Rep. McKinley Responds to EPA's New Particulate Matter Standards Proposal

Statement

Today, President Obama's EPA announced its new proposal to tighten national standards for fine particulate matter produced by factories, power plants, and other sources.

"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to move the goal posts, hurting manufacturing and energy jobs in the process," said Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-W.Va.).

"In this fragile economy, any change to the regulatory standards could end up in more job losses and another economic downturn. Before we increase the standards, we need to make sure the EPA weighs the full economic costs and benefits of its decision and base it on sound science."

"The EPA seems focused on punishing job creators rather than measurably improving the environment and public health," said Rep. McKinley.

The EPA has proposed revisions to lower the annual standard from 15 micrograms per cubic meter to a new standard of 12 to 13 micrograms per cubic meter.

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