Administrator Zeldin Delivers Keynote at Tennessee Infrastructure Summit, Highlights EPA's Cooperative Approach to Environment and Economy
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin traveled to Franklin, Tennessee, to engage with state business leaders on how EPA can partner with local businesses and communities to deliver clean air, land and water while also providing avenues for economic growth.
On Tuesday morning, Administrator Zeldin delivered the keynote speech at the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s second annual Infrastructure Summit. The event brought together over 300 leaders from government, business, and industry to examine the infrastructure needed to sustain Tennessee’s continued economic and population growth.
In his speech, Administrator Zeldin shared how the Trump EPA has been narrowing its authority to the single best reading of federal laws and statutes, while also ensuring that protecting the environment and growing the economy can both be pursued and achieved simultaneously. He cited EPA's November 2025 approval of Oklo's geotechnical borings for a small modular reactor project in Tennessee, a process completed in approximately eight days after the agency received the request, as an example. Administrator Zeldin reaffirmed the Trump EPA's commitment to advancing cooperative federalism with state and local partners, unleashing energy dominance, making America the AI capital of the world, and revitalizing domestic auto manufacturing, all while delivering clean air, land, and water to communities. He said these initiatives will help Power the Great American Comeback and drive innovation for decades to come.
Following his speech, alongside Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and CEO Josh Brown, Administrator Zeldin participated in a media availability with local media.