Daniel Salzler No. 1324
EnviroInsight.org Five Items September 19, 2025
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- The EPA Says Greenhouse Gases Aren’t So Bad. Scores of Companies Have Said Otherwise. Source: By Clara Hudson and Jon Leckie, Sept. 8, 2025 Wall Street Journal PRO
Businesses that trumpeted their emissions-reduction goals are in a tricky spot as the Trump administration seeks to rescind a landmark environmental finding.
It might sound radical for a car company to declare it’s aiming for a zero-emissions world, but it is common practice across industries to talk big about climate change.
However, business leaders who have been touting their green aspirations for years are now grappling with how to communicate these goals as they find themselves at odds with the Trump administration’s views on climate change.
A recent move by the [Trump] Environmental Protection Agency to roll back a landmark environmental finding has only exacerbated the dilemma.
The [Trump] EPA is looking to repeal greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles. In late July, under Trump appointee Lee Zeldin, the EPA moved to rescind what’s known as the endangerment finding—a 2009 declaration stating that greenhouse gases pose a public threat by raising global temperatures, which the agency used to regulate emissions. The EPA said the finding was “unduly pessimistic” about greenhouse gas emissions’ impact on U.S. temperatures, and suggested that warmer temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels could have benefits, such as higher crop yields.
Ford Motor was broadly supportive of the EPA’s shift, citing in a statement after the EPA announcement that “current standards do not align with the market.” But the company said in the same breath that it wants an emissions standard policy to “align with science and customer choice” as well as to reduce carbon emissions. The automaker’s website says it is on track to meet its “ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral” across its vehicles, facilities and supply chain.
GM has made similar comments. CEO Mary Barra said in a July letter to investors—before the endangerment finding news—that “despite slower EV industry growth, we believe the long-term future is profitable electric vehicle production, and this continues to be our North Star.” And on its website, the company says it aims “to achieve an all-electric, zero emissions world while advancing an equitable and inclusive transition to our carbon neutral future.”
So far this year, the number of financial filings from companies in the automotive industry mentioning efforts to reduce emissions or greenhouse gases fell by just one from the first seven months in 2024, according to an analysis of thousands of documents in Factiva, a company owned by Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal. The essentially flat count follows an 18% surge in the number of documents containing similar language from 2023 to 2024.
Companies have already been quietly watering down how they talk about their climate goals since President Trump took office this year as his administration unwinds a slate of environmental policies across agencies. Mentions of climate change in corporate investor filings have also dropped this year, according to research from WSJ Pro.
The EPA has overseen corporate emissions across industries from aircraft to motor vehicles and oil. For automakers, EPA policies helped spur a transition to electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries, which the Trump administration is now seeking to shake.
The EPA’s latest move has sparked outrage among critics who say scrapping the endangerment finding is an affront to well-established science on climate change.
“The[Trump] EPA is telling us in no uncertain terms that U.S. efforts to address climate change are over,” said Abigail Dillen, president of nonprofit Earthjustice. “For the industries that contribute most to climate change, the message is ‘pollute more.’”
Several companies have made passing references to the EPA’s unwinding of the endangerment finding to investors, but haven’t provided much detail on how it could affect their business plan. A filing from Berkshire Hathaway Energy, for example, said “the scope of regulation remains unclear” regarding the endangerment finding. The company declined to comment for this article.
Zeldin has previously said that the agency is responding to concerns that emissions standards themselves, not carbon dioxide, is “the real threat to Americans’ livelihoods.”
The oil, power and auto industries could reap obvious benefits as the EPA loosens emissions regulations. But the policy whiplash is hard to navigate, as companies need to plan for what the political environment will look like in decades to come, Profeta said.
“You build a power plant for 40 years; you don’t build it for four,” he said. Companies “see it’s a relevant business issue,” he said. “To suddenly pretend that it’s not is irresponsible.”
2. Items You Should Never Pour Down Your Drain. It might seem like a no-brainer what you can pour down a drain, but not every liquid or viscous substance is suitable for household, plumbing for a variety of reasons. Some can congeal and clog up drains while others can damage the pipes, resulting in costly plumbing repairs and replacements.
Some examples include:
a) Fats, oils, grease (F.O.G.)
b) Premade marinades, dressings, and sauces containing minced bits, fats, or thickening
agents such as garlic, oil, gelatin, and cream should not be poured down the drain.
c) Do not pour related skincare products such as body or hand lotions down the drain.
d) Do not pour liquid medications and first aid as these can contaminate water supplies.
e) Do not pour home improvement substances such as paints and solvents down the
drain; they can both contaminate water supplies and damage your home’s plumbing
f) Food items should be placed in your compost , not down the drain.
g) Never pour coffee grounds down the drains. Spent coffee grounds contain 5% Nitrogen, so spread them on your lawn, garden or compost pile.
Source: The Spruce, August 31, 2025
3. Legal Challenges Cloud Future Of PFAS Regulation As [Trump’s] EPA Moves To Vacate PFAS MCL The EPA has filed a motion to partially vacate its 2023 PFAS drinking water standards due to procedural errors, potentially impacting compliance and enforcement timelines for water utilities nationwide.
