President Donald J. Trump and his administration have focused on the EPA during his time in office, particularly in regards to its funding, and its regulations. The president has taken several high-profile steps in addressing climate change, including pulling the United States out of the Paris climate accord and proposing the repeal of the Clean Power Plan. The Trump administration also reversed the decision on the Dakota Access Pipeline, allowing it to move forward.  And last month, the Trump administration released its proposed budget for 2019, which includes significant cuts to EPA’s budget, and makes significant cuts to state grants.

These cuts and regulatory rollbacks are of particular importance to Pennsylvanians. The EPA’s National Center for Environmental Assessment recently released a study finding disproportionate exposure to air pollutants for those in poverty, as well as for minority populations. These populations may now be at greater risk.  A review of proposed cuts highlights the question of whether Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution—the “Environmental Rights Amendment”—can help protect Pennsylvanians, especially at-risk communities, from the environmental impacts of a shrinking EPA and federal regulatory rollbacks.