House passage of “No Stricter Than Federal” legislation puts our health, water at risk
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan League of Conservation Voters today issued the following statement in response to the Michigan House of Representatives’ passage of legislation to restrict the state from adopting standards or protections that are stricter than those set by the federal government.
“At a time when the Trump administration is waging an unprecedented attack on federal clean air and water protections, the state House Republican majority just voted to remove one of the few tools our state has at its disposal to ensure strong protections for our health and environment that keep us safe,” said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “This legislation would tie Michigan’s hands and make it harder for our state to protect our families from toxic pollution. Federal standards should be the floor, not the ceiling, and Michigan must retain the freedom and independence to hold polluters accountable when Washington refuses to act.”
Federal regulations Trump has weakened:
PFAS Drinking Water Standards: On May 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it plans to roll back regulations that protect people from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in drinking water. While maintaining limits for two prevalent PFAS compounds — PFOA and PFOS — it extends their compliance deadline to 2031 and rescinds standards for four other PFAS variants, including GenX, PFNA, PFBS and PFHxS.
Wastewater from coal-fired power plants: On June 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency will formally revise Biden-era wastewater discharge standards for coal-fired power plants. These limits were designed to reduce the release of toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic, mercury and lead into rivers and streams.
State Energy Decisions: On April 8, the Trump administration issued an executive order that directed the U.S. Department of Justice “to take all appropriate action to stop the enforcement” of a wide array of state climate and energy laws, policies and civil lawsuits that are deemed to be “unconstitutional, preempted by Federal law, or otherwise unenforceable.”
Oil and gas pollution: On July 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an interim final rule delaying the implementation of the agency’s 2024 methane standards for the oil and gas sector.