In light of the declining state of the earth, it would seem logical for those in power to do everything they possibly can to try to save it. However, President Donald Trump has made significant and undoubtedly negative changes to the environmental policies put in place by previous administrations. By loosening and even repealing several regulations, Trump is dealing blow after blow to our already-damaged environment and putting humanity in danger.

   One startling change is the repeal of the Stream Protection Rule, a stricter version of pre-existing water pollution regulations, finalized under the Obama administration. According to Sierra Club, the rule was aimed at preventing coal mines from dumping hazardous metals into nearby streams, as well as restoring those already affected. Trump repealed the rule in order to protect jobs in the coal industry (sierraclub.org). By repealing this act, Trump is implying that pollution is okay, as long as the economy is benefitting from it. However, the long-term effects of water pollution far outweigh the short-term benefits of the coal industry on the environment.

   According to the official website of the environmental organization Appalachian Voices, “Over the years, more than 2,000 miles of streams in Appalachia have been buried, and many more poisoned by toxins such as arsenic and selenium, which kill aquatic life and can threaten human health further up the food chain” (appvoices.org). The regulations put in place were stopping such atrocities, but Trump’s ban-lifting will certainly bring them back, harming animals and putting humans in danger. Because of Trump’s ignorant devotion to coal, the environment and human beings will pay the price.

   The Trump administration has also loosened the criteria for the evaluation of potentially toxic chemicals. According to the New York Times, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was previously required to thoroughly investigate chemicals to determine toxicity and possible restrictions or bans, under an Obama-era law. The EPA under Trump loosened these evaluation requirements and is now focusing on the risk of direct exposure from the chemical, which leaves out exposure from contamination of the ground, water, and air. By leaving these factors out of the evaluation, “…the E.P.A.’s risk analysis will not take into account an estimated 68 million pounds a year of emissions” (nytimes.com).

   Leaving such a high amount of emissions out of evaluation raises the risk of improper disposal of chemicals. “The agency will also not consider the hazards of perchloroethylene discharged into streams or lakes, landfills or the air from dry-cleaning stores or manufacturing or processing plants” (nytimes.com). Trump has narrowed down the criteria for evaluation and has allowed companies to get away with their poor habits, and this poses a threat to the environment and humans alike.

   Another detrimental change from Trump was the withdrawal of air pollution control regulations. According to the official website for the Environmental Integrity Project, the Trump administration rolled back an EPA policy called Once In, Always In. This policy dictates that sources of air pollution can never stop their pollution control systems once they’re installed. Trump’s rollback allows industrial plants to turn off their control systems and “…could more than quadruple… emissions of toxic air pollution, from 121,082 pounds a year today to a total of 540,000 pounds annually” (environmentalintegrity.org). Trump is shamelessly allowing big plants to further harm the air with their toxic pollutants.

   Junior Ava Relly believes that Trump’s actions are inexcusable. “I am full of resentment towards Trump’s ignorance and neglect of the ongoing world climate crisis. His refusal to propose laws that limit our carbon footprint is extremely detrimental,” she said.

   Our planet is in danger, and therefore we, as human beings living on it, are in danger as well. Trump fails to see the perilous situation we are in and continues to set the country’s environmental legislation back while ignoring the research that proves that the regulations he’s repealing are functional in helping the environment. This behavior will continue, and the planet’s condition will continue to decline, unless we fight for our right to a clean earth.