This Advocacy Alert is was originally published here by United Methodist Creation Justice Movement and was written by Rev. Mel Caraway from the UMCJM Advocacy Working Group.
On July 1, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented a proposed rule change related to the public participation elements for Clean Air Act “minor New Source Review (NSR) programs.” Minor NSR programs regulate the construction of new “minor” stationary sources of air pollution and “minor” modifications to existing stationary sources. The changes described in this proposed rulemaking would provide state and local air pollution control agencies greater discretion to identify the requisite level of public participation that is appropriate in their minor NSR programs.
This characterization of these pollution sources as “minor” is from the EPA. However, there is nothing minor about this proposed regulation or about the polluting facilities in question.
There are three major problems with this proposed new standard:
- It would pass along to state agencies the ability to approve new sources of major pollution that would circumvent the Clean Air Act.
- It would severely limit the ability of the public to testify and have a voice in the permitting process.
- Included in what the EPA calls “minor” new sources are gas-fired power plants for data centers, hundreds of back-up diesel generators for data centers, and multiple other actions that would be in violation of the Clean Air Act.
Oral public testimony on this proposed new rule was limited to one day, Wednesday, July 22. I was able to present testimony from the faith community during that hearing. To listen to this public comment testimony, my testimony began at the 7 hour, 47 minute, 50 second mark. I was able to listen to most of the hearing and did not hear a single person testify in favor of this proposed change in the regulations.
The EPA is currently taking written testimony until August 21. To learn more about New Source Review (NSR) and how to submit written comments, click on the “participate” tab on the left side of the page. This proposal is disastrous in terms of what it would allow and in terms of limiting public input. Please submit written testimony now.
ACTION: Please submit written testimony to the EPA now. Go to click on the “participate” tab on the left side of the page.