EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Iowa, emphasizing the importance of local engagement while addressing environmental concerns and industry regulations.
ALTOONA, Iowa —
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited Iowa on Sunday, highlighting the state’s significance in the agency’s policies and stressing the importance of direct engagement with the public.
“It’s important for the regulator to meet with the regulator, to be out here in the public to get this feedback and to bring it back to us,” Zeldin said.
The visit began with a tour of Summit Products, a manufacturing facility based in Altoona. Zeldin discussed recent actions by the Trump administration, including a July memo that deregulated requirements under the Clean Air Act for auto equipment repairs.
“Too often you had people who were forced to go further distances at higher cost to repair their equipment when they want to repair it themselves. It’s a big issue here in Iowa,” Zeldin said.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association, or SEMA, which focuses on automotive repairs, highlighted the positive impact of the deregulation on businesses like Summit Products.
“The specialty automotive aftermarket employs over 1.3 million Americans. It’s over $350 billion a year industry. This industry puts food on a lot of people’s plates,” SEMA Senior Director Eric Snyder said.
While business leaders primarily discussed the automotive industry, Zeldin also addressed Iowa’s environmental challenges, including concerns about drinking water. He said the EPA is reviewing maximum contaminant levels of nitrates, a topic that has faced criticism from local environmental organizations.
“That partnership is key. I do not feel like our agency is or should be in conflict with the state of Iowa and the people of Iowa,” Zeldin said.
Zeldin said he plans to travel to Dubuque next before heading to Wisconsin.