Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is leading the charge to kill a Biden air pollution rule, a standard all the state's counties already meet.
All 120 counties meet the lower limit for fine particulate matter set by former President Joe Biden's administration in 2024, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet confirmed to WEKU.
Coleman and 24 other state attorneys general recently asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the rule, which lowered the allowable soot limit by 25%.
West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey is leading the effort with Coleman. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told West Virginia Public Broadcasting all 55 of that state’s counties met the limit, as well.
In fact, most U.S. counties meet the 9-micrograms-per-cubic-meter standard, the EPA said then. Should the rule stand, those that do currently meet it have until 2032 to comply.
In announcing the move, Coleman called the rule “overly stringent” and “heavy handed.” He said it could block economic activity and job creation.
The Biden EPA said in 2024 the rule would prevent 4,500 premature deaths and yield $46 billion in net health benefits.
