Trump told polluters to email him for an exemption. In California, three places have already been approved [View all]

(LA Times) Three industrial facilities in California have received exemptions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to emit a carcinogenic chemical after the Trump administration invited large emitters to bypass key provisions of the Clean Air Act by simply sending an email.

The EPA in March announced that it would allow large stationary sources of air pollution — that is, sources that aren't vehicles — to apply for an exemption that would enable them to avoid regulations that limit hazardous emissions. The provision in question applies to the regulation of nearly 200 pollutants, including mercury, arsenic, benzene and formaldehyde.

The nation's top environmental agency said the exemptions could be granted under the president's authority "if the technology to implement the standard is not available and it is in the national security interests of the United States to do so." Environmental groups were outraged by the announcement — dubbing the email offer as an "inbox from hell."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-told-polluters-email-him-100000482.html