Democrats decry 'pandemic of pollution' under Trump's EPA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on Wednesday blasted the Trump administration's moves to roll back environmental regulations during the coronavirus crisis, with one senator saying the administration has unleashed a "pandemic of pollution.''

The Environmental Protection Agency has weakened regulations dealing with fuel efficiency and mercury emissions and has allowed companies to determine themselves if they can meet reporting requirements for air and water pollution during the crisis. The rollbacks are among dozens of actions by the EPA to slash requirements on industry to monitor, report and reduce toxic pollutants, heavy metals and climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the agency remains “open for business" and "at work meeting our mission of protecting human health and the environment.''

Wheeler told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday that the EPA has approved hundreds of virus-killing disinfectants in recent weeks. More than 400 disinfectants are now agency-approved, Wheeler said, up from 60 on March 5.

Wheeler touted a series of actions the agency has taken, including a revised rule that lifts protections for millions of miles of streams and wetlands. The long-sought rule change to the Clean Water Act provides much needed regulatory certainty and predictability for American farmers, landowners and businesses, Wheeler said.

Similarly, he defended new rules that relax fuel efficiency standards imposed by the Obama administration and roll back President Barack Obama's signature environmental achievement: the Clean Power Plan curb of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.

The EPA issued 18 deregulatory actions last year and is developing 45 more right now, saving businesses billions of dollars in regulatory costs,...