EPA took a fresh step in its unrelenting deregulatory campaign with a proposal to toss stricter standards on releases of a powerful carcinogen from plants that sterilize medical equipment.
In a draft rule released Friday, the agency seeks to repeal tightened limits on the plants’ emissions of ethylene oxide put in place two years ago under President Joe Biden.
As grounds, EPA said that the strengthened regulations resulted from a review that was illegal under the Clean Air Act. In a news release, Administrator Lee Zeldin also cited concerns that the stronger rules could affect health care by cutting into supplies of safely sterilized medical equipment.
The proposed rule “shows EPA’s strong commitment to protecting people’s health while maintaining a stable domestic medical supply chain,” Zeldin said.
