EPA‘s reversal of the formal 2009 scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten humans looks slated to land this week, for the WSJother reports, and people tracking the move.
Why it matters: Rescinding the “endangerment finding” is the Trump administration’s most direct effort yet to rip out climate regulations root and branch — and make it harder for a successor to impose new ones.
The big picture: EPA did not confirm the timing, but pointed to Administrator Lee Zeldin’s comments in the WSJ piece.
- “This amounts to the largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States,” Zeldin tells the paper.
- “The final rule will be published once it has completed interagency review and been signed by the Administrator,” EPA told Axios on Tuesday.
- The rule is certain to draw litigation that will play out over years.
State of play: The agency is planning to remove the finding with respect to motor vehicle emissions specifically.
- But that could bring challenges to regulation of emissions from power plants, oil and gas sites, and beyond.
What we’re watching: The White House Office of Management and Budget website still lists the rule as under review.
- Meetings with outside parties looking to influence the plan are scheduled through Thursday, but that’s not proof of anything.