[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8373-S8374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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         THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE'S POSITION ON EPA REGULATIONS

  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to submit for the 
Record a concurrent resolution passed by the Michigan Legislature 
earlier this year. Recognizing the impact of ozone transport on the 
west side of the State, and understanding the potentially devastating 
effects of ill-considered regulations, the Michigan House of 
Representatives and the Michigan Senate adopted a resolution which 
urges the EPA to reaffirm the previous standards of ozone and 
particulate levels.

[[Page S8374]]

  Specifically, this resolution strongly urges the EPA to maintain the 
.12 parts per million standard for ozone and conduct all necessary 
research to reach conclusive findings on questions concerning 
particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns in diameter and larger. In 
addition, this resolution asks the EPA to identify any unfunded 
mandates or other administrative and economic burdens for State and 
local governments or agencies that would result from the proposed 
changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
  Unfortunately, this bipartisan request has been ignored. The EPA has 
gone forward with new regulations. After making only minor 
modifications to the EPA proposal, the administration announced the 
final standard 2 weeks ago. I am disappointed, because I was hopeful 
the President would recommend a policy that recognized the importance 
of clean air, and the importance of jobs and economic growth. However, 
since he did not, I will continue to work hard to highlight the 
importance of these very real, very serious issues.
  This resolution makes clear that the people of Michigan understand 
what is at stake in this debate. I wish the same could be said of the 
administration.
  The resolution follows:

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 11

       Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection Agency 
     (EPA) has a responsibility to review periodically the 
     National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone and 
     particulate matter (PM); and
       Whereas, The EPA is considering establishing a more 
     stringent ozone standard and a new, more stringent standard 
     for particulate matter at or below 2.5 microns (PM2.5); and
       Whereas, Michigan, through its local jurisdictions, 
     businesses, and citizens, has supported health-based National 
     Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) that are premised on 
     sound science; and
       Whereas, Michigan has made significant progress in meeting 
     current NAAQS for both ozone and particulate matter (PM) 
     under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, although there 
     are some areas that have not yet come into compliance with 
     the current standard(s); and
       Whereas, Michigan, through its local jusidictions, 
     businesses, consumers, and taxpayers, has become considerable 
     cost to come into compliance with the current NAAQS for ozone 
     and participate matter; and
       Whereas, The proposed new standards will significantly 
     expand the number of nonattainment areas for both ozone 
     particulate matter. This may result in additional emission 
     controls in all areas, thus imposing significant economic 
     administrative, and regulatory burdens on Michigan, its 
     citizens, businesses, and local governments; and
       Whereas, EPA's own Clean Air Science Advisory Committee 
     (CASAC) was unable to find any ``brighline'' that would 
     distinguish any public health benefit among any of the 
     proposed new standards for ozone, including the current 
     standard; and
       Whereas, There is very little existing PM2.5 monitoring 
     data; and
       Whereas, There are many unanswered questions and scientific 
     uncertainties regarding the health effects of particulate 
     matter, in particular PM2.5, including:
       Divergent opinions among scientists who have investigated 
     the issue;
       Exposure misclassification;
       Measurement errors;
       Lack of supporting toxicological data;
       Lack of a plausible toxicological mechanism;
       Lack of correlation between recorded PM levels and public 
     health effects;
       Influence of other variables; and
       The existence of possible alternative explanations; and
       Whereas, No scientific proof exists that establishing a 
     more stringent ozone standard or a new, more stringent PM2.5 
     standard would avoid alleged adverse health, but it would 
     assuredly impose significantly higher costs; and
       Whereas, The issue of transported volatile organic 
     compounds is not adequately addressed; now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring). That we advise and strongly urge the EPA to 
     reaffirm the existing NAAQS for ozone; and be it further
       Resolved, That we advise and strongly urge the EPA to 
     reaffirm the existing NAAQS for PM10; and be it further
       Resolved, That we advise and strongly urge the EPA to 
     refrain from establishing a new NAAQS for PM2.5 at this time 
     and to gather the necessary PM2.5 monitoring data and conduct 
     all necessary research needed to address the issue of 
     causality and other critical and important unanswered 
     scientific questions concerning PM2.5; and be it further
       Resolved, That we advise and strongly urge the EPA to 
     identify any unfunded mandates or other administrative and 
     economic burdens for state or local governments or agencies 
     that would result from the proposed changes to the NAAQS for 
     ozone and particulate matter, and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the Untied States, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional 
     delegation, the administrator of the United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency, and other appropriate 
     administration officials.
       Adopted by the House of Representatives, March 11, 1997.
       Adopted by the Senate, March 12, 1997.

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