This headline sure makes it look like this is a religion, eh? A state run one
The Situation: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced an agenda to revisit numerous regulations addressing the emission of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”).
The Result: The Endangerment Finding and the social cost of carbon (“SCC”) are under active consideration and revisions of these could potentially impact many, if not all, climate change regulations on their own. In addition, specific rules addressing GHG emissions from motor vehicles, power plants, refrigeration units, and oil and gas wells are under consideration along with GHG reporting requirements.
Looking Ahead: EPA rulemaking should be monitored to determine the current status of GHG regulation.
On March 12, 2025, the EPA announced numerous actions aimed at reconsidering regulations, with a special focus on climate change regulations. While EPA targeted some climate change rules individually, the announced reconsideration of the Endangerment Finding and the SCC may compromise the legal underpinnings of all GHG regulation.
EPA’s Administrator Lee Zeldin took particular aim at the 2009 Endangerment Finding, saying, “I’ve been told the Endangerment Finding is considered the Holy Grail of the climate change religion.” The Endangerment Finding stems from the Supreme Court’s holding in Massachusetts v. EPA. The Court concluded that GHGs fall under the Clean Air Act’s definition of “air pollutant,” and that EPA “offered no reasoned explanation for its refusal to decide whether [GHGs] cause or contribute to climate change.” The Court noted that the Clean Air Act requires regulation of air pollutants that in EPA’s “judgment cause, or contribute to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” In 2009, EPA found that GHG emissions do endanger public health and welfare. This finding, called the Endangerment Finding, allows EPA to regulate GHGs.
They just magically found this without input from the duly elected Legislative Branch. Just created it out of thin air. Here’s hoping Zeldin can shitcan these two things, though, you know the climate cult will file lawsuit after lawsuit, and find like minded judges, so, it’s going to have to end up at the Supreme Court. But, really, if one admin can get this through, why can’t another kill it?
Read: EPA Looking To Erase Social Cost Of Carbon And Endangerment Finding »