In a controversial move, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a new pathway allowing industrial polluters to apply for exemptions from key clean air regulations. This initiative, introduced during the Trump administration, enables companies to request relief from rules concerning emissions of toxic substances such as mercury and arsenic via email. Critics argue that this could undermine efforts to enforce environmental protections and shift the burden of pollution management to states. Environmental groups are calling for transparency regarding the details and impacts of this exemption process, raising concerns about the weakening of coal ash cleanup rules and other crucial environmental safeguards.