The Trump administration defended most aspects of a Biden-era EPA toxics rule, the first of its kind to appear in court for oral arguments.
The judges might toss it anyway.
“This is a very, very, very stringent regulation,” Judge Edith Jones, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, said during arguments in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on Tuesday morning.
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The rule restricts uses of methylene chloride, a cancer-causing chemical famed for its efficacy as a paint stripper. Finalized in April 2024, the rule bans roughly half of the uses EPA assessed under the Toxic Substances Control Act, while instituting stricter workplace protections for others.
