How a government shutdown affects climate rules, parks, weather ... - The Washington Post

How a government shutdown affects climate rules, parks, weather forecasts - The Washington Post

The potential shutdown comes as House Republicans fight among themselves on spending cuts and other issues, with many refusing to support any bipartisan compromise. Unless there is a break in the impasse, federal funding will lapse just after midnight Saturday.

Here’s what it could mean for the nation’s air, water, land and weather research.

Will enforcement of environmental laws be suspended?
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In a typical month, the Environmental Protection Agency conducts 654 inspections of chemical plants, oil refineries, hazardous waste sites and other facilities that might be violating the nation’s environmental laws. If the government shuts down, these inspections would grind to a halt, potentially letting major polluters off the hook while exposing communities across the country to dirty air and unsafe drinking water.
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“Polluters don’t stop polluting when the government shuts down,” said David Uhlmann, who leads the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Everyone living in the United States will be less safe.”

Of course, the impacts of a shutdown would depend in part on how long it lasted. In a Thursday email to employees, EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe wrote that the agency has enough carry-over payroll to stay open through Oct. 7. After that, however, the effects on enforcement efforts could be significant.

If a shutdown halted the EPA’s operations for a week, roughly 150 inspections of chemical plants and other facilities would no longer take place, according to projections provided by the agency. If a shutdown paused operations for a month, roughly 600 inspections would no longer occur.

Will cleanup of toxic waste sites be halted?

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A shutdown would not affect the EPA’s maintenance of toxic waste sites “where a failure to maintain operations would pose an imminent threat to human life," according to the agency’s most recent plan for a lapse in funding.

The agency’s Superfund list includes more than 1,300 abandoned mines, radioactive landfills, shuttered military labs, closed factories and other contaminated areas across nearly all 50 states. Each of these sites would be “evaluated at the time of shutdown,” according to the plan, which is from 2021 and has not yet been updated.

In Maui, EPA workers would continue to help clean up the island after the deadliest wildfire outbreak in U.S. history, ridding properties of dangerous items such as propane tanks and ammunition. However, these workers might not continue to receive paychecks.

At a hearing of House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on Thursday, lawmakers discussed the impact of a shutdown on Maui’s overall recovery.

“The question we need to be focused on right now is how do we keep the help coming to Maui,” said Rep. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat from Hawaii. “We are two days away from a shutdown. Our people have gone through enough.”

Will national parks and public lands be accessible?

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The Interior Department said Friday it will close all national parks to visitors in the event of a shutdown starting Sunday. The Park Service oversees 425 units, and each one would be affected to some extent.

Parks with admission gates and fee booths, such as Zion and Shenandoah, would be locked up. Sites with open entry points, such as the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway, would be accessible but would have limited to no services.

Visitor centers, restaurants and restrooms would be shuttered. Trash collection would be suspended. Thousands of rangers would be furloughed. Wildlife monitoring would cease. And most importantly for fans of beefy bears, Fat Bear Week could be delayed.

What about climate programs and rules?

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The programs created by President Biden’s signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, would continue during a shutdown. That’s because they received multi-year funding outside the annual appropriations process.

But a shutdown would probably delay the release of major climate regulations, including the strictest-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. And the Biden administration faces a narrowing window to finalize these proposals.

Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can overturn new federal rules within 60 legislative days by a simple majority vote. That means if the rules aren’t finalized in time and Biden loses his reelection bid, a future Republican-controlled Congress and White House could wipe these regulations from the books.

Will weather forecasts be affected?

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A shutdown would not affect the National Weather Service’s day-to-day forecasts. That work would continue on its regular schedule, though meteorologists would not be paid until the government reopens and funding is made available for retroactive pay, spokeswoman Susan Buchanan said. Any repairs to maintain critical observations, such as radar, could carry on, but routine maintenance and other work to improve forecasts would be delayed.

As for the rest of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, most research activity would halt. As many as 16 research vessels currently at sea would be required to return to the nearest port, according to a document outlining shutdown plans.

Some essential functions could continue, according to the document. The National Marine Fisheries Service would continue law enforcement activity to protect endangered species and critical habitats, inspection of seafood, and rescues of stranded sea turtles and marine mammals. The National Ocean Service would continue to maintain safe ship navigation and assist in response to any spills of oil or other hazardous materials.

Reis Thebault and Brianna Sacks contributed to this report.

What to know about a possible government shutdown

The latest: With a federal government shutdown looming at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, the House failed Friday to approve a 30-day stopgap funding bill. Follow our live shutdown updates.

What services federal services could be affected by a government shutdown:

Federal employees and contractors: Which employees work during a shutdown? Here’s a federal worker’s shutdown survival guide and what to do if the shutdown stops your paycheck. See where federal employees live in the U.S.