Georgia Mountain News

House Energy and Commerce Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter (R-GA) expressed deep concerns over the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new particulate matter standards during a legislative hearing. Carter emphasized the potential devastating impact these standards could have on American manufacturing and jobs.

Carter began by highlighting the importance of the Clean Air Act and the need for National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for various air pollutants. He stressed the requirement for periodic review and revision of these standards to ensure public health protection. The discussion draft presented at the hearing aimed to update the standards review process and provide clarity in implementing measures to control harmful emissions.

The subcommittee chair emphasized the significance of this issue for districts across the country, particularly Southeast Georgia, which is experiencing a manufacturing boom. Carter highlighted the favorable conditions in the region, such as the climate, access to ports, low electricity rates, and business-friendly environment, making it an attractive investment destination. He mentioned the billion-dollar manufacturing investments already made and the potential for further opportunities.

Moreover, Carter emphasized the significance of legacy industries, including Georgia's forestry sector, which contributes significantly to the district's economy. He stressed the industries' commitment to growth while maintaining the highest environmental standards.

However, Carter expressed deep concern over the EPA's recently finalized annual PM2.5 standard, stating that it could hinder investments and economic drivers. He explained that as the Clean Air Act has already achieved considerable success, new standards are approaching background levels. This situation creates limited headspace for permitting new or expanded construction, even in areas that meet the standard.

Carter cited a report conducted by Oxford Economics, which estimated that the EPA's PM2.5 standards could jeopardize up to $197.4 billion of economic activity and put nearly one million jobs at risk. He mentioned that the analysis of permitting across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, paper and wood, and electric vehicle batteries, revealed that nearly 80 percent of projects would fail to obtain permits under the new standards. Carter emphasized that these industries already adhere to the highest emission control standards and that the majority of PM2.5 emissions do not originate from these sources.

The subcommittee chair acknowledged the need to improve the rulemaking process to ensure that NAAQS effectively balance environmental protection and economic prosperity. He emphasized the importance of practical reforms based on 40 years of experience in implementing air quality standards. The discussion draft proposed measures to provide more time for developing new standards, involve state air pollution agencies more significantly, exclude exceptional events like wildfires from compliance data, and facilitate the reduction of wildfires and harmful pollution levels.

Carter invited constructive comments from panelists regarding PM2.5 implementation challenges and the necessary reforms to address them. He noted that although EPA declined to attend the hearing, the subcommittee would continue working with the agency and examining its comments on the bill to achieve the right balance between environmental standards and economic potential.

In conclusion, Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter expressed his commitment to preserving America's high environmental standards while ensuring economic growth. The hearing shed light on the potential detrimental impacts of the EPA's NAAQS standards on American manufacturing and jobs, fueling the urgency for practical reforms in the rulemaking process.