EPA Ozone Rule: ‘Costliest Regulation In History’

EPA’s ‘Environmental Justice’ Will ‘Jeopardize A Resurgence In American Manufacturing’

“In August 2011, as President Obama prepared to unveil a major new environmental regulation on smog, his political advisers issued a warning: The rule would affect power plants and factories throughout the Midwest, slowing the economy in states like Ohio that would be crucial to the president’s re-election… Four years later, Mr. Obama has no more re-election worries.” (“New Regulations On Smog Remain As Divisive As Ever,” New York Times, 9/30/15)

“The EPA is expected to act by Thursday to set a new ozone standard. Officials are expected to set a limit of 70 parts per billion or less in the atmosphere, down from the existing standard of 75.” (“Smog Rules 'Environmental Justice,' EPA chief Says,” Associated Press, 9/30/15)

• “Cutting ozone emissions to 70 parts per billion would cost industry about $3.9 billion in 2025, the EPA estimated, while a stricter limit of 65 would push the cost up to $15 billion. A price tag that high would exceed that of any previous environmental regulation in U.S. history.” (“Partisan Battle Lines Drawn As EPA Prepares To Tighten Limits On Smog-Causing Ozone,” Associated Press, 9/29/15)

GINA MCCARTHY, EPA Administrator: “McCarthy called the rules a demonstration of the Obama administration's commitment to ‘environmental justice’.” (“Smog Rules 'Environmental Justice,' EPA chief Says,” Associated Press, 9/30/15)

“Business groups panned the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed ozone rules as unnecessary when they were announced last fall, calling them the costliest regulation in history and warning they could jeopardize a resurgence in American manufacturing.” (“Partisan Battle Lines Drawn As EPA Prepares To Tighten Limits On Smog-Causing Ozone,” Associated Press, 9/29/15)

• “Scrubbers can cost tens of millions of dollars apiece, and industry groups say that with each degree that the standard is tightened, their costs will soar.” (“New Regulations On Smog Remain As Divisive As Ever,” New York Times, 9/30/15)

EPA’s New Rule Could Mandate The Use Of Technology That Does Not Exist

SEN. JAMES INHOFE (R-OK): “Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said the ozone proposal will have negligible environmental benefits and comes with huge economic costs.” (“Partisan Battle Lines Drawn As EPA Prepares To Tighten Limits On Smog-Causing Ozone,” Associated Press, 9/29/15)

SEN. ROGER WICKER (R-MS): “Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said the EPA's plan could be disastrous for his state. ‘We've got a regulation coming at states and consumers that is going to absolutely explode the price of power in our state,’ Wicker said, calling the EPA plan ‘unworkable.’” (“Smog Rules 'Environmental Justice,' EPA chief Says,” Associated Press, 9/30/15)

ELEVEN GOVERNORS: “Our states’ resources are not infinite. At a time when we should be focusing on growing the economy and creating jobs, the EPA is imposing a steady stream of complex, expensive new regulations that require an army of policy and technical experts and lawyers to decipher, respond to, and ultimately implement. The proposed NAAQS for ozone is the most onerous and expensive yet. We ask you to instead keep the current standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb) in place.” (Letter to Gina McCarthy, 3/16/15)

• “The end result, of course, is that the costs will be passed on to hard-working Americans. Millions of Americans could be affected in a much more direct and devastating way: it is estimated that the proposed standard could cost the equivalent of 1.4 million jobs annually.” (Letter to Gina McCarthy, 3/16/15)

260+ TRADE ASSOCIATIONS: “We are committed to ensuring a clean and safe environment now and in the future. However, we also stand to bear the brunt of the economic pain from a regulation that will make it difficult to manufacture products, build new projects, produce energy, improve infrastructure and hire the workers needed to make this all happen. A stricter ozone standard could close off communities across the nation to new jobs and economic growth.” (Letter to the President, 7/29/15)

JAY TIMMONS, CEO Of The National Association of Manufacturers: “‘The costs of doing this are not going to be absorbed by a magic sponge,’ said Jay Timmons, the chief executive of the manufacturers group, which has been joined by dozens of mayors and governors, including many Democrats. ‘The impact is going to be largest on manufacturing. The tighter the standard, the more localities are impacted.’” (“New Regulations On Smog Remain As Divisive As Ever,” New York Times, 9/30/15)

ROSS EISENBERG, Vice President Of The National Association of Manufacturers: “‘A standard of 65 parts per billion, Mr. Eisenberg said, could require the use of pollution control technology that does not exist yet. ‘That’s when you have to start shutting things down,’ he said.” (“New Regulations On Smog Remain As Divisive As Ever,” New York Times, 9/30/15)

NICHOLAS AKINS, Chairman And CEO Of American Electric Power: “If it moves forward with lowering the standard, EPA will essentially be requiring many states and local communities to reduce ground-level ozone to a level that is either unattainable or technologically infeasible, given existing emissions control technologies. Regions of the country that fail to meet the lower standard would find themselves in non-attainment status. Non-attainment areas must adopt various measures that can act as a brake on economic growth and job creation in local communities.” (Letter to Sen. McConnell, 9/8/15)