Donald Trump · US Congress · Wired
The Trump Administration Wants to Change Public Engagement Rules for Polluters
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 source + 2 references discovered via search. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
The Trump administration is quietly considering a rule change that could make it easier for polluters to build facilities—including certain gas plants and diesel generators that power data centers —with little to no notice to the public.
Key facts
- As someone actively working in communities with data centers, I know this to be fundamentally true: People want to have a say,” Vanessa Lynch, a Pennsylvania organizer with Moms Clean Air Force
- Byron Gary, a senior attorney at the Kentucky Resources Council, says state agencies have made an “informal commitment” behind the scenes to keep their public participation rules the same, even
- But thanks to a patchwork of state enforcement laws, that engagement process—and whether state agencies are complying with EPA requirements—varies across the US
- On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing on a proposed rule change that would hand the power to states to decide how the public participates in the permitting process
Summary
On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing on a proposed rule change that would hand the power to states to decide how the public participates in the permitting process for certain new sources of air pollution. “As someone actively working in communities with data centers, I know this to be fundamentally true: People want to have a say,” Vanessa Lynch, a Pennsylvania organizer with Moms Clean Air Force, said at the EPA hearing. Companies building any kind of facilities that release air pollution are required to get permits under the Clean Air Act. Major sources of pollution are reviewed by both federal and state regulators and have extensive requirements before and after construction.