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

2. Concerns with administration environmental policy

3. 1. “Bad Hombres”

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

5. 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

6. 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

8. 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)

9. What’s in play with these orders

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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

13. “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

14. 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

15. 6. No News Is Good News

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

17. 1. The Streets

18. “We need a movement, not a march”

19. 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

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

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

22. Private damages and enforcement

23. 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%

24. 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

25. 6. The Truth

26. We have maybe ten years. Is that enough?