LOC22:49
19:49 GMT
WASHINGTON, March 28 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that instructs federal regulators to rewrite rules curbing US carbon emissions, reversing decisions by former President Barack Obama on climate policy.
Trump signed the order at US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters.
During a White House briefing prior to the signing, press secretary Sean Spicer said the order was primarily intended to foster US "energy independence."
"The President strongly believes that protecting the environment and promoting our economy are not mutually exclusive goals," Spicer said. "This executive order will help to ensure that we have clean air and clean water without sacrificing economic growth and job creation."
The order directs federal agencies to conduct a review of all regulations, rules, policies and guidance documents "that put up roadblocks to domestic energy production and identify the ones that are not either mandated by law or actually contributing to the public good," Spicer said.
The order directs the EPA to take several actions "to reflect this president's environmental and economic goals, including a review of the new performance standards for coal-fired and natural gas-fired plants that amount to a de facto ban on new coal plant production in the United States," Spicer said. This is "great news" for states such as Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and others, he said.
The order also "establishes a directive for agencies to use the best available science and economics in their regulatory analysis moving forward," Spicer said. "For too long, the federal government has acted like a barrier to energy independence and innovation."
Analysts said the Trump directive will trigger a lengthy rule-making process and possible legal battle. Environmentalists said they would fight the order in court and press forward with their goals on the state level. (end)
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