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Washington — The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, asserted during a recent interview that he is “absolutely” confident that deregulatory measures initiated by the Trump administration will not detrimentally affect public health or the environment.
In remarks made on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Zeldin emphasized the need for a dual focus on environmental protection and economic growth. He articulated that both objectives can be achieved simultaneously.
As part of President Trump’s commitment to fostering American energy independence, Zeldin disclosed in March that the EPA would reassess existing regulations across various industries. This includes revisiting rules pertaining to power plants, mercury and air toxic standards aimed at coal-fired facilities, and wastewater regulations related to oil and gas development. The Trump administration heralded 31 of these deregulatory actions as a landmark in EPA history, claiming it was the “most momentous day” for the agency.
This initiative marks the commencement of a protracted endeavor aimed at overturning or amending numerous environmental regulations. This strategy has raised alarms among climate scientists and advocates who fear it could exacerbate environmental issues.
Upon announcing these changes, Zeldin declared that “today the green new scam ends,” asserting the EPA’s role in ushering in what he described as the “golden age of American success.”
During the Sunday interview with senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, Zeldin addressed public sentiment, stating that citizens desire a government that applies “common sense” to regulatory practices. He criticized regulations enacted during the Biden administration as being overly expansive, arguing that they unduly impacted entire sectors of the economy.
“When Americans voted last November, economic issues were paramount, with many expressing concerns about their financial stability,” Zeldin remarked. He highlighted that compliance costs related to regulations could reach trillions of dollars and significantly burden the economy.
Zeldin maintained an open-minded approach towards the deregulatory process, indicating that it will include opportunities for public commentary. He urged citizens to actively participate and express their views when given the chance.
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