Chairman Graves Supports Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011

Statement

House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today issued the following statement on the House vote on the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011:

"Allowing the EPA to regulate coal ash as a hazardous material under the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle C is an idea that goes too far and unnecessarily puts thousands of jobs in jeopardy. The Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011 is common sense legislation that would protect small business jobs and support affordable energy by appropriately leaving coal ash regulation enforcement to the states, just like with solid waste. Unlike other waste materials, coal ash can be recycled by small businesses and used in concrete, and has been safely and beneficially used in buildings such as the EPA headquarters. It is important to provide for safe management of coal ash, but it must be done in a way that doesn't put additional strain on construction and energy-related small businesses that are already suffering under the barrage of excessive EPA regulations and proposed rules."

On May 12, 2011, the Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Regulations held a hearing entitled, "Green Isn't Always Gold: Are EPA Regulations Harming Small Businesses?" The hearing examined EPA regulations that negatively affect small business, specifically, those related to the Clean Air Act and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act. On September 19, 2011, Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade Chairman Scott Tipton (R-CO) held a field hearing in Colorado entitled, "Are Excessive Energy Regulations and Policies Limiting Energy Independence, Killing Jobs and Increasing Prices for Consumers?," which focused on several EPA regulations and proposed rules, including the coal combustion residuals proposed rule and the proposed rule to limit mercury and other air toxins from coal-burning electricity generators.

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