EPA administrator visits Great Salt Lake during tour with Utah leaders
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited the Great Salt Lake with Utah leaders to understand environmental challenges. During the visit, the Center for Biological Diversity criticized a proposed EPA rule that would allow data center and power plant construction to begin before air pollution permits are issued. Zeldin clarified that air permitting is largely managed by states.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin joined Utah's congressional delegation and state leaders, including Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), for a boat tour of the Great Salt Lake on Saturday in Farmington, Utah. The visit aimed to help federal officials understand the lake's dire environmental situation, which Zeldin called a "matter of national security." He highlighted a proposed $1 billion budget allocation from President Donald Trump to aid the lake and announced EPA's plans to deploy new event-triggered passive aerosol samplers this summer in collaboration with the state.
The Center for Biological Diversity, however, criticized Zeldin's visit, specifically targeting a proposed EPA rule. Deeda Seed of the Center for Biological Diversity issued a statement, arguing that the rule would allow extensive construction on facilities such as data centers and power plants to commence prior to the issuance of air pollution permits. Seed contended that this approach places developers ahead of public interest, creating immense pressure on approving agencies to greenlight projects once significant investment has been made. Zeldin responded by explaining that air permitting processes are frequently managed by individual states, with the EPA maintaining an oversight relationship under the Clean Air Act, and he does not intend to overstep local officials. Senator Curtis expressed optimism about securing federal funds for the Great Salt Lake, citing presidential and EPA support for the initiative.