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E-M:/ John Dingell on Fine Particle Standard



NEWS RELEASE
Committee on Energy and Commerce
Congressman John D. Dingell, Chairman

 

For Immediate Release                                  Contact:  Jodi Seth or Alec Gerlach
March 30, 2007                                                     202-225-5735

Dingell Criticizes EPA's Six-Year Rulemaking on Fine Particle Standards

       Washington, D.C. - Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule setting forth guidance for state plans to achieve the health-based fine particle standards that were established in 1997. Affirmed by court decision in 2001, the EPA guidance is required for states to regulate fine particle standards by an April 2008 deadline. Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, denounced the EPA's long delay in issuing a final rule.

        "It has taken the EPA far too long to issue this rule," said Dingell. "It appears that the EPA has taken great efforts to shift the burden to states at a time when it has unilaterally decided to cut state air grants by more than $20 million for this year."

        Under the Continuing Resolution passed for fiscal year 2007, the EPA allocated $199 million to state air grants, a reduction of $20 million from the grant level for Fiscal Year 2006. State air grants are used to fund core state air agency functions.

        In letters dated January 19, 2007, and February 1, 2007, Dingell urged the issuance of the fine particle standards and requested documents pertaining to the delay. Originally requested by February 5, 2007, the EPA has failed to produce the documents.

Related documents:
              
January 19, 2007 Dingell letter to Johnson: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.EPA.011907.Johnson.ltr.PM%20Implementation.pdf

February 9, 2007 EPA Response: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-resp.EPA%20to%20011907%20ltr.pdf
March 1, 2007 Dingell/Stupak letter to Johnson: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.010107.EPA.PM.pdf
March 7, 2007 EPA Response: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-resp.EPA%20to%20030107%20ltr.pdf

 

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