In a move that has sparked outrage and concern, the Trump administration has rolled back critical environmental protections under the guise of national security, leaving communities vulnerable to toxic pollution. This decision, announced in 2025, exempts coke oven operators from fenceline monitoring and other safety measures for two years, despite clear evidence of the harm these facilities cause.
But here's where it gets controversial: the exemption was granted under a provision of the Clean Air Act that requires the President to determine both that the necessary technology is unavailable and that the exemption is in the national security interest. Critics argue that neither condition is met, as fenceline monitoring technology has already been successfully implemented, and the Trump administration’s own EPA stated in 2025 that compliance would not pose significant challenges.
This rollback hits close to home for Haley Lewis, an attorney at the Environmental Integrity Project, who recently lost her friend and mentor, Charlie Powell. Powell, a tireless advocate for environmental justice in Birmingham, Alabama, founded People Against Neighborhood Industrial Contamination (PANIC) to fight against the very pollution these exemptions allow. Lewis is now determined to carry on his legacy, including challenging the Trump administration’s decision in court.
Coke ovens, used to produce coke for steelmaking, emit a toxic cocktail of pollutants, including benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other carcinogens. Before the exemption, fenceline monitoring revealed alarming levels of benzene at facilities in Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. For example, at ABC Coke in Alabama, benzene levels were 60% above safety thresholds, increasing cancer risks in predominantly Black neighborhoods by up to 1.7 cases per 10,000 people. At U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works in Pennsylvania, levels were a staggering 933% above the threshold, raising cancer risks by as much as 26.5 cases per 10,000 people.
And this is the part most people miss: the Trump administration’s own environmental agency contradicts the justification for the exemption. In 2025, the EPA stated that there was no evidence of significant compliance challenges, undermining the claim that the technology was unavailable or that national security was at stake.
A coalition of environmental and grassroots organizations has filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the exemption is unlawful. Jilisa Milton, executive director of GASP, a Birmingham-based nonprofit, emphasized the human cost of this decision: “Communities surrounding ABC Coke have suffered for generations from toxic pollution. We’re tired of sacrificing our health so dirty industries can profit.”
The Trump administration has yet to respond to the lawsuit, and the EPA has not commented. Meanwhile, Lewis regrets not being able to share the news of the lawsuit with Powell before his passing. “He would’ve been excited about it,” she said. “He was always in the fight.”
As the battle continues, Lewis is preparing for a public hearing on February 24 to determine whether ABC Coke’s air permit will be renewed. She encourages those who care about environmental justice to attend, honoring Powell’s legacy.
But here’s the question that lingers: Is national security truly at risk, or is this rollback a favor to the fossil fuel industry at the expense of public health? Share your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you.
This story, like all our reporting, is made possible by readers like you. Inside Climate News is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uncovering environmental injustices and holding polluters accountable. Your tax-deductible donation helps us continue this vital work. Will you support us today?
