WASHINGTON - Three former Environmental Protection Agency administrators, spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations, issued stark warnings Friday about proposed environmental regulation rollbacks that could significantly impact public health and environmental protection across the United States.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Wednesday plans to roll back 31 key environmental regulations covering air quality, water protection, and climate change measures [1]. The sweeping changes would affect regulations that have been in place for decades.

The proposed rollbacks include:

Reconsidering the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment findingRewriting rules on fossil-fuel power plant emissionsModifying vehicle emission standardsChanging industrial pollution limits for mercury and air toxinsRevising the 'good neighbor' rule on cross-state pollutionAltering federal protections for waterways [1][2]

William K. Reilly, who led the EPA under President George H.W. Bush, characterized the proposed changes as a 'catastrophe.' Christine Todd Whitman, EPA administrator under President George W. Bush, and Gina McCarthy, who served under President Obama, joined in expressing serious concerns [3].

'What this administration is doing is endangering all of our lives — ours, our children, our grandchildren,' said Whitman [1].

The EPA maintains these changes would eliminate 'regulatory costs and hidden taxes,' potentially lowering living costs for Americans. EPA spokeswoman Molly Vaseliou stated that Trump 'advanced conservation and environmental stewardship while promoting economic growth' in his first term and plans to continue this approach [4].

The proposed changes face a mandatory public comment period before implementation. Environmental groups have already announced intentions to challenge the rollbacks [1].