Trump administration to repeal EPA endangerment finding on greenhouse gases

The White House said the EPA will take action on Feb. 12 to rescind the 2009 “endangerment finding” that identified several greenhouse gases as a threat to public health; the agency has said removing the finding would eliminate the legal basis to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

The administration announced plans to rescind the EPA’s 2009 endangerment finding, which identified several greenhouse gases as threatening public health and welfare. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the EPA will take action on Feb. 12 to repeal the finding. The agency has previously written that eliminating the finding would remove its statutory authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate emissions based on global climate change concerns. Environmental and public health groups have publicly opposed the move. Key known facts: - The White House announced the EPA will act on Feb. 12 to repeal the 2009 endangerment finding. - The 2009 finding named several greenhouse gases as threatening public health and provided the legal basis for EPA rules under the Clean Air Act; the EPA has said rescinding it would eliminate that statutory basis. - Environmental and public health organizations have condemned the planned repeal and have announced intentions to challenge the decision through legal action. Summary: The planned repeal would remove the formal scientific finding that underpinned federal greenhouse gas regulations and, according to the EPA, would eliminate the agency’s statutory authority to regulate such emissions under the Clean Air Act. The administration has scheduled the EPA action for Feb. 12, and several advocacy groups have announced plans to pursue legal challenges.