A Detailed Review of Potential Trump-Era Reversals
Meteorology Matters analyzes the key environmental actions taken by the Biden administration, focusing on the potential challenges and ease with which President Trump may attempt to reverse them.
Key Themes:
- Sweeping Scope: Biden's environmental agenda is characterized by its breadth and depth, impacting various sectors and aiming for long-term sustainability. This makes complete dismantling difficult.
- Legal and Scientific Foundation: Many of Biden's policies are rooted in robust scientific evidence and legal frameworks, making them resistant to arbitrary rollbacks.
- Economic and Political Considerations: While Trump champions deregulation for economic growth, some of Biden's policies enjoy industry support (like methane regulation) or face international pressure (like EV production).Key Areas of Focus and Potential for Reversal:
1. Climate Change and Air Pollution
- Greenhouse Gas Standards for Vehicles: Reversing these standards could be challenging due to industry investments in EV production to comply with global regulations. Difficulty: Medium
- Greenhouse Gas Standards for Power Plants: Trump's promise to "terminate" the power plant rule will likely face legal challenges similar to those faced during his first term. Difficulty: Medium
- Limits on Mercury and Air Toxics from Coal Plants: Reversing strengthened limits will likely be met with lawsuits from civil rights and environmental groups. Difficulty: Medium
- Phaseout of Climate Super-Pollutants (HFCs): Reversing the HFC phase-down, authorized by a bipartisan bill, would require new legislation from Congress. Difficulty: Difficult
2. Drilling and Extraction
- Limits on Methane from Drilling Operations: Trump may face pressure from the oil industry, which supports methane regulation, to retain this rule. Difficulty: Medium
- Fee on Methane from Oil and Gas Facilities: Repealing these fees, authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, would likely require new legislation. Difficulty: Difficult
- Protections for D1 lands in Alaska: Trump's previous attempts to revoke protections for D1 lands faced hurdles, and reversing this policy could encounter similar challenges. Difficulty: Medium
3. Chemical Safety
- Listing of PFAS under the Superfund law: This designation has already drawn legal challenges from industry groups and could face further legal hurdles if reversed. Difficulty: Medium
- Removal of All Lead Pipes: The Safe Drinking Water Act's provisions make weakening existing health protections difficult, potentially leading to legal challenges. Difficulty: Medium
- Complete Ban on Asbestos: Trump's previous failures to regulate asbestos were deemed "arbitrary and capricious" by a federal court, making a reversal difficult. Difficulty: Medium
4. Conservation
- Expansion of National Monuments: Trump's previous downsizing of national monuments sparked legal battles. Repealing expansions faces similar resistance and potential Supreme Court involvement. Difficulty: Easy
- Protection of Boundary Waters: Reversing the mining ban would face opposition from conservationists and potentially impact local water quality, leading to legal challenges. Difficulty: Medium (Rating by Washington Post)
