The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Drilling Industry NewsEnvironmental MonitoringWater Wells

100 Days of Action Under Trump Administration: Praise and Scrutiny

The administration highlighted some of the key progress points since its start.

By The Driller Staff
A man in a business suit stands at a fork in the road.

Image via Gremlin from Getty Images Signature

May 7, 2025

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin released a report this week detailing 100 environmental actions undertaken in the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term, positioning the agency’s work as proof that environmental protection and economic prosperity can go hand in hand. In an op-ed published by The Hill, Zeldin emphasized that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is “rejecting the false choice between environmental stewardship and economic prosperity,” asserting that the agency is delivering results without relying on what he described as “extreme climate alarmism.”

Since the inauguration on January 20, the EPA has taken action across air, land, and water policy. Zeldin noted that the agency has approved 25 State Implementation Plans to improve air quality, including clearing 16 that were backlogged under the previous administration. At the southern border, the EPA responded to air quality issues related to sulfur odors from the Tijuana River and pledged immediate action to address raw sewage flowing into the U.S. from Mexico.

The EPA also intervened in the controversial case of the unregulated geoengineering startup Make Sunsets, which had released sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere in an attempt to sell “cooling credits.” Zeldin said the agency "demanded immediate answers" to safeguard U.S. air quality.

On land cleanup efforts, the agency has cleared four Superfund sites either fully or in part, supported redevelopment at 21 sites across 13 states, and facilitated anticipated reuse of 27 brownfield sites. One of the most high-profile developments came in Missouri, where Zeldin announced a two-year acceleration of the cleanup timeline for the West Lake Landfill Superfund site, following a visit with Sen. Josh Hawley.

The EPA also responded to this year’s catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, completing its largest-ever hazardous material removal operation by clearing over 13,000 properties in just 28 days.

In water policy, the agency updated quality standards for 38 miles of the Delaware River, approved a decade-long restoration plan for the Long Island Sound, and introduced a new method to detect 40 types of PFAS “forever chemicals” in water systems — a move seen as a critical step in confronting emerging contaminants.

Zeldin highlighted the agency’s accelerated permit reviews and chemical safety processes as examples of balancing speed with safety. “Our rapid approval of backlogged permits is giving businesses the certainty they need while ensuring proper environmental safeguards,” he wrote. Enforcement actions have reportedly led to pollution reductions of 15 million pounds and secured $296 million for cleanups affecting over 700,000 cubic yards of contamination.

Still, the administration’s approach has drawn significant criticism from environmental advocates, scientists, and former EPA officials. Critics argue that the focus on speed, deregulation, and economic outcomes may undercut long-term environmental protections and weaken oversight. “There’s a difference between fast-tracking cleanup and fully remediating sites in a way that protects communities for generations,” said one policy analyst from the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Concerns have also been raised about the agency’s reluctance to address climate change in a comprehensive way. While Zeldin criticized what he called a “radical agenda” based on climate alarmism, experts caution that failing to confront root causes — particularly fossil fuel emissions — limits the agency’s ability to protect the environment in the long term.

Additionally, the administration’s efforts to “unleash American energy” and promote domestic auto manufacturing have fueled debate over whether these economic priorities are compatible with serious environmental reform. Some worry that rolling back environmental safeguards in favor of industrial growth could reverse progress in air and water quality.

Nevertheless, Zeldin maintains that the Trump EPA is forging a new path — one that emphasizes results over rhetoric and redefines regulation as a tool for empowerment rather than restriction. “In just 100 days,” he wrote, “Trump’s EPA has demonstrated what’s possible when environmental policy focuses on results.”

As the administration moves forward, its environmental agenda will continue to face the test of both public trust and scientific scrutiny — with its legacy likely defined by whether this balance of environment and economy proves sustainable.

KEYWORDS: EPA government policy

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Nd logo

This article was written by The Driller staff.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    Opinions
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    World According to Wayne
    By: Wayne Nash
  • submersible pumps, water well pumps

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Equipment
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

MainPhotoTwoBrothers.jpg

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit

Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

Subscribe to The Driller Newscast

Related Articles

  • New EPA appointment.png

    Emma Pokon Named EPA Region 10 Administrator Amid Praise and Scrutiny

    See More
  • ExecutiveOrderMining.png

    A New Executive Order: The Push for Domestic Mineral Production Draws Praise and Scrutiny

    See More
  • Desalination Under Scrutiny

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • fundamentals.jpg

    Fundamentals of Sustainable Drilling Engineering

  • nat-engineered-solutions-dr.gif

    Natural and Engineered Solutions for Drinking Water Supplies

  • M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\ND\new site\drinking-water-disinfection.gif

    Drinking Water Disinfection Techniques

See More Products
×

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP