House Resolution 52 - Introduced HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 52 BY PAUSTIAN A Resolution calling for the curtailment and assessment 1 of air quality regulation by the United States 2 environmental protection agency. 3 WHEREAS, the United States environmental protection 4 agency (EPA) has proposed or is proposing numerous 5 new air quality regulations that have had and will 6 potentially have an enormous negative effect on this 7 state’s residential, commercial, and industrial energy 8 consumers by increasing rates; and 9 WHEREAS, the EPA’s regulatory activity regarding 10 air quality and greenhouse gases has been referred 11 to as a “train wreck” because of the numerous and 12 overlapping requirements, the uncertainty created by 13 the continual demand to upgrade or comply with a new 14 set of regulations, and the potentially devastating 15 consequences this regulatory activity may have on the 16 economy of this state; and 17 WHEREAS, the EPA has not undertaken any 18 comprehensive study of the cumulative effects of 19 this new regulatory activity on the economy, jobs, 20 and competitiveness of the United States; nor has it 21 performed any comprehensive study of the prospective 22 environmental benefits of its greenhouse gas regulation 23 in terms of the impact on global climate change; and 24 WHEREAS, having identified taking action on climate 25 change and improving air quality as its first strategic 26 goal for the 2011-2015 time period, the EPA should be 27 required to identify the specific actions it intends 28 -1- LSB 2782HH (3) 84 rn/nh 1/ 3
H.R. 52 to take to achieve these goals and to assess the total 1 cost of the actions required to achieve them; and 2 WHEREAS, the General Assembly of the State of Iowa 3 supports continuing improvements in the quality of the 4 nation’s air and believes that such improvements can be 5 made in a sensible fashion without damaging the economy 6 so long as there is a full understanding of the cost of 7 the regulations at issue; and 8 WHEREAS, the regulations under consideration could 9 pose significant compliance challenges for the electric 10 power sector, both with respect to economic burden and 11 the feasibility of implementation by the contemplated 12 deadlines; NOW THEREFORE, 13 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That 14 the House of Representatives supports the imposition 15 of a moratorium on enforcement of rules regulating 16 greenhouse gas emissions for a period of at least two 17 years, and a moratorium on enforcement of existing or 18 proposed rules regulating air quality for at least 19 two years, except air quality regulation which the 20 EPA can document by a preponderance of evidence will 21 result in an imminent or irreversible threat to public 22 health or the environment if subject to a delay in 23 implementation; and 24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of 25 Representatives supports requiring the EPA to undertake 26 a study, drawing on the expertise of both the EPA and 27 federal agencies and departments possessing expertise 28 in and responsibility for the United States economy 29 and electric utility generation and regulation, 30 -2- LSB 2782HH (3) 84 rn/nh 2/ 3
H.R. 52 to identify all regulatory activity that the EPA 1 intends to undertake in furtherance of its goal of 2 taking action on climate change and improving air 3 quality. The study should specify the cumulative 4 effects of these regulations on the economy, jobs, and 5 competitiveness of the United States, and provide an 6 objective cost-benefit analysis of the EPA’s current 7 and anticipated air quality regulation; and 8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 9 resolution be sent to the members of Iowa’s 10 congressional delegation. 11 -3- LSB 2782HH (3) 84 rn/nh 3/ 3