Congressman Bob Gibbs Reins in EPA's Regulatory Regime

Statement

Congressman Bob Gibbs (R-OH) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act (H.R. 2273) -- legislation requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to scale back its regulatory overreach on the management of coal ash:

"Today, we stopped the Obama Administration from directing the EPA to enforce new rules that would cost coal-burning power plants more that $100 billion in unnecessary and duplicative compliance costs and lead to job losses and higher energy costs.

"The Administration's regulatory plans threatened the beneficial reuse of coal ash, which would discourage the recycling of a material widely used in construction products such as cement and drywall. This would not only affect big projects like buildings and roads, but homes, schools and other everyday activities.

"This overly aggressive attack by the EPA is just another move to further the Administration's anti-coal agenda. That is why today, I voted to curb their attack on one of Ohio's critical industries and protect the beneficial use of coal ash.

"H.R. 2273, the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011 is a piece of bipartisan legislation that will provide for consistent, safe management of coal combustion residuals in a way that will strengthen and protect public health, keep our electricity costs low, support beneficial use of the residuals, and most importantly, protect hundreds of thousands of jobs.

"Not only will this legislation help to improve our struggling economy, it is also positive step for the environment, one that is supported by the Ohio EPA."

Source