Several environmental groups on Wednesday sued President Donald Trump for issuing exemptions from Biden-era pollution limits for medical sterilizers.
The rule was a centerpiece of the Biden administration’s environmental justice agenda because it targeted ethylene oxide, a gas used to sterilize medical devices and equipment that is also carcinogenic. Communities around commercial sterilizer plants have long complained about chronic exposure.
Background: EPA in 2024 estimated its new medical sterilizer rule (Reg. 2060-AU37) would curb ethylene oxide emissions by 90 percent. It was the first update to that regulation in 30 years.
Last year, Administrator Lee Zeldin included the rule on a list of regulations to reconsider. EPA has not yet issued a proposed rewrite or repeal of the rule. The lawsuit includes EPA and Zeldin as co-defendants.
