The exemptions impact regulations controlling harmful chemicals which can be known or suspected carcinogens.
Community, health and environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Oct. 22, 2025, challenging the Trump administration’s executive action that exempts 50 chemical manufacturing plants from Clean Air Act protections designed to restrict cancer-causing air pollutants.
The suit goals exemptions from EPA’s dangerous Organic National Emission Standards for dangerous Air Pollutants (HON NESHAP Rule), which could delay compliance by using 2-years beyond recent 2026 and 2027 deadlines. The impacted facilities are located across 13-states, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Illinois and Kentucky.
“We have fought for decades to close loopholes and get real assessments on chemical leaks. These required focus the dangerous chemicals that create a large cancer risk in communities like Mossville, Louisiana and others at some stage in the country,” stated Michele Roberts, National Coordinator of Environmental Justice Health Alliance (EJHA) in a news launch. “Delaying them is a policy choice with a human value, measured in diagnoses, not dollars. The Clean Air Act doesn’t permit the president to waive our human right to health or hand polluters a free pass without evidence.”
The exemptions impact regulations controlling dangerous chemicals, which include ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride—all regarded or suspected carcinogens causing agents which can cause respiratory problems, liver harm and other critical health troubles.
Lynn Bergeson, managing companion of Bergeson & Campbell PC and compliance columnist for Chemical Processing, said in an email to Chemical Processing that it’s by in no mean surprising that environmental groups have filed this suit.
“The Trump government has been clear about its deregulatory goals, and the litigation will likely target on whether EPA acted lawfully in July of this year in delaying, beneath CAA Section 112(i)(4), the compliance date of the HON NESHAP,” she continued. “The postpone was based in part on a declare of national security, permitting EPA to invoke the President’s authority to exempt sure stationary bound resources from compliance. Whether the invocation of this seldom-used authority appropriate and aligned with the law will be addressed by the federal District Court in D.C.”
EPA estimates the 2024 HON Rule might cut toxic emissions through more than 6,200 tons yearly and decrease air toxics-related cancer risks close to those centers by approximately 96%.
Industry Response to HON Rule
Industry trade groups have petitioned for reconsideration of the HON Rule, seeking a rollback of its standards and interim relief.
On July 18, 2025, the American Chemistry Council applauded the Trump management’s exemption.
