Chamber Continues Advocacy for New Source Review Reforms

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today filed comments with the Environmental Protection Agency welcoming its proposed reforms to the New Source Review program rules.

"The time has come to end the circus surrounding new source review," said William Kovacs, Chamber vice president for environmental policy. "After countless lawsuits, regulatory proposals and 4,000 pages of explanation, the proposed rules by EPA establish a common sense framework to determine the agency's intent with regards to 'routine maintenance' and 'repair and replacement.' EPA's proposal will help our nation's energy providers achieve regulatory certainty, while protecting public health and the environment."

The revisions to the new source review program will allow power plants to perform routine maintenance and repairs without fear that those improvements will put them in violation of arbitrary regulatory standards. The December proposal of EPA also will lead to significant improvements in the environment.

"In the 25 years since its inception, this program has been mired in controversy and confusion," Kovacs continued. "Under the current rule structure, energy providers cannot make environmental upgrades without risking uncertain regulatory consequences. Today's changes will begin to simplify a program that has long-needed reform, and EPA must move quickly to finalize new, clear-cut rules."

The U.S. Chamber has advocated new source review reform for several years, and will continue to work with EPA to implement scientific-based, reasonable rule revisions.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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