EPA Opens Portal for Companies to Request Clean Air Act Exemptions

The Trump administration's move allows polluters to seek temporary exemptions from environmental regulations, sparking criticism from environmental groups over public health risks.

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.