January 13, 2026

Los Angeles, CA – This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced weakened emissions standards for new power plants, and announced that it would no longer consider the economic costs of impacts to public health from exposure to nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn issued the following statement:

“The EPA will now only calculate the cost of pollution regulations on industry – not the value of saving lives. This flies in the face of the very purpose of the EPA and quite literally puts profits over people. The EPA is supposed to be in our corner – the peoples’ tool for preserving clean air and clean water. As long as this policy stands, it cements the EPA as yet another tool for big business and a defender of polluters’ bottom lines over all else.”