White smoke coming out of coal plant smokestacks.

Coal plant seeks pollution waiver after Trump administration opens email-based exemption process

The Colstrip coal plant in Montana, the nation’s top emitter of harmful soot, has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a two-year exemption from pollution control rules under a new process opened by the Trump administration.

Hiroko Tabuchi reports for The New York Times.

In short:

The Colstrip power plant emits more fine particulate pollution than any other plant in the U.S. and lacks modern pollution controls, according to the EPA. A 2023 rule required it to install updated equipment.
The EPA recently invited companies to apply for Clean Air Act waivers by email. The law allows presidential exemptions if technology is deemed unavailable or if national security is at risk.
Montana’s congressional delegation supports the exemption, citing energy reliability and economic concerns, though public health experts warn of severe health impacts from particulate pollution.

Key quote:

This pollution "can be very damaging to young kids in particular, who have developing lungs."

— Robert Merchant, pulmonologist in Billings, Mont.

Why this matters:

Fine particulate pollution, or soot, poses serious health risks by penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream, contributing to asthma, strokes, heart disease, and premature death — particularly among children, the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions. Yet coal plants like Colstrip in eastern Montana continue operating without modern pollution controls, even as most U.S. facilities have installed them. As the Trump administration advances regulatory rollbacks that prioritize industry relief over science-based health protections, Colstrip has become a symbol of this shift, raising alarm among public health experts and environmental justice advocates.

www.nytimes.com

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A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy under the Trump administration may allow chemical giants to sidestep rules that limit mercury, benzene, and other hazardous pollutants — with big consequences for public health.

Matthew Daly reports for the Associated Press.

In short:

Industry groups representing ExxonMobil, Dow, Chevron, and hundreds of other chemical and petrochemical makers are lobbying the EPA for blanket exemptions from air pollution rules, citing high costs and “unworkable” timelines.
The EPA, now led by Lee Zeldin, has set up what environmental groups have called a “polluters’ portal” — an email inbox where companies can request two-year exemptions from nine Biden-era environmental rules.
Environmental groups warn that this loophole could result in increased exposure to pollutants known to cause cancer, asthma, and birth defects, especially in children.

Key quote:

“There is no basis in U.S. clean air laws — and in decency — for this absolute free pass to pollute.”

— Vickie Patton, general counsel, Environmental Defense Fund

Why this matters:

This policy could open the floodgates to more cancer-causing fumes, more neurotoxins in kids’ bodies, and more birth defects — especially in the communities that already bear the brunt of pollution. It's one in a series of major regulatory rollbacks that Zeldin has announced that have major implications for public health and well-being.

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