- The legal challenge could delay enforcement and require utilities to reassess compliance strategies for affected PFAS compounds.
- The case emphasizes the need for transparent rulemaking processes in environmental regulation to ensure stakeholder confidence.
- The outcome may influence future EPA regulatory actions and the pace of PFAS standards implementation nationwide.
Source: WaterWorld, September 12
4. EPA Grants Arizona Primacy to Protect Underground Water Resources Source: EPA September 10, 2025
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule approving the State of Arizona’s request to administer all classes of underground injection wells under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This action recognizes that Arizona is best positioned to protect its underground sources of drinking water while bolstering economic growth and energy dominance.States know their water resources best and understand the needs of their business community, entrusting them to take on permitting makes common sense,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “I am excited to see the economic growth that will be spurred by granting Arizona primacy to regulate underground injection under the Safe Drinking Water Act.”
“Today’s decision is a major milestone for Arizona. By granting our state primacy over underground injection wells, the EPA is once again recognizing that Arizona is best positioned to protect its water and natural resources. This authority allows us to safeguard the integrity of our groundwater, while also supporting responsible economic growth and clean energy development. With this step, Arizona gains the tools to lead on sustainable environmental management.
“With primacy, we can make decisions faster and tailor oversight to Arizona’s unique groundwater conditions to better protect our water resources,” said Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Karen Peters.
After conducting a comprehensive technical and legal review, EPA determined that the State of Arizona’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) program meets all requirements for approval, and the state will implement and enforce the program consistent with SDWA. EPA’s approval of the State’s UIC program primacy application will allow the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to authorize underground injection for all underground injection wells under SDWA and ensure compliance with UIC program requirements.
EPA’s final approval includes state permitting for Class VI wells for underground storage of carbon dioxide—a focus of American energy companies. Today’s approval marks the fifth time a state has received primacy for Class VI wells since 2018.
EPA will oversee Arizona’s administration of its UIC program and will remain the permitting authority for all well classes on Indian lands within the State, except for Class II wells on Navajo Indian lands for which EPA has granted the Navajo Nation primacy.
VisitEPA’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) website for more information.
5. Annual Stormwater Awareness Campaign Encourages Residents To Help Keep Our Waterways Clean Year-Round From Stormwater Pollution. The Water Services Dept. Environmental & Safety Division invites you to learn about the City of Phoenix Stormwater Management Program during the Annual Stormwater Awareness Week on Sept. 22 to Sept 26, 2025. Stormwater The Water Services Dept. Environmental & Safety Division invites you to learn about the City of Phoenix Stormwater Management Program Awareness Week is an annual regional effort to teach simple everyday actions to reduce stormwater pollution.
What is Stormwater Pollution?
In Phoenix, [and everywhere else,] stormwater is rainwater that flows over roads and through gutters and does not soak into the ground. This stormwater enters our storm drainpipes, which carry the water to protected surface waters like the Salt River or Skunk Creek. Unlike water we use to flush our toilets, stormwater does not go to a treatment plant. It flows from the storm drains untreated right into rivers and washes.
As stormwater flows across areas like roads and parking lots and into our storm drains, it can pick up pollutants like oil and pet waste and carry them into our washes and rivers. This creates significant water quality challenges. Because pollutants can enter surface waters through our storm drain system, the city is required to have a Clean Water Act MS4 permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to operate that system.
What the City does to prevent Stormwater Pollution?
Several Phoenix departments work together to support the Stormwater Management Program including Phoenix Water Services, Office of Planning and Development, Office of Environmental Programs, and the Street Transportation Dept.
In 2024, the program added storm drain management tools and a database to help manage this complex permit, which uses infrastructure of 760 outfalls where rain flows, 80 of which are located along the Salt River. Additionally, a new stormwater post-construction program required by the permit allows owner-led inspections to minimize staffing costs.
How can residents participate in Stormwater Awareness Week?
Since the campaign’s initial launch in 2019, more Valley municipalities and government agencies have participated in the weeklong event. We are encouraging the public to get involved by taking steps to reduce stormwater pollution by learning more at ourVirtual Workshop, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 24, at noon to discuss the City’s Stormwater Management Program and our activities to reduce stormwater pollution. Attendees are required toregister in advance to participate.
Simple actions to reduce stormwater pollution include:
· Properly disposing of trash, recyclables, and chemicals like detergent, paint, medications, etc.
· Recycling motor oil and maintaining your vehicle to prevent leaks
· Cleaning up after your pet
· Using lawn chemicals sparingly and always following manufacturers’ directions
· Properly disposing of leftover paint and household chemicals at a household hazardous waste event
· And please remember – only rain in the storm drain
To learn more about the City of Phoenix Water Services Department Stormwater Awareness Week and what you can do as an individual or business to prevent stormwater pollution, please visit phoenix.gov/stormwater.
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