Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today regarding Boiler MACT rules finalized late this week by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“I am still studying the requirements of the new Boiler MACT regulations, but clearly the EPA was listening to testimony before the Energy and Commerce Committee on my bill, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act,” Griffith said.  “While I think that American factories, hospitals, universities, and other facilities would be better off under the bill than with these new rules, I am pleased that the EPA has realized that earlier Boiler MACT regulations were unworkable.  I appreciate that the EPA is showing a willingness to work with businesses making genuine efforts to comply.” 

Griffith introduced H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, to make sure the EPA gets regulations right on boilers for businesses, manufacturers, hospitals, universities, and municipalities without imposing unnecessary costs.  Griffith’s bill passed the House of Representatives on October 13, 2011 with bipartisan support with a vote of 275-142.  Similar legislation in the Senate has garnered the support of 42 members from both sides of the aisle.

According to Donna Harman, President and CEO of the American Forest and Paper Association, the EPA’s Boiler MACT rules indicate that the Obama Administration has realized the impact that their earlier proposals would have had on facilities across the United States.

"We appreciate the hard work that Rep. Griffith and his colleagues put forth to pass H.R. 2250, bringing focused bipartisan attention to such an important issue for our industry.  Without his efforts, the Boiler MACT rules would have placed a more onerous financial burden on the U.S. forest products industry and the rural communities it supports,” said American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Donna Harman. “As we review the rules, we hope to see those efforts reflected with a set of regulations that are affordable and achievable for facilities across the country to protect jobs and help encourage economic growth.”