EPA Revokes Greenhouse Gas ‘Endangerment Finding’ in Landmark Regulatory Rollback

Farm legal expert Roger McEowen discusses the EPA’s rescission of the 2009 endangerment finding on greenhouse gases and what it could mean for agriculture and rural America.

TOPEKA, KANSAS (RFD NEWS) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing what Administrator Lee Zeldin calls the “biggest deregulatory action” in the agency’s history, releasing a list of 31 proposals in response to President Donald Trump’s Day One executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. One of these landmark deregulation efforts was rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding that determined vehicle emissions were a driver of climate change.

While the action does not directly target agricultural emissions, farm groups are calling it a major win, citing potential benefits like lower input costs and improved equipment reliability.

RFD NEWS Farm Legal Expert Roger McEowen with Kansas’ Washburn School of Law joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to provide insight into the endangerment finding.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, McEowen explains the background of the EPA’s latest action, what it entails, and its impact on agriculture over the years. He also discussed what led to the EPA’s decision to rescind the finding and highlighted the key benefits this move could hold for farmers and ranchers.

Finally, McEowen addressed the potential for litigation in response to the deregulatory action, outlining the legal landscape moving forward.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

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