The Trump administration is rewriting Obama-era rules governing pollution from oil and gas operations and coal ash dumps, moves that opponents say will significantly weaken protections for human health and the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced the changes Thursday, the latest in series of actions in the last year to roll back regulations opposed by the fossil-fuel industry. The agency says it is providing “regulatory certainty” that will save electric utilities $100 million per year in compliance costs, while oil and gas operators would reap up to $16 million in benefits by 2035.
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Environmental advocates say the revisions would lead to dirtier air and water. The ash left behind when coal is burned contains toxic heavy metals. Oil and gas drilling releases gases that cause smog and global warming.
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