Two chemical industry organizations are requesting President Trump to completely exempt their factories from the new restrictions on hazardous air pollution in a letter obtained by the Environmental Defense Fund. The organizations, the American Chemistry Council and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, argue that the new requirements put significant financial burdens on their member corporations with an unworkable timeline. According to the organizations, the cost to companies of meeting even parts of the new rule would exceed $50 billion, significantly more than the Environmental Protection Agency’s estimate of $1.8 billion.

The new requirements, implemented by the Biden administration last year, require chemical plants to monitor and reduce emissions of toxic pollutants, such as ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing ingredient used in antifreeze and plastics. The organizations hope to benefit from a section of the Clean Air Act that allows the president to temporarily exempt industrial facilities from new rules if the technology required isn’t available and if it’s in the interest of national security. Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, stated that President Trump is committed to unleashing American energy, protecting national security interests, and ensuring environmental stewardship.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/climate/chemical-industry-trump-pollution-exemption.html