AF&PA applauds introduction of bipartisan U.S. Senate legislation to address the EPA's Boiler MACT rules

WASHINGTON DC, July 20, 2011 (Press Release) - American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Donna Harman today issued the following statement on introduction of legislation in the U.S. Senate to address EPA's Boiler MACT rules.

"I applaud the leadership of Senators Susan Collins (ME) and Ron Wyden (OR), along with Senators Lamar Alexander (TN), Mary Landrieu (LA), Mark Pryor (AR) and Patrick Toomey (PA), in introducing bipartisan legislation to protect tens of thousands of jobs at businesses, municipalities, universities, hospitals, and other institutions that operate boilers. The Senate bill is critical to providing the opportunity for job creation and protection of public health to come together in establishing affordable, achievable standards.

"EPA has acknowledged that significant portions of the Boiler MACT rules require changes to be achievable under real-world operating conditions. At the same time, the rules and EPA's administrative stay are being challenged in court. Legislation is the only way to guarantee EPA has the time they say they need to fix these rules, as well as to correct the Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials rule to clearly define fuels that are traditionally used in boilers, such as carbon-neutral, renewable biomass residuals. Introduction of this bipartisan Senate legislation is an important step toward providing businesses with a level of operational certainty while more reasonable rules are established, allowing the opportunity to preserve and create much needed manufacturing jobs.

"While we will continue to work with the EPA throughout the process, we urge the Senate to quickly pass this bipartisan legislation to protect U.S. manufacturing jobs by allowing EPA more time to set achievable standards for boilers."