be focusing on fixing the problem instead of giving polluters a free pass?

I'm so not down with this . It's like the gov't is basically saying 'oh, you're all just gonna take care of that pollution thingy by yourselves'. Like, what about those people who can't afford a fancy mask or a sweet air-purifying system in their house? And don't even get me started on public health - it's like, we already know that poor air quality = more asthma attacks, heart problems, and cancer cases. We shouldn't be putting lives at risk just to make some polluters happy . The EPA needs to stand firm on this one - all for the people, not just the corporations !

I don't think it's a bad idea to give states more control over their own environmental regulations . I mean, wouldn't it be more efficient if they could just figure out what works best for them and report back to the EPA instead of having one set of rules applied to everyone? The whole 'good neighbor' rule thing sounds like a great intention, but sometimes it can be super restrictive and hurt local businesses that are trying to do the right thing. Plus, some states might actually have better technology or strategies for reducing emissions than others . Of course, there's definitely a risk of some states just phoning it in and not taking care of their own air quality... but maybe that's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes?

This is gonna be bad for everyone's health

Ugh, can't believe what's going down with the US EPA . I mean, come on, folks! Air pollution is a serious issue that affects not just one state but our entire nation. And now they're basically saying it's okay for states to just ignore the rules and keep polluting without any consequences? That's like, super concerning for me.

I think we need more transparency and accountability when it comes to environmental regulations. The Trump administration is pushing this "cooperative federalism" thingy which sounds nice on paper but I'm not sure it's really going to help. The reality is that some states just aren't taking care of their air quality and it's going to affect the rest of us.

The EPA needs to take a closer look at what's happening here and find a way to balance state control with national protections. We can't afford to compromise on our environment right now.

Just heard about this US EPA proposal and I gotta say, it's super concerning . I mean, the 'good neighbor' rule has been in place for ages to protect neighboring states from industrial pollution, and now it seems like they're just gonna let some states get away with it . I know President Trump is all about 'cooperative federalism' and giving states more control, but at what cost? The Sierra Club is right, this could lead to more air pollution and health issues for people across the country .

I'm also worried that big polluters are gonna take advantage of this loophole . We need stricter regulations in place to protect our environment and public health, not just let states fend for themselves . Can't we just have a balance between state control and federal oversight? The 30-day comment period is a good start, but I hope the EPA listens to all the concerns and makes some changes that prioritize people's health over profits .

omg dont think this is a good idea at all!!! EPA gotta keep those states in check or ppl in neighboring states will be breathing in toxic air 4 years straight cant let polluters get away w/ this one... trust me, its gonna cost us big time in terms of our health and environment

omg u guys i just heard bout dis proposal by US EPA lol they wanna take away the "good neighbor" rule for air pollution its like they're giving states free pass to pollute neighboring areas while ignoring public health risks my mind is blown tho why would they do this? didn't trump's admin promise to protect environment more? idk maybe i'm just naive but dont think its right to prioritize polluters' interests over people's lives gotta keep an eye on dis one and see how it plays out

This is like they're playing with fire here. I think it's crazy that they're trying to let states just do whatever they want when it comes to pollution control. Like, what about all those people who already got sick from breathing in bad air? Don't we need some kind of standard to protect our environment and public health?

And it's so unfair that the Trump admin is trying to roll back this rule without even giving us a chance to comment on it first. I mean, what about all those environmental groups who are speaking out against this move? It feels like they're being ignored.

I don't get why they can't just work together with states to find some kind of compromise that still protects our air quality. This whole "cooperative federalism" thing sounds like a fancy way of saying "states get to do whatever they want". Not cool, dude.

I'm so confused about this new proposal . So basically, it means that some states in the US can just ignore a rule that's meant to stop them from polluting the air and making other states sick? That doesn't seem right to me... like, shouldn't we all be looking out for each other on this planet? And what about people who already have respiratory problems because of bad air quality in their state? It just seems like they're going to get worse off by this new rule. I don't understand why the EPA would want to let states "move forward with their own air quality goals" without federal oversight - isn't that like asking a kid to play with matches all by themselves?

https://www.sciencenews.org/content...for-rollback-good-neighbor-rule-air-pollution ~

idk why they wanna get rid of it, ppl are already suffocating in cities everywhere it's not just a state thing, air pollution is like, global problem... what's next? letting corporations off the hook too?

I'm low-key worried about this "cooperative federalism" thingy . It's like they're trying to let big polluters off the hook while ignoring the public's health and environmental well-being. I mean, isn't it our job as a nation to protect ourselves and each other from these kinds of issues? By letting states decide for themselves on air quality regulations, we're basically giving up control and relying on...I don't know...individual state interests over public good. It just seems like another example of how some folks want to prioritize profits over people . And what about the science behind this stuff? Don't we need standardized rules to ensure our air is clean for everyone, regardless of where you live? I'm not convinced that states can be trusted to make the right decisions here. This just feels like a step backward to me...

I'm low-key freaking out about this new proposal ! The 'good neighbor' rule has been in place for ages and it's meant to keep our skies clean. Now, it seems like states are gonna get a free pass to pollute to their heart's content? That can't be right. I mean, I get that the EPA needs to lighten its grip, but this is just gonna hurt people, especially in neighboring states. My aunt has COPD from all the smog years ago and it still affects her today . The thought of more pollution causing illnesses and whatnot? No thanks . We need better regulations, not less .

Ugh I'm so annoyed by this move from the Trump administration! They're basically letting these states get away with hurting their neighbors' air quality. It's not like they can't afford to follow the rules, but noooo, they want to be "free" and pollute to their hearts content . And what really gets my goat is that Lee Zeldin is justifying this by saying it's about states having more control... yeah right . It's all about who's got the most clout and can get away with whatever they want. This is a huge step back for environmental protection and public health. Can't believe they're not prioritizing that .