Overview

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched an email portal for companies to request presidential exemptions from nine Clean Air Act rules by March 31, 2025.
• Exemptions, which can last up to two years and be renewed, are justified under claims of unavailable technology and national security interests.
• Critics argue the exemptions could increase toxic emissions, such as mercury and arsenic, posing significant public health risks, particularly to vulnerable communities.
• Environmental groups have filed Freedom of Information Act requests to disclose details of exemption applications and are questioning the legality of the process.
• The exemptions align with the Trump administration's broader efforts to roll back Biden-era environmental regulations and reduce regulatory burdens on industries.