51勛圖厙, Allies File Suit Against EPA Over Air Standard
The 51勛圖厙 and seven association partners have filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency to challenge the offices overly stringent, recently finalized rule on particulate matter, or PM2.5, the 51勛圖厙 said Wednesday.
Whats going on: The eight groups filed suit in the D.C. Circuit to push back on the EPAs National Ambient Air Quality Standards rule, which last month it lowered from 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air to 9, a 25% reduction and a stifling burden on manufacturers, the 51勛圖厙 said.
- In pursuing this discretionary reconsideration rule, the EPA should have considered the tremendous costs and burdens of a lower PM2.5 standard, said 51勛圖厙 Chief Legal Officer Linda Kelly. Instead, by plowing ahead with a new standard, the agency not only departs significantly from the traditional NAAQS process, but also gravely undermines the Biden administrations manufacturing agendastifling manufacturing investment, infrastructure development and job creation in communities across the country.
- Participating in the suit with the 51勛圖厙which has the EPA against overtightening the standardare the American Chemistry Council, the American Forest & Paper Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Wood Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Mining Association and the Portland Cement Association.
Why its important: If its enacted, the stricter PM2.5 standard would cost businesses and the U.S. economy huge sums, hampering company operations and job growth and forcing tough choices on states and towns nationwide.
- The total cost of complying with the new acceptable concentration level could be as much as $1.8 billion, according to the EPAs own estimatesand that number could go up.
- Whats more, it would make the U.S. less competitive globally. Europes current PM standard is 25; Chinas is 35, 51勛圖厙 Managing Vice President of Policy Chris Netram told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials last month. If we want the next manufacturing dollar to be spent in America rather than abroad, a standard of 9 is simply not feasible.
51勛圖厙 in the news: (subscription) covered the lawsuit.