American Petroleum Institute applauds bill delaying ozone standards implementation

The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently released a statement commending the House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee for advancing the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, which delays the implementation of certain ozone standards under the Clean Air Act.

“States are already making significant progress under current ozone standards and the nation’s air continues to get cleaner,” API Senior Director of Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Howard Feldman said. “Legislation protecting states and businesses from duplicative and costly regulations are steps in the right direction.”

The bill amends the Clean Air Act to extend the deadline for states to submit designations to implement
the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and extends the deadline for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate state areas as attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable areas in regards to the 2015 ozone NAAQS. It also changes the EPA review cycle for criteria pollutant NAAQS from a five-year review cycle to a 10-year review cycle.

API noted that the legislation would be aid businesses by providing relief from regulations and emphasized that it looks forward to working with lawmakers on energy and environment issues.

“API is committed to working with EPA and Congress so only one set of ozone standards is being implemented at any given time,” Feldman said. “Removing hurdles for job creation and supporting local economies through environmentally responsible manufacturing, infrastructure and energy projects should be top priorities.”