The Trump administration’s decision not to limit water pollution from meat and poultry processing plants is being challenged by environmental groups. Ten organizations have filed a petition asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to review the Aug. 28 decision by EPA to withdraw a 2024 proposed discharge rule.
A consent decree in previous litigation led to the original proposal last year.
The proposal “would have, for the first time, imposed limits on phosphorus pollution from 126 meat industry plants across the U.S.,” the environmental groups say in a news release. “If implemented, it would have eliminated at least 8 million pounds of phosphorus and 9 million pounds of nitrogen and other pollutants, including fecal bacteria and grease.”
The petition was filed by Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice on behalf of groups including the Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, Food & Water Watch and the Center for Biological Diversity.
“NCC appreciates EPA’s common-sense approach in regulating water quality and for recognizing that industry is already regulated under the 2004 ELGs, as well as state agencies,” noted Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., NCC senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, when EPA announced the withdrawal. “EPA, under the Biden administration, did not provide adequate time to allow for meaningful public comment on the proposed rule which, if it was finalized, would have resulted in numerous facility closures, major job losses nationwide, and higher production costs – all of which are contrary to the goals of the Trump administration. We’re grateful that the agency is taking no further action on the ELG rule and remain committed to doing our part to keep our nation’s water supply safe.”
