WASHINGTON, DC - Continuing its work to protect jobs and the economy from the EPA’s looming ozone rule, the Energy and Power Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), will host a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 from 2pm - 3pm in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. The public roundtable will feature leading stakeholders including local officials.
The EPA has proposed what some experts predict could be the agency’s costliest rule ever. The EPA is proposing to revise the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground level ozone even though the 2008 standards have still yet to be fully implemented by states. The proposed rule could have a devastating effect on jobs and manufacturing, points that were reinforced by manufacturing witnesses during last month’s joint Energy and Power and Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing.
“The EPA is pushing too far and too fast with their proposed rule and consumers, manufacturers and small businesses across the country bear the brunt of the compliance burdens," said Chairman Whitfield. “The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that the proposed rule could cost $140 billion annually and cost my home state of Kentucky $347 million in total compliance costs. I’m looking forward to hearing our panelists’ perspectives on the EPA’s proposed ozone rule."
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) added, “Further tightening the standard and penalizing hundreds of counties for being in noncompliance should not be the result of this new regulation. A designation of nonattainment will come with significant costs in the form of both dollars and jobs. We should seek compliance with the current standard first and help those areas of the country that are unable to comply before we penalize the rest of the country."
How will the proposed rule impact your state? Click here to find out. See Also
* OPINION: Bob Latta, Akron Beacon Journal: "With ozone rule, a ‘no grow zone’"
