Environmental Lawyers Get Ready to Pounce on Trump's Energy Deregulation Moves

Environmental attorney Zach Pilchen was interviewed for a Reuters article detailing how environmental advocacy groups are preparing to challenge Trump Administration policies that aim to rescind federal regulations pertaining to oil, gas and coal development. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued executive orders and memoranda calling for federal agencies to sunset existing energy regulations, targeting state climate programs and exempting numerous coal-fired power plants from mercury and air toxics standards.

Mr. Pilchen focused specifically on the two-year exemptions for coal-fired power plants. He explained that these were granted under an untested provision of the Clean Air Act that authorizes the president to postpone certain air toxics standards for national security and technological reasons. This unusual presidential authority, he noted, could make legal challenges more difficult.

"This is uncharted territory here," he remarked. "That provision has never been tested, and it could be somewhat difficult to bring a challenge in court."

READ: Environmental Lawyers Get Ready to Pounce on Trump's Energy Deregulation Moves