A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington ruled on Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was correct in setting limits on industrial and automotive emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, through the Clean Air Act. National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons released this statement on behalf of an industry coalition:
“Today’s ruling is a setback for businesses facing damaging regulations from the EPA. The Clean Air Act was not designed to regulate greenhouse gases, and even the EPA said that it could not comply with the statute as written to implement these regulations.
NAM’s position is that the EPA’s decision to move forward with these regulations is one of the most costly, complex and burdensome regulations facing manufacturers. It stated that these regulations will harm industry’s ability to hire, invest and grow.
“By moving forward, the EPA is adding to the mounting uncertainty facing manufacturers of all sizes,” Timmons added. “We will be considering all of our legal options when it comes to halting these devastating regulations. The debate to address climate change should take place in the U.S. Congress and should foster economic growth and job creation, not impose additional burdens on businesses.”
The NAM is reviewing the court’s decision and will consider further legal options on appeal. The EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations will eventually require new permitting requirements for more than 6 million stationary sources, including 200,000 manufacturing facilities, 37,000 farms and millions of other sources such as universities, schools, hospitals and American homes.
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