NAM Says EPA Endangerment Finding Will Hurt Manufacturers’ Competitiveness

Could Derail the Economic Recovery and Trigger More Job Losses
December 8, 2009 – Keith McCoy, NAM

Yesterday, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its “endangerment finding” that would trigger regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and circumvents the ongoing congressional debate on this very important issue.

This move by the EPA, if finalized, will take our country in the wrong direction and sets a dangerous precedent for a government agency to legislate a significant issue via regulatory fiat.

This regulation will add more uncertainty for businesses and further compound our economic situation. With this endangerment finding, the EPA is using the Clean Air Act to do something it was never intended to do -- regulate carbon dioxide. Below is the statement the NAM issued immediately after the EPA’s press conference.

Complex regulatory issues such as this deserve transparency and rigorous debate through the legislative process – not through the EPA.

The following is a news release from NAM regarding the EPA action.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 7, 2009 - National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President of Energy & Resources Policy Keith McCoy issued the following statement today on the Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) final “endangerment finding” declaring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions a danger to the public health and welfare of current and future generations:

The NAM is concerned that the EPA did not seriously take into consideration any of the thousands of comments manufacturers made on this proposal. The endangerment finding will have a cascading effect on the ability of all manufacturers to grow and prosper. By declaring GHG emissions a threat to public health and welfare through its endangerment finding, the EPA is paving the way to begin regulating carbon emissions across the board, including large stationary sources such as manufacturing plants, hospitals and libraries under the Clean Air Act.

Let me be clear: the NAM supports cost-effective efforts to address climate change but believes the appropriate authority to address this should be Congress. The EPA is moving forward with an agenda that will put additional burdens on manufacturers, cost jobs and drive up the price of energy. This finding comes when unemployment is hovering at 10 percent, and many manufacturers are struggling to stay in business. It is doubtful that this endangerment finding will achieve its stated goal, but it is certain to come at a huge cost to the economy.

Our nation needs a comprehensive federal policy that will achieve environmental results without inflicting unnecessary economic harm. This is a complex issue that deserves a rigorous, public and transparent debate in Congress.

By forcing manufacturers to meet unrealistic goals and placing burdensome costs on them, the EPA is hurting America’s competitiveness.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has stated herself that she would prefer Congress address this issue; therefore, we are disappointed the EPA chose this power grab move.
We will continue to work with Congress to address this important issue and urge the EPA to think about the economic harm it is inflicting before moving forward with additional rules.