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U.S. Chamber Gives EPA Regs Mixed Review
Supports Move Away from Command and Control Policies
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today praised the Environmental Protection Agency for moving away from command and control policies in two of its three proposed rules designed to further reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury in the air. 
 
However, the Chamber cautioned against one of the EPA’s proposed rules that would require the use of specific technologies to reduce mercury emissions from power plants – technologies that are not currently available.  Total mercury emissions from power plants account for only one percent of the total global emissions of mercury, the Chamber noted.
 
 “History has shown us that we must have regulations that make sense,” William Kovacs, Chamber vice president of environmental affairs.  “Failure to move toward a more flexible regulatory approach in all emission standards will cost this economy jobs and set us on a go-slow economic growth curve.”

 

The EPA proposals are at the heart of the administration’s Clear Skies initiative, which is designed to promote further reductions in air pollution.  The Chamber supports cap-and-trade policies that would allow flexibility in achieving emissions targets to improve air quality.

 

“The Chamber applauds EPA’s proactive effort to ensure clean air,” said Kovacs.  “We are always pleased when we see the agency move toward more flexible and cost effective ways to obtain greater reductions in air emissions.”

 

The Chamber will file comments with EPA outlining the business communities’ position on pollution control.
 
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.
 
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