Environment

Dark-colored rain fell over parts of Iran following airstrikes on oil infrastructure in March 2026. While atmospheric scientists confirmed the phenomenon was caused by combustion particulates from burning oil facilities mixing with precipitation, the term 'acid rain' is technically inaccurate, as this represents particulate pollution rather than the sulfur dioxide-based acidification process traditionally defined as acid rain.

On February 14, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration formally withdrew the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which had determined that greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide endanger public health and welfare. This action was directed by Executive Order 14173, signed on January 20, 2025, titled 'Unleashing American Energy,' which instructed the EPA Administrator to review and consider suspending, revising, or rescinding the finding.

The Trump administration issued Executive Order 'Strengthening United States National Defense With America's Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet' on February 17, 2026, which revoked the EPA's endangerment finding regarding carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This finding, originally established in 2009, concluded that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act.

Seven Western states reliant on the Colorado River failed to reach consensus by a February 2026 deadline to develop a new water management plan. This represents the second missed deadline for states to negotiate conservation measures as the river system faces ongoing drought conditions and declining water levels.

As of February 2025, the EPA endangerment finding has not been repealed. The 2009 endangerment finding, which determined that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, remains the legal foundation for federal climate regulations. Any attempt to repeal this finding would require a formal rulemaking process subject to judicial review under the Clean Air Act.