Access to civil lawsuits could offer a key option for vulnerable communities as EPA shrinks its regulatory power, according to a report released Monday by a pro-regulatory group.
Environmental and public health lawsuits, often filed by private citizens, will be instrumental in generating financial justice and industry transparency through the coming years of the Trump administration, said the report from the Center for Progressive Reform, a nonprofit research organization.
Since President Donald Trump took office, environmentalists have been shaken by EPA plans for regulatory rollbacks, staffing cuts and a more pro-industry approach. Earlier this month, the agency announced it would reorganize and eliminate its Office of Research and Development, firing or reassigning hundreds of employees.
The Center for Progressive Reform in its report argues that a weakened EPA will create gaps in research and regulatory protection, which can be filled by civil suits.
