Statement on Environmental Protection Agency regulatory policy rollbacks
March 14, 2025
Statement by Kelly Herbinson, Executive Director, Mojave Desert Land Trust:
Our bedrock climate and environmental protections came under threat this week. The Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to overturn 31 regulatory policies, including an essential climate safeguard.
The EPA’s landmark greenhouse gas “endangerment finding” concluded in 2009 that greenhouse gas pollution poses a risk to human health. It is the foundation of the Clean Air Act – reversing the finding would remove the federal government’s ability to regulate climate pollution nationwide. Other environmental rollbacks being reconsidered include emission limits for coal and natural gas power plants, automobile emission standards, methane leak limits, and greenhouse gas emissions reporting for industrial sectors.
These dangerous actions go against scientific consensus on the harmful effects of greenhouse gases. They will result in environmental pollution, affect public health, and damage the ecosystem at a critical juncture for our planet and life on Earth.
According to the American Lung Association’s 2023 State of the Air report, California has the worst air quality in the nation and Los Angeles leads the list of worst smog and ozone pollution in the country. Coachella Valley residents are also exposed to some of the worst air in the nation. From 2022-2023, the communities of Palm Springs and Mecca were regularly exposed to the pollutant PM10 in quantities 2-3 times higher than levels considered safe. County data shows that about 12% of residents living in the Riverside County portions of the Coachella Valley have been diagnosed with asthma – significantly higher than the national average of 7%. Despite these statistics, environmental and climate regulations including the Clean Air Act have steadily improved the situation. California has seen the second greatest air quality improvements since 1985 among U.S. states. This progress must not be impeded.
There is still time for the public to act. The EPA’s announcement does not immediately reverse regulations. The EPA still must outline its proposals, present scientific and policy backing, and solicit feedback from the public. As this process gets underway, MDLT will provide updates and share opportunities for the public to defend our right to clean air and healthy communities.