WASHINGTON (March 22, 2017) – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement in advance of today’s legislative hearing in the House Subcommittee on Environment entitled, “H.R. 806, Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017.”
“We commend Chairman Shimkus for holding today’s hearing on H.R. 806, bipartisan legislation that updates and improves the implementation process for EPA ozone standards. It will help ensure that manufacturers who want to invest and hire in the U.S. can obtain regulatory permits in a timely and efficient manner.
“Before manufacturing facilities can proceed with a new construction or expansion project, they must obtain regulatory approval. This is complicated when localities are forced to comply with two different ozone standards concurrently. EPA has failed to provide needed implementation rules and guidance in a timely manner, leaving facilities and state permitting agencies in limbo. The confusion and delays that result from EPA’s approach to setting and implementing ozone standards can put new investment and jobs at risk.
“The ‘Ozone Standards Implementation Act’ will help. It sets a ten-year cycle for national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) reviews, provides regulatory certainty by streamlining preconstruction permitting and extends the compliance date for meeting the 2015 standards to 2025. Such reforms will enable continued air quality improvement without compromising U.S. manufacturing growth.”
H.R. 806 was introduced by Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas), together with Reps. Bill Flores (R-Texas), Bob Latta (R-Ohio), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Steve Scalise (R-La.), Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other original cosponsors. The Senate companion, S. 263, was introduced by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Both bills were introduced on February 1, 2017.