WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) led a letter demanding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rescind the recently finalized rule for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and direct the EPA to revisit, pursuant to the best available science, its next review at the congressionally mandated five-year interval in 2025.
“America’s manufacturing industries and power sector are environmentally cleaner than the global average and continue to adopt cleaner practices while becoming more efficient,” wrote the Senators.“The Biden administration’s efforts to prioritize emissions reductions and the virtue signaling of privileged climate change activists over American jobs and local communities continue to negatively impact our nation. We urge the immediate rescission of the revised NAAQS threshold of 9.0 mg/m3 and direct the EPA to revisit, pursuant to the best available science, its next review at the congressionally mandated five-year interval in 2025.”
The letter was also signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
The following groups have come out in support of the letter: American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Forest Resources Association, Hardwood Federation, Forest Landowners Association, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA), National Mining Association, Pulp and Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC), American Chemistry Council, American Petroleum Institute, Southern Group of State Foresters, American Wood Council, National Stone, Sand, & Gravel Association (NSSGA), Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama Forestry Association, and Mississippi Forestry Association.
BACKGROUND:
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EPA is changing the NAAQS standard from 12.0 micrograms per cubic meters (µg/m³) to 9.0 µg/m³, which will put approximately 40% of the U.S. into nonattainment, including most of Idaho. To make matters worse, the EPA disregarded congressional intent by issuing a review two years before statutorily required.
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The decision by the Biden administration to tighten the standards, which lacks scientific evidence, could result in losses of over $160 billion in economic activity and approximately 850,000 jobs put at risk according to an Oxford Economics report.
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The new standards come two years before the existing PM2.5 NAAQS would begin a new, exhaustive review by expert scientific advisors under the Clean Air Act’s statuary process.
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The last review in 2020 stated the previous levels of 12.0 µg/m³ were sufficient to protect public health. No update is needed at this time.
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The new PM2.5 NAAQS break down the standards even further, jeopardizing our economic, employment, development, and manufacturing capabilities and opportunities nationwide.
The full letter can be found below or here.?
