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Energy & Environment

Energy & Environment

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The Big Story

Biden administration partially restores air pollution standards

The Biden administration has tightened standards for polluters that were rolled back under the Trump administration — but did not fully return them to their pre-Trump strength.

The policy in question concerns facilities that were once considered “major” emitters of hazardous pollution but have since taken steps to reduce their emissions.

Prior to the Trump administration, facilities that had at one point been considered “major” pollution sources would still have to meet stringent pollution requirements even if they reduced their emissions. This policy was known as “once in, always in.”

However, in 2020, the Trump administration allowed polluters that had cut their emissions to reclassify as smaller “area” polluters and follow less stringent pollution control and reporting requirements.

The Biden administration’s actions restored the pre-Trump requirements for facilities that are significant sources of seven types of harmful and persistent pollution.

It tackles pollutants such as mercury, which is a neurotoxin, as well as cancer-causing PCBs and dioxins.

But it leaves in place the Trump-era flexibility for other types of facilities.

Environmental and health advocates described the Biden administration’s action as a positive step, but many also called for a return to pre-Trump regulations.

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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Essential Reads

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

India tops list of plastic waste producers, study reveals

Worldwide plastic waste totals more than 57 million tons a year, with India creating more than any other country, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

Full Story

Environmental groups challenge federal approval of Louisiana LNG export facility

A coalition of environmental groups on Wednesday challenged the federal government’s energy regulator over the approval of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Louisiana, alleging it would harm the Gulf of Mexico’s fisheries.

Full Story

Biden administration adds historic California mine to federal cleanup list

The Biden administration announced Wednesday the addition of a historic Northern California mine to the Superfund National Priorities List — a federal index that ranks hazardous waste site risk and helps in prioritizing cleanup operations.

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Second Southern EV battery plant joins UAW

Workers at a Tennessee battery plant have voted to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) — marking a significant victory in the union’s ongoing campaign to organize both the Southeast and the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Full Story

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

Coroners ignore heat in many deaths. That’s dangerous. (E&E News)
U.S. crude oil falls below $70 per barrel to nine-month low amid uncertainty over OPEC+ production (CNBC)
UK to close last coal plant as it moves toward greener energy (Semafor)

What Others are Reading

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Trump thanks Patrick Mahomes’s wife for ‘so strongly defending me’

Former President Trump thanked Brittany Mahomes for “so strongly defending me” after she liked a post on Instagram from the GOP nominee last month. Read more

Harris goes off script to address Georgia school shooting: ‘It does not have to be this way’

Vice President Harris on Wednesday went off script at a rally in New Hampshire to condemn gun violence following a shooting at a Georgia high school earlier that day. Read more