President Trump’s EPA Takes Steps To Rebalance Harmful PM2.5 Rule That Stifles Manufacturing Growth
National Association of Manufacturers Led National Campaign to Defeat Burdensome Rule That Prevents Manufacturers from Investing Across the Country
Washington, D.C. – In response to an announcement—spurred by National Association of Manufacturers–led advocacy—by the Environmental Protection Agency to revise and review burdensome federal regulations harming America’s manufacturers, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons released the following statement:
“President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin have answered the calls of manufacturers across the country to rebalance and reconsider burdensome federal regulations harming America’s ability to compete—including the previous administration’s unworkable PM2.5 NAAQS rule. In December, the NAM, along with more than 100 manufacturing associations, sent a letter to President Trump highlighting more than three dozen regulatory actions the administration should take to put a stop to the regulatory onslaught that is costing manufacturers $350 billion each year—many of which are included in today’s EPA announcement.
“Most prominently, the Trump administration will be reconsidering the 2024 PM2.5 rule—an unrealistic and unworkable rule that will result in significantly diminished manufacturing investment and job creation. Manufacturers warned the Biden administration of the severe economic consequences that could result from tightened PM2.5 regulations: a PM2.5 standard of 8 micrograms per cubic meter of air—only slightly below the newly finalized level—would have resulted in a loss of up to $200 billion in economic activity and almost 1 million jobs, according to research from the NAM. When those warnings were ignored, the NAM took the fight to court—asking the D.C. Circuit to vacate the rule.
“Similarly, the administration is reconsidering the Biden administration’s power plant rule, which threatened grid reliability by creating an unrealistic timeline for power plants to adopt emissions-reduction technologies that are unproven at scale—creating a threat to our national and economic security that literally could leave Americans in the dark and factories offline.
“Additionally, the EPA will be reviewing and revising other burdensome regulations in the air and chemicals space, and the NAM welcomes the opportunity to right-size these regulations that stunted manufacturing growth and job creation. Manufacturers will continue to partner with the EPA to rebalance the regulatory framework to allow our industry to move ahead with transformational investments that will strengthen our manufacturing nation.”
Background:
In a letter to President Trump signed by more than 100 manufacturing associations in December, the NAM highlighted more than three dozen regulatory actions the Trump administration could take to support manufacturing growth. Today’s announcement by the EPA addresses many of the regulations that we outlined, including the following:
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter: Reconsider and relax the Biden administration’s NAAQS for PM2.5 rule.
- Power Plant Rules: Replace the EPA’s rule for existing coal-fired and new natural gas–fired power plants with workable standards.
- Vehicle Regulations: Provide the long-term regulatory certainty America’s auto sector requires to meet all facets of customer demand while continuing to lead in innovation and emissions reduction.
- Waters of the United States: Ensure regulatory decision-making under the Clean Water Act fully conforms with the Supreme Court’s bright-line jurisdictional test.
- Reconsideration of Certain NESHAPs: Reconsideration of the Ethylene Oxide National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
-NAM-
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.93 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.