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Appeals court rejects Trump EPA bid to abandon rule restricting deadly soot pollution
By Matthew Daly, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· June 26, 2026
· 3 min read
A federal appeals court on Friday rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to abandon a Biden-era rule that sets tough standards for deadly soot pollution.The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel is a setback for the Trump administration's deregulatory agenda and its repeated eff...
Key takeaway Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit leaves intact, for now, a tighter standard set in 2024 on pollution from coal-fired power plants, factories and other industrial sources.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The appeals court's rejection of the Trump EPA's bid to abandon the soot pollution rule has significant implications for San Antonio 's air quality. As a city surrounded by industrial sites and prone to wildfires, the stricter standards will help reduce particle pollution that contributes to respiratory problems like asthma. The new limit of 9 micrograms of fine particle pollution per cubic meter of air will require local authorities to work towards achieving this standard, which could involve implementing measures to reduce emissions from power plants and vehicles. This ruling is particularly relevant to Bexar County, where residents are already vulnerable to poor air quality due to the presence of nearby industrial sources. The court's decision upholds the Biden-era rule's goal of avoiding thousands of cases of asthma symptoms, hospital visits, and premature deaths, and will likely influence local efforts to improve public health and environmental quality in the San Antonio area.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A federal appeals court on Friday rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to abandon a Biden-era rule that sets tough standards for deadly soot pollution.The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel is a setback for the Trump administration's deregulatory agenda and its repeated eff...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Matthew Daly, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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