Panhandle Times

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) and 29 of his colleagues have written a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calling for the rescission of a proposed rule to expand federal regulations on coal combustion residuals (CCR). The letter argues that this rule would not only increase regulations on the nation's energy infrastructure but also lead to higher electricity costs for consumers.

The proposed rule contradicts the EPA's previous regulations established under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which allows states to establish their own permit programs for CCR management. The EPA's current proposal seeks to expand CCR regulations to include CCR management units, which the letter argues goes beyond the intent of Congress under the WIIN Act and places additional burden on the already strained energy infrastructure.

In the letter, Congressman Moran and his colleagues express their opposition to the EPA's proposed rule, stating, "We urge the EPA to withdraw the proposed rule, as it runs counter to congressional intent and direction, is beyond the scope of EPA's existing legal authority, and does not adequately consider risks to human health and the environment."

The letter highlights the inconsistency of the EPA's proposal with the 2016 amendments that limited the agency's authority to regulate CCR units under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The Members of Congress argue that the EPA's proposal to include "CCR management units" is not in line with the intent and specific language of the amendments. The letter states, "EPA's draft rule acknowledges that 'CCR management units' are not CCR units."

Congressman Moran and his colleagues assert that the EPA's proposal is legally flawed, goes against congressional direction, and fails to properly consider the associated costs and benefits. They respectfully ask the EPA to rescind the proposal immediately.

The letter was led by Congressman Nathaniel Moran and co-signed by a group of bipartisan colleagues including Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Michael Burgess (TX-26), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Neal Dunn (FL-02), Rick Allen (GA-12), and several others.

This letter serves as a strong statement from these lawmakers urging the EPA to reconsider its proposed rule and take into account the potential negative impacts it could have on the nation's energy infrastructure and consumers.

To find out more, go to this link: https://moran.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=258