Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (June 8th, 2016) – Today the U.S. House passed H.R. 4775: Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016. The legislation ensures states have time to implement ozone restrictions at a more realistic pace, saving jobs and economies from being hamstrung by unattainable mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the process.

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large), Vice Chairman Paul Gosar (AZ-04), and caucus member Rep. Kevin Cramer (ND-At large) issued the following statements in response:

“The EPA’s latest ozone rule sets states up to fail, moving the goalposts with new mandates mere months after publishing the existing mandates,” said Chairman Lummis. “States have reduced ozone emissions considerably over the last few decades and we should continue moving at a pace that reduces emissions without killing jobs in the process. Today’s legislation gives states the time they need to do just that, providing much needed relief to western communities who face naturally-occurring and foreign-produced ozone over which they have no control and for which they should not be punished.”

“Rather than allowing time for states to implement the 2008 ozone regulation, the EPA moved the goal posts and is seeking to unilaterally implement a new standard that the agency projected in 2010 would cost our economy $19 to $25 billion annually. To make matters worse, the 70 ppb standard is not attainable in 9 of the 10 counties in Arizona that measure ozone levels and even the Grand Canyon National Park would be in nonattainment,” said Vice Chairman Gosar. “This unrealistic regulation, not based on science, will force companies to close their doors and kill countless jobs throughout the country. I am proud the House took action today to rein in this abuse and I support the lawsuit filed by Arizona and nine other states that challenges the EPA’s overreach.”

“Many EPA policies, such as the Ozone Rule, get ahead of technology or are flat-out impractical,” said Congressman Cramer. “This legislation ensures continued air quality improvements across the country, while better aligning the EPA's regulatory requirements with the realities of the economy, technology and other sources of pollution.”

Details:

This legislation relieves states facing multiple and stringent deadlines on ozone restrictions by phasing in new ozone standards over 10 years. It also limits the EPA’s review of the standards to every 10 years instead of the current five year spacing. The EPA had failed to publish their regulations adjusting the ozone standards in 2008 until just March of last year. This did not prevent them from setting new standards in October of last year as well, effectively forcing two separate ozone standards on states within a matter of months. Many areas, including some National Parks, are still not in compliance with the 2008 standards. Areas that fall behind on meeting the standards could have highway funding withheld or face restrictions on new construction and other job creating activities.

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