Washington faces uncertain future of Clean Air Act regulations
EVERETT — The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent plans to roll back 31 rules and policies pose a challenge for state officials responsible for protecting some of the country’s most progressive climate change policies.
Christine Cooley, executive director of Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, said the EPA announcement raises questions about the future of Washington’s air pollution laws.
“Climate change is a global issue, and for the federal administration to be pulling back on some of our commitments is really disheartening to see,” Cooley said in an interview on March 17. “I will say we are very fortunate in the state of Washington that we have strong protections at the state level that are serving as a backstop for some of the federal rollbacks.”
In his announcement on March 12, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will undertake 31 historic actions in the “greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history.” The announcement is among numerous executive orders and federal agency briefings from President Donald Trump, some of which have been reversed or temporarily blocked by litigation.
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