By: Amanda Rowoldt, Ohio Field Organizer
Date: July 22, 2026
About: Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-1212-0001
To: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
My name is Amanda Rowoldt, and I live in Franklin County in Dublin, Ohio. I’m an Ohio Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force, a mother of two young boys, and a cancer survivor. As someone who cares deeply for family, neighbors, and Ohio’s beautiful landscape of agricultural plains, hills, and lakes, I am here to voice my strong opposition to EPA’s proposal that will end public participation requirements for Clean Air Act “minor source” New Source Review programs approved into State Implementation Plans.
As a field organizer and concerned citizen, I often get the opportunity to talk to my fellow Ohioans. I get to engage with the public and share information, and during this interaction, I welcome people’s thoughts and experiences in return. This is such an important part of my job that I value very much because I know people appreciate the outreach and information. People are so busy these days, especially those who are caring for little ones, older adults, or family members with special needs. The Ohioans I talk to everyday are truly appreciative of the effort made to keep them informed and engaged on issues impacting their communities.
The connectivity of citizens, and the exchange of information is a derivative of freedom that must remain strong within our American society and within our American government, and EPA’s attempt to end public participation requirements for minor source New Source Review programs is an affront to the freedom that makes America great.
Public participation is essential in a free and democratic society. Public participation is a crucial step that must remain in place in order for families to be informed about the air their children, their elders, and they are breathing. EPA’s misguided proposal would enable AI data centers, petrochemical facilities, and other toxic enterprises to move forward with permitting “minor” new pollution sources without even notifying communities. This proposal is wrong and a slap in the face of Ohioans. EPA’s proposal to eliminate minimum public participation requirements for “minor” New Source Review projects would blindside Ohio families and likely expose them to harmful pollutants and dangerous petrochemical facilities, like chemical recycling facilities, and AI data centers before they have any time or opportunity to do anything about it.
Too much is at stake for children, families, and our beautiful Ohio landscape. As a mother and Ohio resident, I strongly oppose any and all efforts by EPA to remove public participation requirements for minor source New Source Review programs.
Thank you.