Today, Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) voted in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2250). This bipartisan legislation protects jobs and sets achievable standards for industrial boilers, process heaters, and incinerators. H.R. 2250 passed the House this afternoon by a vote of 275 - 142. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
On February 21, 2011, EPA announced rules affecting more than 200,000 boilers, process heaters, and incinerators in the United States. Approximately two months prior to announcing the rules, EPA had sought a 15-month extension from the D.C. Circuit Court to re-propose the rules, but that request was denied. On the same day EPA announced the rules, EPA stated that it would reconsider certain aspects of the rules.
“I am encouraged to see such a solid bipartisan effort to save jobs from regulatory destruction.” stated Upton. “Left unchecked, these rules would raise electricity costs and stifle our manufacturing competitiveness. Hospitals, factories, universities, farms, and many Michigan employers will be directly impacted. Today’s vote was a victory for Michigan families, who stand to bear the greatest costs of EPA’s overreaching regulations. Notre Dame testified before the House Energy and Commerce committee that EPA’s Boiler MACT rule will require significant changes, most of which are not achievable, affordable, or realistic. Southwest Michigan’s families and small business owners have struggled and sacrificed long enough - enduring additional costs during these tough economic times is not the proper solution.”
H.R. 2250, The EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, would alleviate the excessive regulatory burden placed on employers by the EPA’s Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rules by replacing them with sensible, achievable rules that do not destroy jobs. It would provide the EPA with at least 15 months to re-propose and finalize new rules for boilers, process heaters, and incinerators. It would also extend compliance deadlines from 3 to at least 5 years to allow facilities adequate time to comply with the standards and install necessary equipment.
