Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has responded to the Trump Administration’s effort to reverse course on the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In his comments, he accuses the federal government of attempting to “def[y] science, law, and reality” with their proposed changes.
The EPA announced late last month that it intends to rescind the 2009 declaration that has served as the basis for the government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Known as the Endangerment Finding, this 2009 declaration states that the “current and projected concentrations” of greenhouse gases “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.”
This stemmed from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that greenhouse gases are a category of air pollutant covered by the Clean Air Act, opening the door for the EPA to determine under section 202(a) if they can reasonably be understood to pose a threat to “public health of welfare.”
By repealing the agency’s prior declaration, the federal government would have significantly less authority to promulgate and enforce climate-related regulations.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has highlighted the positive impact that this move can be expected to have on the American economy, criticizing existing regulations as detrimental to the country’s financial well-being.
“They created this endangerment finding and then they are able to put all these regulations on vehicles, on airplanes, on stationary sources, to basically regulate out of existence, in many cases, a lot of segments of our economy,” he said. “And it cost Americans a lot of money.”
Repealing this declaration is likely to take some time, as the EPA’s proposal will be required to go through a lengthy review process, as well as a public comment period.
According to the New York Times, reworking the Endangerment Finding would not by itself repeal existing regulations, but it would create a roadblock for future administrations looking to impose barriers related to greenhouse gas emissions.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey issued a statement sharply criticizing the Trump Administration for attempting to reverse course on this determination.
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s disregard for the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions defies science, law, and reality,” Attorney General Frey said.
“The science is clear that greenhouse gas emissions cause significant harm to public health and welfare, which is increasingly borne out in Maine by impacts including sea level rise, extreme storms, flooding, and disrupted coastal habitats and fisheries,” he continued. “We have worked to hold the administration to responsible climate action and we will continue to advocate for regulation that confronts the climate crisis.”
Click Here to Read Attorney General Aaron Frey’s Full Statement
These remarks are similar to those shared by Gov. Janet Mills (D) in response to the proposed change.
“This proposal from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency undercuts more than a decade’s worth of progress to protect the health of our planet and our people,” Gov. Mills wrote, in part.
“As this new rule undergoes the formal public process, my Administration will remain steadfast in our commitment to protect the health of Maine people and our clean air and water, which are the foundation of our economy,” Mills concluded.
Written comments on the EPA’s decision to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding may be submitted online from now until September 15.
A public hearing has been scheduled for August 19th and 20th. Although this will be open to anyone, those who wish to testify are asked to pre-register by August 12.
