[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2009-H2010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SUPPORT H.R. 659

  (Mr. BURR of North Carolina asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, sometimes the Government 
makes a mistake and, yes, even agencies make mistakes. But the test of 
effective government is how quickly an institution can correct their 
errors.
  In 1990, in a case of mistaken identity, the Environmental Protection 
Agency listed a chemical called ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, or 
EGBE, on its hazardous air pollutant list under the Clean Air Act 
amendments. This chemical is considered not harmful to the ozone and, 
according to scientific studies, does not harm the environment.
  The listing of this nontoxic substance will trigger regulations 
costing each can manufacturer about $5 million to comply, and the EPA's 
hands

[[Page H2010]]

are tied. Currently the agency lacks the statutory authority to fix 
this problem.
  I introduced H.R. 659, which would delist the chemical and remedy 
this solution. We should never sacrifice jobs for regulations that are 
not backed by good science.
  Now, some extremists say the 71 Members who are cosponsors of this 
measure want to weaken the Clean Air Act and the Community Right to 
Know Act by delisting this nontoxic chemical. Quite frankly, this is 
not an environmental issue, but an authority issue. I urge my 
colleagues to get the facts and prevent lobbyists from clouding the 
issue before us.

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