Overnight Energy & Environment

Energy & Environment — Watchdog dings Trump EPA for how it changed rule 

A government watchdog is criticizing how the EPA went about changing a rule related to “forever chemicals.” Meanwhile, the Biden administration is announcing efficiency assistance for low-income households and claiming credit for falling gasoline prices.  

This is Overnight Energy & Environment, your source for the latest news focused on energy, the environment and beyond. For The Hill, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. 

IG: Trump EPA failed to disclose PFAS rule changes 

During the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to inform the public of “substantive” changes it made to a rule governing uses of toxic chemicals, an internal watchdog said.  

The rule in question bars the manufacturing of goods such as carpet, textiles and appliances that contain a subset of PFAS known as long-chain PFAS without the EPA’s approval.  

A PFAS refresher: Exposure to PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, has been linked to health issues including kidney and testicular cancer as well as thyroid disease. They’re sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they linger in people and the environment.  


In its report issued Thursday, the inspector general’s office said that changes were made to the rule after the rule was approved, including removal of language clarifying which imported items were considered coated with the substances.  

Wheeler later issued a compliance guidance on that matter, but current Administrator Michael Regan withdrew it, saying it weakened the rule. 

EPA staff told the watchdog that the changes in question were made by someone in the Trump White House, but the report said that staff did not identify the person.  

The probe was requested by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.), who warned of “potential irregularities” during the rule’s finalization. 

Read more about the IG report here.  

DOE funds climate upgrades for low-income homes

The Biden administration on Friday announced more than $40 million in funds toward weatherization and electrification of low-income areas.  

“This investment addresses a critical gap in federal assistance, and it’s just the latest action this administration is taking the lower energy costs for working families,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on a call with reporters Friday.   

The bipartisan infrastructure law, which President Biden signed in November 2021, included $3.5 billion toward the department’s Weatherization Assistance Program, which Granholm described as an increase of more than 10 times what the program typically spends over the course of a year. 

Read more here.  

BIDEN CLAIMS CREDIT FOR GAS PRICE DROP 

President Biden on Friday claimed some credit for a decline in gasoline prices, though presidential policies typically have little influence on the matter.  

On Friday, gasoline prices stood around $4.72 cents per gallon, down nearly 30 cents from highs of $5.01 last month. But, that’s still considered relatively high. 

Experts told The Hill this week that the downward trend was related to reasons including a drop in oil prices and recession fears.  

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre doubled down, saying  “all the work the president has done has helped to blunt the price increase.” 

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