U.S. Senator Susan Collins released this statement today following the Environmental Protection Agency's announcement today that it will delay its proposal for updated air emission standards for boilers, or Boiler MACT rules until October 31, 2011. Final standards would be issued by April 30, 2012.
"While I am encouraged that the EPA will review additional input from the affected employers and others, I remain concerned that the EPA will not have adequate time to reevaluate in depth all of the issues, such as the feasibility of the proposed regulations and their cost to the forest products industry and to manufacturers. Just this week, I met with major forest products industry employers from Maine who expressed their concern about the negative impact of the proposed Boiler MACT regulations. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to ensure that the EPA produces realistic rules that will protect the environment without resulting in lost jobs during this fragile economy."
Earlier this week, during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Collins questioned Cass Sunstein, Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. She told him that she is particularly concerned about the very negative potential impacts EPA's final Boiler MACT rules will have on the forest products industry. Estimates show that the capital compliance costs for Boiler MACT are at least $5 billion for the forest products industry alone, and at least $14 billion for general manufacturing. And, the rule as drafted would still lead to thousands of additional job losses, which, Senator Collins says is "simply unacceptable." Video of their exchange can be seen
here.
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