Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today after reaching more than 75 bipartisan cosponsors on H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011. Introduced last month by Congressman Griffith in response to serious concerns from a number of industries regarding the EPA’s Boiler MACT rules, this legislation directs the EPA to develop achievable standards for boilers, process heaters, and incinerators and extends compliance deadlines to allow facilities time to comply. The EPA, itself, has asked for 15 months to revisit its earlier set of rules, two of which the agency has recently delayed. This bill is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, American Forest and Paper Association, and the American Chemistry Council.

“To date, I am pleased to announce that 77 cosponsors, including 15 Democrats, have signed on to the EPA Regulatory Relief Act. These cosponsors represent districts from coast to coast that will be adversely affected by the EPA’s proposed regulations. The Boiler MACT rules could have significant negative consequences for manufacturing and industrial facilities, universities, hospitals, commercial facilities, hotels, and municipal buildings. The EPA Regulatory Relief Act grants the EPA the time they have requested to put forth regulations that are actually achievable and will also give the industry more time to comply with the EPA’s rules.

“Without action to delay and improve the Boiler MACT rules, the Council of Industrial Boiler Owners estimates that the capital costs alone of the final rules will exceed $14 billion and could put 224,000 jobs at risk. These are valuable jobs we cannot afford to lose both in the 9^th District of Virginia and nationwide. I look forward to adding more support for this bill amongst my colleagues and seeing this legislation through the House of Representatives to slow down the EPA’s regulatory assault on American jobs.

“I am also pleased that Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with a bi-partisan group in the Senate, introduced legislation today to delay the Boiler MACT rules. This bill is similar to the EPA Regulatory Relief Act, and I look forward to working with the Senate to ensure this fix of the EPA’s Boiler MACT rules becomes law.”

To view the full text of H.R. 2250 and a list of cosponsors, please click here.

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