EPA Further Moves to Bury Climate Pollution Data

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency moved today to keep data on companies’ climate-changing pollution hidden from the public.

Until now, companies’ annual reports for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program – mandated by Congress in 2008 and 2009 legislation – have been due each March 31. The EPA published that later in the year, giving people access to key information about the facilities that are spewing climate pollution. The Trump EPA today delayed the deadline for reporting until October – while indicating that the agency will likely repeal the program before then. It had proposed killing the program last year but has not finalized that rule yet.

The EPA has also failed to even open the electronic window that would allow willing companies to report their own data.

The following is a statement by David Doniger, senior attorney for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“The Trump EPA is attacking the public’s right to know the basics about which companies emit dangerous climate pollution and where they are located. The current administration doesn’t want Americans to know which companies contribute to the increasing risks of heatwaves, storms, drought, and floods – here and now impacts that millions are suffering each year.

“As we challenge EPA’s broader assault on climate protections, we will be fighting the EPA’s illegal effort to bury this information from public view.” 

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).