WASHINGTON (July 18, 2017) – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 806, “Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017,” sponsored by Reps. Pete Olson (R-Texas), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and others.
“We commend House members for approving bipartisan legislation to modernize and improve the implementation process for EPA ozone standards. Their efforts will help accelerate manufacturing investment and new jobs by ensuring more timely and efficient regulatory permitting for facilities around the country.
“Before facilities may proceed with a new construction or expansion project, they must obtain regulatory approval. This task is complicated when localities are forced to comply with two different ozone standards at the same time. EPA has failed to provide needed implementation rules and guidance promptly, leaving facilities and state permitting agencies in limbo. EPA’s approach to setting and implementing ozone standards leads to confusion and delays that put new investment and jobs at risk.
“The ‘Ozone Standards Implementation Act’ will help. The legislation sets a ten-year cycle for national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) reviews, streamlines preconstruction permitting and extends the compliance date for the 2015 standards to 2025. While EPA recently granted an extension in nonattainment designations, states need more than one additional year to avoid the administrative burdens of overlapping requirements for the 2008 and 2015 ozone standards.
“We urge swift Senate action on companion bill S. 263, introduced by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).”