[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 115 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1651]]



                         AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 1997

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, the Georgia House of Representatives 
recently passed a resolution urging the U.S. Environmental Protection 
[EPA] to maintain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
[NAAQS] pending further review of the costs and benefits of the 
proposed changes. The resolution also urges the EPA to identify 
unfunded mandates and other regulatory burdens that the proposed 
changes would impose on States and local communities.
  I submit Georgia House Resolution 379 for careful consideration by 
the U.S. Congress.

                                H.R. 379

       Whereas, the U.S. 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 (PM 2.5); and
       Whereas, Georgia, its local jurisdictions, businesses, and 
     citizens have supported health based National Ambient Air 
     Quality Standards (NAAQS) that are premised on sound science; 
     and
       Whereas, Georgia has made progress toward meeting current 
     National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone 
     under the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990, although the 
     Atlanta area has not yet come into compliance with the 
     current standard; and
       Whereas, all of Georgia meets the current standards for 
     particulate matter; and
       Whereas, Georgia, its local jurisdictions, businesses, 
     consumers, and taxpayers have borne considerable cost to come 
     into compliance with the current NAAQS for ozone and 
     particulate matter; and
       Whereas, the proposed new standards may significantly 
     expand the number of nonattainment areas for both ozone and 
     particulate matter, which could result in additional emission 
     controls in some areas and could impose significant economic, 
     administrative, and regulatory burdens on Georgia, its 
     citizens, businesses, and local governments; and
       Whereas, the EPA's own Clean Air Science Advisory Committee 
     (CASAC) was unable to find any ``bright line'' 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 PM 2.4 monitoring 
     data; and
       Whereas, there are many unanswered questions and scientific 
     uncertainties regarding the health effects of particulate 
     matter, and in particular PM 2.5: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of Georgia That 
     the House of Representatives advises and strongly urges the 
     EPA to reaffirm the existing NAAQS for ozone, be it further
       Resolved That the House of Representatives advises and 
     strongly urges the EPA to reaffirm the existing NAAQS for PM 
     10, be it further
       Resolved That, if EPA proposes to adopt more stringent 
     standards for ozone or PM, that such decision be based on 
     consideration of sound science and economics, be it further
       Resolved That the House of Representatives calls on the EPA 
     to conduct a cost benefit analysis as required by law on 
     these and other regulations, be it further
       Resolved That the House of Representatives advises and 
     strongly urges 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, be it 
     further
       Resolved That the Clerk of the House of Representatives is 
     authorized and directed to transmit copies of this resolution 
     to the President of the United States, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the Georgia congressional delegation, the 
     Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
     and other appropriate administration officials.

     

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