North Dakota Clean Air Advocates Take Notice of EPA Rule Repeal

(Adobe Stock via Prairie News Service)

(By Mike Moen. Prairie News Service) – North Dakotans fighting for cleaner air wonder what will come next since the Trump administration has formally revoked a key protection to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized its repeal of what is known as the Endangerment Finding, which advocates said has long served as the “legal backbone” for climate regulations under the Clean Air Act. It arose from scientific evidence showing carbon dioxide, methane and other emissions endanger public health.

It is expected the EPA’s latest move will heighten concerns in a heavy coal-producing state like North Dakota.

Todd Leake, executive committee chair of the North Dakota chapter of the Sierra Club, said it could very well stall progress on a broader scale.