[House Document 119-73]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 119-73
PROCLAMATION REGARDING NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR
POLLUTANTS: TACONITE IRON ORE PROCESSING
__________
MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
A PROCLAMATION PROVIDING EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN STATIONARY SOURCES FROM
COMPLIANCE WITH THE FINAL RULE PUBLISHED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY TITLED ``NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS
AIR POLLUTANTS: TACONITE IRON ORE PROCESSING'', PURSUANT TO 42 U.S.C.
7412(i)(4); PUBLIC LAW 91-604, SEC. 4(a); (84 STAT. 1686)
July 22, 2025.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
Consistent with applicable law, including section 112(i)(4)
of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4), I hereby report
that I have issued a proclamation providing exemption for
certain stationary sources from compliance with the final rule
published by the Environmental Protection Agency titled
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants:
Taconite Iron Ore Processing, 89 FR 16408 (Taconite Rule),
which imposes new emissions-control requirements on taconite
iron ore processing facilities.
As reflected in the proclamation of July 17, 2025
(Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote
American Iron Ore Processing Security) (Proclamation), taconite
iron ore processing is fundamental to the United States' steel
production and manufacturing sectors. The facilities involved
in the process supply essential raw materials used to make
steel, which is used in national defense systems, critical
infrastructure, and a broad range of industrial applications.
Preserving and enhancing domestic taconite processing
capabilities is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources
and ensuring resilience of American industrial supply chains.
In the Proclamation, I determined that the technology to
implement the Taconite Rule is not available. Such technology
does not exist in a commercially viable form sufficient to
allow implementation of and compliance with the Taconite Rule
by the compliance dates set forth in the Taconite Rule. I
further determined in the Proclamation that it is in the
national security interests of the United States to issue an
exemption from the Taconite Rule to certain stationary sources
subject to the Taconite Rule, as identified in Annex I of the
Proclamation. This exemption applies to all compliance
deadlines established under the Taconite Rule, with each such
deadline extended by 2 years from the date originally required
for such deadline.
I am enclosing a copy of the Proclamation I have issued and
Annex I thereto.
Donald J. Trump.
The White House, July 21, 2025.
Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American
Iron Ore Processing Security
----------
By the President of the United States of America
a Proclamation
1. Taconite iron ore processing is fundamental to the
United States' steel production and manufacturing sectors. The
facilities involved in the process supply essential raw
materials used to make steel, which is used in national defense
systems, critical infrastructure, and a broad range of
industrial applications. Preserving and enhancing domestic
taconite processing capabilities is vital to reducing reliance
on foreign sources and ensuring resilience of American
industrial supply chains.
2. On March 6, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency
published a fInal rule, pursuant to section 112 of the Clean
Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412, titled National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants.' Taconite Iron Ore Processing, 89 FR
16408 (Taconite Rule). The Taconite Rule imposes new emissions-
control requirements on Taconite iron ore processing
facilities.
3. The Taconite Rule places significant burdens on a sector
critical to the Nation's industrial foundation. The Taconite
Rule mandates compliance with standards that rely on emissions-
control technologies that have not been demonstrated to work in
the taconite industry, are untested at commercial scale, or are
not reasonably achievable under current operational conditions.
If enforced under the current timeline as set forth at 89 FR
16408, the Taconite Rule risks forcing shutdowns, reducing
domestic production, and undermining the Nation's ability to
supply steel for defense, energy, and critical manufacturing.
The United States must not allow inflexible regulatory
deadlines to jeopardize a material critical to our industrial
base. Maintaining this capacity is essential to our national
security and economic resilience.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United
States of America, by the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States, including
section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4),
do hereby proclaim that certain stationary sources subject to
the Taconite Rule, as identified in Annex I of this
proclamation, are exempt from compliance with the Taconite Rule
for a period of 2 years beyond the Taconite Rule's relevant
compliance dates (Exemption). The technology to implement the
Taconite Rule is not currently available, and it is necessary
to issue this Exemption now because long design, permitting,
and construction lead times mean that regulated entities will
not be able to meet the relevant compliance deadlines absent
compliance relief. This Exemption applies to all compliance
deadlines established under the Taconite Rule, with each such
deadline extended by 2 years from the date originally required
for such deadline. The effect of this Exemption is that, during
each such 2-year period, these stationary sources are subject
to the emissions and compliance obligations that they are
currently subject to under the applicable standard as that
standard existed prior to the Taconite Rule. In support of this
Exemption, I hereby make the following determinations:
a. The technology to implement the Taconite Rule is
not available. Such technology does not exist in a
commercially viable form sufficient to allow
implementation of and compliance with the Taconite Rule
by the compliance dates in the Taconite Rule.
b. It is in the national security interests of the
United States to issue this Exemption for the reasons
stated in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this proclamation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand
twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and fiftieth.
Donald J. Trump.