The Trump Administration’s Environmental Policy Back to the 1950s? The Trump Administration’s Environmental Policy

Concerns with administration environmental policy

1. “Bad Hombres”

2. Rolling Back Obama’s Regulations Executive orders Congressional Review Act Actions by Department Heads

How CRA Works Any rule issued in last 60 “legislative days” of outgoing administration can be wiped out No filibuster, no committee consideration Cannot be revived in same form by the agency

Rules Wiped Out by CRA Rule preventing coal mining companies from dumping debris in streams Update of public land planning process Ban on hunting wolves, grizzly bears and their young in Alaskan wildlife refuges

Executive orders against environmental protections Review/eliminate the “Waters of the United States rule” (scope of CWA jurisdiction) “Immediate re-evaluation” of the Clean Power Plan (CO2 emissions) Review of ban on offshore drilling on Atlantic coast, Alaskan waters (OCSLA) Review limits on methane emissions from new oil and gas drilling sites Review all national monuments created since 1996 (Antiquities Act)

What’s in play with these orders

Regulatory “Reform” EO 13777 EO 13771 “Alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens” Task force to recommend existing regs to repeal “Buy one rule, lose two” New rule must “fully offset the total incremental cost” of new rule Regulations and guidance cannot impose total costs greater than zero

Actions by agency heads Cancel requirements for reporting methane emissions (Pruitt) Revise EPA risk analysis finding Chlorpyrifos can harm fetal brains and nervous systems (Pruitt) Lift 3-year freeze for new coal leases on public lands (Zinke) Roll back compliance and re-evaluate limits on water discharges of toxins from power plants Review fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks (Pruitt, DOT)

Huge cuts in environment-related agencies (EPA 31%, DOE24%, DOI 13%, NOAA 16%) Cuts EPA core science program (ORD) 48% Eliminates ~50 programs (e.g., Clean Power Plan, endocrine disruptor screening) Cuts Superfund by 30% Defeated by opposition in Congress; funding about level until September

“America First” Budget Puts Great Lakes Last Zero out Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Cut funding for state administration of federal programs 44.5% Merge GLNPO into Kansas City office

What the GLRI has brought to WNY Grants to one local organization, BNRK, total of $9,556,932 Remediation of the Buffalo River Habitat improvements on Niagara River, Gill Creek, 18 Mile Creek Fish advisory improvements

6. No News Is Good News

A broad and deep assault on 50 years of environmental protections what are the possibilities for resistance?

1. The Streets

“We need a movement, not a march”

2. The States California writes tougher rules for vehicle air pollution than national standards—and a dozen states follow it California has more clean energy jobs than the country has coal jobs California leads the nation in rate of job growth New York has passed a landmark environmental budget bill RGGI for northeast states

3. The Courts Judicial review Citizen enforcement (CAA, CWA, etc.) Private law (tort, public trust)

Most Executive Branch actions can be challenged for-- Violating the constitution Inconsistency with statutes Inadequate factual support and analysis

Private damages and enforcement

4. Elections Margins of Victory in Great Lakes Clinton Trump Minnesota 1.52% Illinois 17.0% New York 22.5% Michigan 0.23% Pennsylvania 0.72% Wisconsin 0.76% Ohio 8.1% Indiana 19.9%

5. The Market Economy Lower oil prices make offshore drilling unattractive Shifts to renewables, low-carbon enrgy continue Foreign market participation Corporate sustainability Apple powers 96% of its global operations with renewables

6. The Truth

We have maybe ten years. Is that enough?