Restoring Federalism at the EPA
The federal government has an important role in administering federal environmental laws, but states and local governments bring knowledge that federal regulators cannot replicate from Washington.
This month, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin reaffirmed an important principle for American environmental policy: Washington does not have to act alone.
On Aug. 12, the EPA announced the revitalization of its Local Government Advisory Committee, a 22-member group of state and local officials charged with providing the agency with practical insight into environmental challenges facing communities across the country. Administrator Zeldin described cooperative federalism as being “at the core” of the EPA’s approach.
That commitment is welcome news.
America can protect its air, land, and water without assuming that every environmental challenge requires a one-size-fits-all solution from Washington. In many cases, the officials closest to an environmental issue are best positioned to understand both the problem and the consequences of a proposed solution. Environmental conditions vary dramatically across the United States. Water challenges in Arizona are different from those facing Louisiana. Agricultural communities in Iowa have different needs than rapidly growing metropolitan areas in Texas. States also have different energy resources, industries, geography, and infrastructure. Federalism recognizes those differences.
The federal government has an important role in administering federal environmental laws, but states and local governments bring knowledge that federal regulators cannot replicate from Washington. Cooperative federalism allows each level of government to fulfill its appropriate responsibilities while giving states room to develop policies suited to their circumstances.
The result should not be weaker environmental protections. It should be smarter ones. EPA’s renewed commitment to federalism provides an opportunity to strengthen that approach.
The newly revitalized Local Government Advisory Committee will begin by examining the challenges communities face in siting and developing artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers. Those questions are becoming increasingly important as electricity demand, infrastructure investment, and economic development reshape communities across the country. They are also exactly the kinds of questions where local knowledge matters.
Federal policymakers should establish clear and predictable rules where federal law requires them while respecting the authority of states, communities, and property owners to make decisions within their respective spheres.
Environmental stewardship is strongest when government works with the people closest to the land. Federalism, clear regulatory boundaries, and respect for private property can provide the foundation for environmental policies that protect natural resources while preserving economic opportunity and individual liberty.