Carol D. Miller | Official U.S. House headshot
Carol D. Miller | Official U.S. House headshot
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) joined a group of Congressional Western Caucus members in sending a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan. The letter urges the EPA to provide a 120-day extension for the comment period and to facilitate public hearings for areas affected by the proposed regulations in the New Carbon Rule.
Congresswoman Miller introduced the Protect our Power Plants Act (POPP) with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) which will prevent the EPA from imposing rules that will lead to the closure of coal- and gas-fired power plants.
Click here to read the full letter.
On the limited public engagement in the rulemaking process for the New Carbon Rule:
“We write to express our deep concerns regarding the limited opportunities for public engagement in the rulemaking process for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) New Carbon Rule, as published in the Federal Register last month. The proposal introduces new legal interpretations and presents sweeping claims about the future of technologies and infrastructure used in powering our electric grid. However, the drafted proposal appears to exceed the EPA's statutory limits under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, as clearly articulated by the Supreme Court in West Virginia v. EPA.”
On urging the EPA to provide a 120-day extension to the comment period:
“As representatives of the coal industry and the communities it supports, we firmly believe that the voices of our constituents deserve to be heard and valued throughout the rulemaking process. We therefore strongly urge the EPA to extend the comment period by at least 120 days after August 8, 2023 to allow for the necessary legal, economic, technical, and grid analyses to be conducted. It is crucial to fully understand the potential legal and practical issues, assess the ongoing EPA power sector dockets, and heed the warning signs that inadequate consideration of these factors could result in irreversible and tragic consequences.”
On EPA’s decision to limit public input on the New Carbon Rule:
“The Agency's decision to severely limit opportunities for public input, particularly in comparison to previous power sector rulemakings, is deeply concerning. The EPA's New Carbon Rule represents a substantial effort with far-reaching effects, and the EPA's own summary of the proposal acknowledges the significant direct costs and impacts involved. It is essential that the American people and the communities we represent are granted sufficient time and means to fully comprehend and assess the proposal's implications.”
Click here for a full list of Members signed on the letter.
Original source can be found here.
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