The White House Exempts 100 Polluters
Planet security at risk
Here are just a few of the details that will affect the health of God’s creation:
The exemptions provide certain facilities with a two-year reprieve from the Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, allowing them to operate under older and less stringent rules.
Industries include:
Coal-fired power plants
Taconite iron ore processing facilities
Chemical manufacturers (notably those involved in semiconductors, medical device sterilization, and polymers)
The Trump administration argues that these sectors are vital to national security. They claim that adhering to the recent EPA standards would impose unreasonable burdens or potentially lead to facility closures, jeopardizing economic stability and the overall integrity of our infrastructure.
The Scope
Over 100 individual facilities across at least 30 states and U.S. territories have been granted exemptions.
These facilities are now allowed to delay investments in updated pollution control technologies. They may even be able to remove current safeguards against the release of hazardous chemicals like ethylene oxide, benzene, chloroprene, and formaldehyde.
Here is the White House Fact Sheet
Environmental and health advocates have raised concerns about these actions, claiming they will heighten the risks of cancer, birth defects, and respiratory illnesses for communities living near the exempted plants. This doesn’t take into account how the movement of air currents and weather patterns can affect distant lands and nations by this action.
It is time for all of us to consider how such actions will affect us now and in the future, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods where most facilities are located.
And isn’t it time for us to bear the responsibility of how this will impact our wealth and prosperity? Let’s embrace the challenge of shouldering our own responsibilities to nurture and sustain the life of our planet.
Here’s the White House's reasoning gathered in a fact sheet.
Have we had enough yet? We hope so.
Please take action
Below, is a sample letter to send. Feel free to personalize this letter with your own experiences, location, or concerns.
Sample Letter to Congressman: Oppose Exemptions for Polluting Facilities
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP]
[Email Address]
[Date]
The Honorable [Congressman’s Name]
U.S. House of Representatives
[Office Address]
Washington, D.C. [ZIP]
Dear Congressman [Last Name],
I am writing as a concerned constituent regarding the recent decision to exempt more than 100 industrial facilities—such as coal power plants, chemical manufacturers, and sterilization plants—from newly strengthened environmental standards. This two-year reprieve from critical Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules means that these facilities can continue operating under outdated and less stringent regulations, potentially releasing hazardous chemicals like ethylene oxide, benzene, formaldehyde, and chloroprene into our air and water.
My concerns are as follows:
Public health risks: These exemptions increase the risk of cancer, respiratory illnesses, and birth defects for communities surrounding these facilities, especially those already considered vulnerable or overburdened by industrial pollution.
Environmental damage: Setting aside protections undermines years of progress in reducing toxic emissions and maintaining safe air and water standards.
Lack of accountability: Granting such broad exemptions sends the message that corporate interests take precedence over community health and environmental stewardship.
While I understand the importance of maintaining a robust economy and ensuring national security, I believe it is possible to achieve these goals without sacrificing the health of our citizens or the environment.
I respectfully urge you to:
Publicly oppose these exemptions and advocate for their reversal.
Call on the EPA to restore and enforce updated standards that protect public health.
Support legislation that prevents future blanket exemptions for polluters under the guise of economic or national security needs.
Our communities depend on strong, science-based environmental regulations. Please take action to ensure that companies are held accountable and that public health comes first.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing strong leadership on behalf of cleaner air and water for all Americans.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]