The Environmental Protection Agency announced that it was planning to indefinitely suspend its enforcement of its own environmental rules as the coronavirus continues to escalate and impact the economy in the United States, as The Hill reports.
The agency, which is headed by former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, is essentially giving industry the green light to police themselves during the pandemic, asking facilities to adhere to current regulations when they are able. However, even if they are unable to, the EPA won’t “seek penalties for noncompliance with routine monitoring and reporting obligations.”
The agency argues that its normal rules limit companies that are trying to keep their doors open during the pandemic and is a measure to help ease the economic burden on potential polluters. Some industries, including the oil industry, have been pushing for a suspension of environmental rules during the crisis.
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