Seal________________________________________________________________________
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
March 13, 2023
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov
*PRESS OFFICE: (512) 463-2050*
[email protected]
?
*Paxton Pushes Back Against New EPA Regulation Designed to Force the Biden Administration?s Environmental Agenda on States?*
?
AUSTIN ??Attorney General Paxton has joined a West Virginia-led comment letter opposing a new Environmental Protection Agency (?EPA?) rule that would undercut states? authority and efforts to properly regulate their own environment.??
?
Under the Clean Air Act (?CAA?), the EPA and states have different roles to play in the regulation of emissions and air pollution. While the EPA serves as the main regulator for new and modified sources of certain pollutants, states regulate existing sources of air pollution by submitting plans for establishing standards of performance within their states.??
?
However, the new rule drastically shortens the timeline for states to develop and submit their plans. This attempt to rush states could leave them exposed if the EPA decides to disapprove of the plans. The EPA?s disapproval would enable the federal government to seize further regulatory power and impose a burdensome and unnecessary federal plan on states.??
?
Congress has also established the right of states in specific instances to depart from certain EPA guidelines for existing sources of air pollution. However, the new rule would ?clarify? this portion of the CAA by further limiting this state authority.??
?
The comment letter states: ?We urge EPA to reevaluate the Proposed Rule along these lines and to finalize implementation guidelines that provide adequate time for developing state plans, that stay within [CAA] Section 111(d)?s bounds, and that respect?not cabin?the discretion Congress safeguarded for the States in this important context.???
?
Attorney General Paxton is also suing [ [link removed] ] the Biden Administration after the EPA disapproved Texas?s state implementation plan, which was designed to ensure that Texas complied with federal air quality standards and the ?good neighbor? requirement of the CAA. ?
?
To read the full comment letter, click here [ [link removed] ].??
? ?
###
Stay Connected with Office of Texas Attorney General on
Facebook [ [link removed] ]?-?Twitter [ [link removed] ]?-?Instagram [ [link removed] ]?-?Email [ [link removed] ]
?Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].
________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to
[email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of Texas Attorney General ?300 W. 15th Street?? Austin, TX?78701 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
