Thanks to the activism of Sierra Club members and supporters, we defended a critical Ohio regulatory tool to protect clean air and public health. Now, Ohio legislators and Governor DeWine have launched a new scheme to try and scrap this important protection and it’s up to us to once again take action.
The Ohio Air Nuisance Rule (ANR) is a provision of Ohio’s federal state implementation plan (SIP) of the Clean Air Act. This rule has been in place for decades and gives residents the ability to go to court to address pollution in their communities, with polluters footing the legal bill. In 2020, the first Trump Administration tried to scrap the ANR but we took them to court and after many years of fighting, we succeeded in defending the rule with the Biden Administration finalizing the reinstatement of the rule right before Trump and his cronies came back into power.
Big polluters weren’t happy and neither were their allies in the Ohio state legislature. Even after clear public opposition to the Trump Administration’s efforts and attorneys for the State of Ohio even admitting in Federal Court the ANR has been utilized frequently by the public and also by Ohio state agencies, these forces have started a new effort to repeal the ANR.
In the final few days of this year’s legislative debate on Ohio’s biennial budget, legislators supporting the interests of big polluters quietly added a provision ordering the Ohio EPA to begin a process to try and scrap the ANR. This provision flew under the radar and once it hit Governor DeWine’s desk, he signed the scheme into law. Now, the Ohio EPA has kicked off the process to try and get rid of the ANR.
It’s time to take action: Send a message to the Ohio EPA and make clear you oppose this underhanded scheme to end Ohioans ability to hold polluters accountable by eliminating the Air Nuisance Rule!
Sierra Club, our members and supporters, and our allies will continue to fight hard to defend the ANR but we can only do that with your support. As we prepare our legal defense, we need to send a strong message through public comments and attendance at upcoming virtual and in person hearings to defend the ANR. Sending your comment — and personalizing it — moves this effort forward.
We need you to take action now. Click here and send your comment now.
Thank you for all you do for the environment.
Neil Waggoner
Midwest Beyond Coal Campaign Manager
Sierra Club
