EPA Regulatory Relief Act Update

Statement

Real jobs are on the line. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) pending Boiler MACT and Cement MACT rules are threatening thousands of jobs nationwide, including some in the 9th District. Thus far, we have had seven businesses and other entities testify at various hearings that these pending rules would negatively impact them. Four of these -- MeadWestvaco, Celanese, Titan America (parent company of Roanoke Cement), and RockTenn -- employ people in the 9th District. Other facilities in and around the 9th District would also be affected.

Last week, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on my bill, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2250), which deals with the Boiler MACT rules. During the hearing, Todd Elliott of the Celanese Corporation testified that the Boiler MACT rules, as written, could force Celanese to significantly scale back or change operations in Giles County where they employ 550 skilled workers.

The pending Boiler MACT rules would provide three years to comply with new regulations. More time is needed and as requested by many businesses, including Celanese, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act extends that compliance time to at least five years.

In Committee, I said: "So when folks say to me, why do you get worked up on this and why do you charge in on some of these things, all I can say is that a lot of these folks didn't actually come from the 9th District of Virginia, but they represent jobs in the 9th District of Virginia. They represent people who work there and people who are in the areas where we have double digit unemployment. I came off this break doing the Labor Day parade in Covington, which is sponsored by the Union there. Last year they had the parade route lined with signs about fixing boiler MACT. Amongst all the political signs were, we've got to fix Boiler MACT. So, I am trying to do what my constituents want, and what I think my constituents need, in order to create jobs not only in the Unites States of America, but particularly in the 9th District of Virginia. I think that is what the Boiler MACT bill does. I understand. All of us want to be careful on the health side of it. But when you face extensive unemployment in the regions that I just mentioned and already have had announced lost jobs from other rules of the EPA in Giles County in particular and in Russell County, within the 9th District of Virginia, within the last two or three months, these are serious matters."

In the coming week, the EPA Regulatory Relief is scheduled to be "marked-up" (voted on) in the Subcommittee on Energy and Power as it moves through the legislative process. I will keep you updated on its progress.

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