Archive: EPA

  • Resolution Concerning EPA Proposed Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for New and Existing Fossil-Fueled Power Plants January 15, 2014

    Resolution Concerning EPA Proposed Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for New and Existing Fossil-Fueled Power Plants Summary: This resolution establishes a state’s responsibility for establishing emission standards and recognizes EPA’s responsibility for establishing guidelines which, when done properly, will lead to cost effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without requiring units retirement or a curtailment of operations. This resolution is meant to be a template made up of a series of factual statements (“WHEREAS” clauses) and actions statements (“RESOLVED”) clauses, for each state to review after which the state can select the clauses that best reflect the state’s individual priorities while […]

  • Resolution in Response to EPA’s Plan to Regulate Greenhouse Gases under the Clean Air Act January 15, 2014

    Resolution in Response to EPA’s Plan to Regulate Greenhouse Gases under the Clean Air Act WHEREAS, the President has directed EPA to issue regulations setting greenhouse gas emission New Source Performance Standards for new power plants and for modified, reconstructed, and existing power plants under the Clean Air Act; and WHEREAS, EPA has proposed regulations for greenhouse gases from new fossil fueled power plants and has announced its intention to issue proposed regulations for existing fossil fueled power plants by June 1, 2014; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court has recently decided to review whether the EPA has the authority […]

  • Resolution in support of modernizing the federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 August 26, 2013

    Resolution in support of modernizing the federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 WHEREAS, American consumers deserve to have confidence that the products they buy, when used for their intended purposes, are safe; and WHEREAS, a federal chemical management program should place protecting the public health – including children’s health — as its highest priority; and WHEREAS, the federal chemical management program should preserve America’s role as the world’s leading innovator and employer in the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce and use of chemicals; and WHEREAS, the current chemical management law, the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) was signed into […]

  • Resolution Opposing EPA’s Regulatory Train Wreck March 15, 2013

    WHEREAS:  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed or is proposing numerous new regulations, particularly in the area of air quality and regulation of greenhouse gases, that are likely to have major effects on the economy, jobs and U.S. competitiveness in worldwide markets;  WHEREAS:   EPA’s regulatory activity as to air quality and greenhouse gases has become known as the “train wreck,” because of the numerous and overlapping requirements and because of the potentially devastating consequences this regulatory activity may have on the economy; WHEREAS:  Concern is growing that, with cap-and-trade legislation having failed in Congress, EPA is attempting […]

  • State Implementation Plan Requirements for Ozone and Particulate Matter Attainment March 15, 2013

     A Bill IN THE [HOUSE/ SENATE] OF [STATE] An Act requiring public hearings and legislative review of certain proposed state actions related to State Implementation Plans required to be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for attainment or maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone or particulate matter.  Requiring prior legislative approval of and prohibiting the submission of State Implementation Plans under certain circumstances. Requiring an economic and environmental analysis of any state proposal to exceed the requirements of U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Interstate Rule, 70 FR 25162, May 12, 2005, or other applicable Federal environmental […]

  • State Implementation of Clean Water Act (TMDL) Requirements (Amended) March 15, 2013

     Summary This Act sets forth criteria and procedures for states to implement the mandate of the Clean Water Act to develop total maximum daily loads for impaired waters within the State’s boundaries. The Act clarifies how states will implement the requirements of the Clean Water Act and EPA’s implementing regulations. Model Legislation Section 1. {Title} This Act may be referred to as the Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Act. Section 2. {Purpose and Intent} It is the purpose of this legislation to establish procedures and criteria for complying with the mandates of Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, 33 […]

  • Conditioning Regulation of Non-Pollutant Emissions on Science Act Summary March 15, 2013

    Summary The following language may be used as a freestanding bill or amendment to a bill, (e.g., a bill to regulate carbon dioxide). It requires [State EPA] Administrator to perform an assessment that considers certain criteria prior to formally proposing or implementing regulation of any emission not listed as a “pollutant” under the Clean Air Act. Under this approach, to propose regulation of carbon dioxide emissions, or to implement a statutory emissions cap, whether or not it is required by other state authorities, the Administrator must first report whether the proposal: reasonably demonstrates that the authority is necessary to protect […]

  • Resolution Supporting a Reasonable Compliance Timeline and Economy-wide impact study of EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Rule March 15, 2013

    WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted and has proposed a series of regulations establishing stringent new standards applicable to the electric power sector industry; WHEREAS, individual states, the American Legislative Exchange Council, Regional Transmission Operators and other parties have raised significant concerns on the proposed Cross State Air Pollution and Mercury and Air Toxics regulations such as  the negative impact these regulations would have on states’ ability to prepare compliance plans, electricity prices, the reliable operation of the electric power grid, the effective elimination of future electric generating plants that use clean coal technologies  and on the interests of […]

  • Resolution in Opposition to the EPA’s “Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule” and the treatment of biomass energy March 14, 2013

     WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is once again attempting to regulate greenhouse gases in opposition to ALEC’s 2008 resolution[1] and long-standing policies; and  WHEREAS, EPA is now attempting to make bad policies worse by making the proposed rule excessively narrow, making it risky and costly; and WHEREAS, decision-makers from both political parties[2]  and other experts[3] in the United States and abroad recognize that “carbon neutral” renewable biomass energy[4] plays a critical role in creating new American jobs while helping the environment and EPA should recognize their contribution; and WHEREAS, EPA is effectively on a path to destroy a vibrant, […]