Maine Environmental and Health Groups Oppose EPA Decision to Overturn Endangerment Finding

Alliance of Maine Health Professionals for Climate Action | Appalachian Mountain Club | Conservation Law Foundation | Defend Our Health | Friends of Acadia | Friends of Casco Bay | Maine Audubon | Maine Conservation Voters | Maine Medical Association | Maine Public Health Association | Natural Resources Council of Maine | Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine

February 11, 2026 (Augusta, ME) - Environmental and public health organizations across Maine are opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s decision this week to overturn the Endangerment Finding - the bedrock scientific determination that climate pollution harms public health and welfare. The EPA is also rolling back limits on tailpipe emissions for cars and trucks that were aimed at saving Americans money by improving fuel efficiency.

In response to the EPA's decision, 12 Maine-based groups released the following joint statement:

"The EPA's decision to overturn the Endangerment Finding means Mainers will experience increased levels of harmful air pollution, higher fuel and health insurance costs, and thousands of avoidable premature deaths. This decision is divorced from the overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is real, it's happening now, it is largely driven by burning fossil fuels, and it poses a threat to human health and infrastructure.

With this move, the Trump Administration's EPA is giving a handout to the fossil fuel companies responsible for high energy costs and deliberately turning a blind eye to the threats that climate-altering pollution poses to the health of our people and environment.

In Maine, farmers, fishermen, and communities across our rural state are experiencing the impacts of extreme weather made worse by climate change. Instead of weakening Clean Air Act protections, we should be moving quickly to safeguard the health of people, wildlife, and the environment by advancing cheaper sources of clean energy like wind and solar.

The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. Any conception of those protections must include addressing the human impacts of climate change. Today's decision is a failure of that mission."

The following groups signed onto the joint statement:

• Alliance of Maine Health Professionals for Climate Action
• Appalachian Mountain Club
• Conservation Law Foundation
• Defend Our Health
• Friends of Acadia
• Friends of Casco Bay
• Maine Audubon
• Maine Conservation Voters
• Maine Medical Association
• Maine Public Health Association
• Natural Resources Council of Maine
• Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine

During EPA's public comment period in September, hundreds of thousands of Americans - including business representatives, state and local officials, public health and medical associations, three former EPA Administrators, and many others - voiced strong opposition to the proposed repeals. During four full days of public hearings, more than 800 Americans presented live testimony on the proposed rule. An overwhelming majority spoke out against the proposal, with fewer than 20 supporting the rule.