A group of former Environmental Protection Agency staffers warn that the lame-duck Senate industrial-expediting bill could cripple the agency’s ability to protect the public from air pollution and toxic chemicals.
In a letter to Congress sent on Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Network warns about the text of S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA):
We are concerned that, although the permitting bill was not intended to address the Clean Air Act, as written it could significantly limit EPA’s ability to issue regulations necessary to protect the public from air pollution. It also might limit EPA’s ability to bring enforcement actions, which not only protect public health, but also ensure that companies that comply with environmental laws are not disadvantaged when other companies attempt to save money by violating them.Section 1401 therefore jeopardizes EPA’s future ability to provide the ongoing public health protection from harmful pollution and toxic chemicals that existing environmental laws require. Rather than reforming permitting to speed the building of abundant energy, § 1401 risks launching a wave of protracted litigation against EPA (and potentially other agencies) for doing the job Congress has asked it to do.
“While not addressed in detail here, we have significant concerns with the impacts of certain other provisions in the bill, including section 1402 and those affecting the Clean Water Act,” EPN executive director Michelle Roos added.
Read the full letter.