US chemical group praises House bill to delay EPA boiler emissions rules
The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) on Friday commended the US House of Representatives for passing the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, thereby providing the agency with more time to re-propose key rules affecting SOCMA members, the group said.
HR 2250 provides EPA the requested 15 months to re-propose and finalize the Boiler MACT and chemical manufacturing area sources rules under the Clean Air Act.
The latter will affect the majority of SOCMA members, particularly if the exemption for natural gas-fired boilers is lifted, the group said.
The bill also extends the compliance period from three to five years, which is significant given the changes SOCMA expects to see from the current boiler rules.
The legislation’s emphasis on flexible work practices and achievable standards is also essential, trade group officials said.
SOCMA has argued that some of the standards ultimately set in the final Boiler MACT rule are unachievable and that the costs associated with attempting to meet them are grossly disproportionate to any minimal environmental gain that would be achieved.
In June, SOCMA sent letters to the chairmen and ranking members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Energy and Power Subcommittee, urging them to support the legislation and outlining its importance to SOCMA members.
SOCMA said it urges the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass its version of the legislation, S 1392.
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