On March 12, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced its deregulatory agenda.[1] Although most of the 31 actions identified by the EPA will require formal notice and comment rulemaking, with litigation ensuing, Wednesday’s announcement makes good on the Trump Administration’s promises to roll back environmental regulation.[2]

Of particular significance to the chemical manufacturing and oil and gas industries in Louisiana and Texas, the following regulations, among others, are listed for reconsideration:

  • Clean Power Plan 2.0
  • New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) OOOOb and OOOOc[3]
  • Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (“MATS”)[4]
  • Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program[5]
  • PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“PM2.5 NAAQS”)[6]
  • Certain National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (“NESHAP”)[7]
  • Regional Haze[8]
  • Good Neighbor Plan[9]
  • Risk Management Plan (“RMP”)[10]
  • Implementation of Exceptional Events[11]

These major rulemakings will take time, and at this stage, the scope of reconsideration and the specific regulatory requirements included is uncertain. The Kean Miller environmental regulatory team is closely following all actions.

[1] “EPA Launches Biggest Deregulatory Action in U.S. History” available at: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-launches-biggest-deregulatory-action-us-history.

[2] See Executive Orders, “Unleashing American Energy”, “Declaring a National Energy Emergency”, “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements”, and others available at:  www.whitehouse.gov.

[3] 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart OOOOb (Standards of Performance for Crude Oil and Natural Gas facilities for Which Construction, Modification or Reconstruction Commenced After December 6, 2022); 40 C.F.R. Part 60, Subpart OOOOc (Emissions Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities).

[4] 40 C.F.R. Part 63, Subpart UUUUU.

[5] 40 C.F.R. Part 98.

[6]  See https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/national-ambient-air-quality-standards-naaqs-pm (2024 rulemaking setting the primary annual PM2.5 standard to 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter).

[7] EPA has identified at least the following NESHAP for reconsideration: 40 C.F.R. Part 63 Subpart FFFFF (Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing), 40 C.F.R. Part 63 Subpart XXXX (Rubber Tire Manufacturing), 40 C.F.R. Part 63 Subparts F, G, H, I (Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry “SOCMI” including HON), 40 C.F.R. Part 63 Subpart O (Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities), 40 C.F.R. Part 63 Subpart AAAAA (Lime Manufacturing Plants), 40 C.F.R. Subpart 63 Subpart L (Coke Ovens), 40 C.F.R. 63 Subpart QQQ (Copper Smelting) 40 C.F.R. 63 Subpart RRRRR (taconite ore processing).  

[8] 40 C.F.R. Sec. 51.308.

[9] 88 Fed. Reg. 49295 (July 31, 2023) and 88 Fed. Reg. 67102 (Sept. 29, 2023) (interim final actions to stay FIPs for certain states)

[10] 40 C.F.R. Part 68.

[11] See e.g., “Treatment of Data Influenced by Exceptional Events” (81 FR 68216; October 3, 2016) and https://www.epa.gov/air-quality-analysis/treatment-air-quality-monitoring-data-influenced-exceptional-events.