How regulators loosened pollution reins during early days of COVID-19 Virus shutdown shows human impact on Earth Replay Video UP NEXT Dozens of power plants, factories and other facilities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed were given latitude to skip pollution-monitoring deadlines, file late reports or release more pollutants during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a review of public documents shows. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a controversial policy, suspending the enforcement of a swath of environmental laws. Top officials at the agency said the “enforcement discretion” strategy was necessary to allow industries to safely comply with social-distancing rules and lockdowns.