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US Senate confirms Zeldin to be EPA administrator

The U.S. Senate voted on Wednesday, 56-42, to confirm former Republican congressman Lee Zeldin as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin will be tasked to roll back climate regulations from former President Joe Biden, which were aimed to reduce emissions from factories, power plants, and vehicles.

Zeldin is the 44-year-old nominee of President Donald Trump to lead EPA deregulation efforts. He will remove obstacles on oil and natural gas drilling, and reverse course on Biden's emission rules aimed at encouraging more electric vehicle usage.

Three Democrats supported the former New York Representative, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly, Ruben Gallego and Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.

Zeldin's confirmation hearing was a breeze this month. Some Democrats asked him to clarify Trump and his views on climate change and whether greenhouse gas emissions are regulated.

The EPA will review its "endangerment findings" - a determination by the agency that greenhouse gas emission harms human health. This is the basis for the agency's power to regulate heat-trapping emissions emitted from cars and smokestacks.

Zeldin told senators that a 2007 Supreme Court decision gave the agency statutory power to regulate heat-trapping green house gases, but it did not obligate EPA to act.

Zeldin, a New York Congressman, voted against legislation addressing green issues. He also voted in opposition to a measure that would have stopped oil companies from extorting prices. Zeldin, a 2022 candidate for governor of New York, criticized his state's decision not to join California's Zero Emission Vehicle program which aims to eliminate the sale gasoline-powered vehicles by the year 2035.

Trump said he aimed to reverse many of the rules that the EPA administers on the burning fossil fuels, including one that curbs carbon emissions from power stations and another that reduces such emissions from cars.

Trump said he would begin rescinding EPA vehicle pollution regulations and Transportation Department rules on his very first day as president. He also wants to reduce or eliminate EV incentives and tax breaks.

Environmental groups have criticized the confirmation. They claim that Zeldin's priority will be to carry out Trump’s agenda, rather than follow environmental laws.

Lena Moffitt, Executive Director of Evergreen Action, said that Zeldin, as the administration attempts to eliminate the environmental protections and investments in clean energy, has stated he is willing to follow suit, reversing essential safeguards.

Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Chair of the Senate Environment Committee applauded Zeldin's confirmation. She said that Zeldin was "well qualified" and "capable of returning the EPA back to its core mission of protecting land, water, and air without hindering economic development." Richard Cowan contributed additional reporting; Chris Reese, David Gregorio and Chris Reese edited the article.

(source: Reuters)