Trump Issues Regulatory Relief for Coal, Chemical Manufacturing, Steel Industry

Biden-era rules enforced stringent emission standards, which the Trump administration says are detrimental to national security.

President Donald Trump issued four proclamations on July 17, providing regulatory relief for specific industries to undo the “severe burdens” imposed by the Biden administration, according to the White House.

On April 5, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under then-President Joe Biden, published a final rule titled National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review.

The document stated that approximately 50 percent of all sterile medical devices in the country are sterilized with ethylene oxide, and using ethylene oxide may be the only method that effectively sterilizes the device without damaging it during the process.

However, there were risks to people living nearby, and the rule addressed these risks by requiring institutions to undertake regulatory measures, such as establishing emission standards and continuous emissions monitoring systems, as well as adding provisions for electronic reporting of performance test results, under the Clean Air Act.

Trump’s proclamation said the rule “risks making critical sterile medical devices unavailable to care for patients in our civilian and military medical systems.”

The proclamation said that the rule may force existing sterilization facilities to close down, resulting in supply disruptions.