Matheson Bill Seeks Information on Consequences of Cumulative Effect of EPA Regs

Press Release

Congressman Jim Matheson said today the goal of his draft legislation studying significant Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules is to gain credible information about how--taken as a whole--the numerous regulations will affect businesses, consumers and the economy. Matheson has written a bipartisan draft bill--the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act--which had a hearing in the Subcommittee on Energy and Power Thursday.

"Numerous new rules on pollutants are coming down the pike from EPA, with the potential to affect consumers, businesses and states in a major way," said Matheson. "The comprehensive multi-agency study requested in this bipartisan bill will provide better information about the cumulative effect of these regulations. With that, my hope is we'll all have greater certainty and understanding of the ultimate economic and environmental consequences."

Witnesses at the hearing included representatives of environmental groups, utility companies, the paper products industry and a major university. Many of them expressed concern that a lack of predictability regarding EPA's timeline-- during a time of increased global competition and a still-recovering economy--could drive up costs or threaten jobs.

Matheson's bill asks the study to consider--among other things--upcoming rules on New Source Performance Standards for oil refineries and utilities; Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide; coal ash and storm water runoff from construction sites.

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