Regulatory Relief for Coke Oven Processing Security

Title: Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Coke Oven Processing Security
Type: Proclamation
Date: November 21, 2025

This proclamation by President Trump grants a 2-year exemption to certain coke oven facilities from compliance with new emissions-control requirements imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Coke Oven Rule” (published July 5, 2024). The stated reason for this relief is to protect U.S. national security, critical infrastructure, and the domestic steel industry.

• Importance of Steel and Coke:

  • Steel is vital for U.S. infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation, energy, and military hardware.
  • Approximately 70% of all steel relies on metallurgical coke, making a strong coke industry crucial for national security and military readiness.

• The Problem with the EPA’s Coke Oven Rule:

  • The rule imposes new emissions-control requirements on coke oven facilities.
  • Trump argues these requirements are based on technologies that are not yet commercially demonstrated, cost-effective, or practically available.
  • The compliance timeline is deemed “onerous,” forcing facilities to design novel systems with unproven technology in a short timeframe.
  • This situation creates an “unacceptable risk” of facility closures, production halts, and lasting harm to the domestic coke production industry.
  • Such harm would “undermine our national security” by impacting local/national economies and the ability to produce essential iron and steel for critical infrastructure and defense.

• The Proclamation’s Action (The Exemption):

  • President Trump, using authority under the Clean Air Act (Section 112(i)(4)), proclaims a 2-year exemption for certain stationary sources (identified in Annex I of the proclamation).
  • This exemption extends all relevant compliance deadlines under the Coke Oven Rule by two years.
  • During this 2-year period, the exempted facilities will revert to the emissions and compliance obligations that existed prior to the Coke Oven Rule.

• Presidential Determinations Supporting the Exemption:

  • Technology is not available: The necessary technology for the Coke Oven Rule is not commercially viable for implementation by the original compliance dates.
  • National Security Interest: The exemption is explicitly deemed to be in the national security interests of the United States, based on the arguments about steel, coke, and the potential harm to industry and defense capabilities.

Key points