WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plans to eliminate 31 major environmental regulations in an effort to boost the economy is sparking dire warnings about the D.C. region’s air and water quality. 

A statement from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation calls the plans a “deregulation bombshell.”

The Trump administration argues that reducing regulations will strengthen the economy without causing serious environmental harm.

“Today is the most consequential day of deregulation in American history,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a video message posted on X.  Zeldin said the rollbacks aim “to fulfill President Trump’s promise to unleash American energy, revitalize the auto industry, restore the rule of law, and give power back to the states.”

Industry groups welcomed the announcement. 

“Voters sent a clear message in support of affordable, reliable, and secure American energy, and the Trump administration is answering the call,” said Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute. The National Mining Association also praised the move, calling the rollback of the Clean Power Plan “long overdue” as electricity demand increases due to data centers and artificial intelligence growth.

Regional Environmental organizations warn that the changes could have devastating consequences. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) expressed particular concern over the proposed redefinition of wetlands and waterways protected under the Clean Water Act.

“It’s not good for our region,” said Keisha Sedlacek, Federal Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. She explained that narrowing the definition of protected wetlands could allow for more development that could increase pollution. 

“Wetlands are extremely critical to protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay,” Sedlacek explained.  “They act as a buffer. They absorb the pollution, whether we’re talking about agricultural runoff or from stormwater, before it enters the rivers and streams. But they also help to reduce storm surges, to control flooding. So a narrower definition, like the one that’s being proposed, would exclude even more wetlands.”

According to Sedlacek, the rollback could make it easier to pave over natural areas with housing complexes or shopping centers, leaving individual states responsible for implementing stormwater filtration requirements.

Meanwhile, at least 13 federal grant programs that support urban tree canopies, wildlife habitat preservation, and water quality improvements are either canceled or on hold, according to the Choose Clean Water Coalition.

Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy sharply criticized the changes, calling the deregulation effort “the most disastrous day in EPA history.”

The latest EPA rollbacks are part of a broader pattern of environmental deregulation under the Trump administration. Trump previously rolled back more than 100 environmental rules during his first term and has pledged to continue easing restrictions on fossil fuel companies. His administration has also cut funding for climate programs, fired scientists from the National Weather Service, and reduced federal support for renewable energy.

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Among the proposed changes are revisions to rules restricting air pollution from fossil-fuel power plants and vehicle emissions. The administration has framed the rollback of vehicle emissions standards as removing an electric vehicle “mandate,” though environmental advocates argue that such a characterization is misleading.

The agency has also announced plans to reconsider the 2009 scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions pose a danger to public health and welfare, a move that could undermine efforts to combat climate change.

Zeldin argues that the rollbacks will eliminate “trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and hidden taxes,” which he claims will lower the cost of living for Americans by reducing expenses for housing, transportation, and business operations.

Environmentalists have vowed to fight the changes, warning that they could lead to “the greatest increase in pollution in decades.” The Chesapeake Bay region, which spans over 64,000 square miles and relies on wetlands for pollution filtration and flood control, is particularly vulnerable to the impact of the rollbacks.

As federal environmental protections are weakened, states like Maryland will need to take independent action to protect natural resources, according to the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

Proposed Maryland legislation, including the CHERISH Our Communities Act, the Coal Dust Clean-Up and Asthma Mitigation Fund, and the Abundant, Affordable Clean Energy Act, could serve as models for preserving environmental standards despite national rollbacks, according to the LCV.

This article was generated using the help of AI tools.