SOURCE:
July 20, 2020
There is growing concern about President Donald Trump's plan to roll back dozens of environmental rules.
Local environmentalists say the decision is reversing environmental laws that have protected the climate, water and the environment on Long Island. The rules and regulations include efforts to combat climate change, protect drinking water and endangered species, limit air pollution and allow the public to weigh in on big infrastructure projects that include oil pipelines and power plants.
Adrienne Esposito, from the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says the move is an all-out assault on environmental protecting and is weakening laws that help against toxic chemicals.
The Trump administration says the regulations are burdensome on those projects, the fossil fuel industry and real estate. One of the environmental rollbacks includes removing restrictions on commercial fishing in protective marine sanctuaries, including those in the Northeast.
The environmental rollbacks are currently being challenged in federal courts across the U.S.
According to published reports, nearly 70 environmental rules and regulations have been officially reversed, revoked or otherwise rolled back under the Trump administration. More than 30 additional rollbacks are still in progress.
