March 13, 2025 (Augusta, ME) — Yesterday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin released a massive, broadside attack on rules that protect public health, the climate, and our environment from air pollution, water pollution, and toxic emissions from fossil fuel power plants.
On the eve of addressing a major energy conference in Houston, Administrator Zeldin announced 31 proposals to review, rescind, or weaken science-based policies that have been carefully designed to deliver significant public health, economic, environmental, and climate benefits nationwide.
“Each of the 31 proposals to weaken clean air and water protections is cause for concern, but the most troubling and revealing take-away is that Administrator Zeldin seems hostile to EPA’s mission of protecting the public and our environment from industrial pollution,” said Pete Didisheim, Advocacy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). “His announcement was nothing more than a massive gift to the fossil fuel industry, at the expense of human and environmental health.”
NRCM expressed particular concern with several proposed rollbacks of rules that curb toxic air pollutants. “Because Maine is located at the end of the nation’s tailpipe, receiving pollution carried on prevailing winds from upwind power plants and pollution sources, Maine people and our environment could be disproportionally impacted by these proposed rollbacks,” said Didisheim.
Maine has the highest asthma rates in the nation, so these efforts to relieve power plants from pollution-reducing requirements could have their biggest impact on elderly Mainers, children, and those with respiratory ailments.
Maine would be especially impacted by Administrator Zeldin’s proposal to terminate EPA’s “Good Neighbor Rule,” a plan to reduce air pollution that crosses borders into neighboring states. “Since most of Maine’s air pollution comes from upwind states, we potentially stand the most to lose if the ‘Good Neighbor Rule’ is abandoned,” said Didisheim.
EPA’s analysis that preceded adoption of the Good Neighbor Rule determined that it would reduce nitrogen oxide pollution by approximately 70,000 tons from power plants and industrial facilities in 2026, preventing approximately 1,300 premature deaths, avoiding 2,300 hospital and emergency room visits, and cutting asthma symptoms by 1.3 million cases.
NRCM also singled out for concern the proposed rollback of stricter pollution standards for new gas and existing coal-fired power plants (Clean Power Plan), and the proposal to overturn EPA’s plan to strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal-fired power plants.
“These common-sense rules are on track to deliver overwhelmingly positive outcomes for the nation, including preventing premature deaths, reducing hospital visits, and eliminating toxic mercury pollution that threatens public health and pollutes our waters and wildlife,” said Didisheim.
The MATS standards are projected to eliminate 1,000 pounds of mercury annually starting in 2028. Mercury pollution in Maine, arriving on prevailing winds from upwind power plants, has been a major concern over the past 30 years. Maine waterways and wildlife, including loons, have elevated mercury pollution because of upwind pollution sources.
“Bottom line, if the EPA is successful in weakening these critical environmental safeguards at the national level, then Maine would suffer harm from the air pollution and toxic pollution from upwind fossil fuel plants. Because Maine’s environment and economy are inextricably linked, Maine people should be concerned about this sudden change of direction of the EPA from working to protect the environment and public health to protecting the profits of the fossil fuel industry,” said Didisheim.
Generally, EPA’s announcements will not translate into immediate changes. In almost every case, EPA would be required to undergo a lengthy process of public comment and development of environmental and economic justifications for the changes.
“Because these are not a done deal, now is the time for Maine people to speak up in defense of EPA’s mission,” added Didisheim.
