The Trump administration will need to take action this year on a toxic chemical found in millions of Americans’ tap water — regardless of whether it squares with the incoming president’s deregulatory ambitions.
Under a court order, EPA has agreed to propose a rule limiting perchlorate in drinking water by November. The substance has been used in rocket fuel and explosives and can endanger the development of babies and children.
While it’s unclear how President-elect Donald Trump will respond to the ruling, legal experts say it would be difficult to ignore.
The requirement to regulate perchlorate could suck energy away from Trump’s plans to roll back other environmental rules, said Betsy Southerland, a retired EPA official from the Office of Water.
