United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
We write to urge you to support Amendment No. 1660, offered by Senator Collins (R-ME), that would include the language of The EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 in the Senate transportation bill (S. 1813). The bipartisan EPA Regulatory Relief Act, otherwise known as the Boiler MACT legislation, is critical to preserving jobs in many manufacturing and other essential industries.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently revised rules still need more work to be achievable and affordable for manufacturers and other businesses across America. The overall capital cost of the Boiler MACT rule remains over $14 billion for manufacturers, small electricity generators, and other boiler operators, jeopardizing over 200,000 critically needed jobs. In addition, the January 9, 2012 court decision overturning the EPA’s stay of the March 2011 rules is yet another example of the continuing morass of uncertainty surrounding these rules. Due to the complexities surrounding the regulations, businesses will simply be unable to comply with the rules in the three-year time frame.
The Collins EPA Regulatory Relief Act amendment would stay the current rules, provide the agency with more time to develop a new proposal but require the rules to be finalized in 15 months, extend the compliance time frame from three to five years, and clarify that certain non-hazardous materials should be listed as fuels.
Manufacturers, small electricity generators, and other boiler operators are running out of time. Passage of this amendment is the best way to provide businesses with the certainty they need to preserve and protect high-paying jobs in this tough economy. We urge you to support the Collins amendment.
Sincerely,
The Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC
American Chemistry Council
American Coke & Coal Chemicals Institute
American Crystal Sugar Company
American Foundry Society
American Municipal Power, Inc.
American Petroleum Institute
American Sugar Alliance
American Sugar Cane League
American Wood Council
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Arizona Pacific Wood Preserving – AZ
Arizona Pacific Wood Preserving – TX
Association of American Railroads
Association of Free Community Papers
Biomass Power Association
Boise, Inc.
Brick Industry Association
Buckeye Technologies INC.
Celanese Corporation
Community Papers of Florida
Community Papers of Michigan
Community Papers of Ohio and West Virginia
Composite Panel Association
Construction Materials Recycling Association
Corn Refiners Association
Council of Industrial Boilers Owners
Domtar Corporation
Dow Corning Corporation
Eastman Chemical Company
Evergreen Packaging Inc.
Florida Forestry Association
Florida Sugar Cane League
Forging Industry Association
Foundry Association of Michigan
Free Community Papers of New York
Georgia Forestry Association
Glatfelter
Graphic Packaging International
Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association
Idaho Forest Group
Independent Free Papers of America
Indiana Cast Metals Association
Industrial Energy Consumers of America
Industrial Fasteners Institute
International Paper
Kennametal, Inc.
Lake States Lumber
Lake States Lumber Association
Lincoln Paper and Tissue LLC
Longview Paper and Packaging, Inc.
Louisiana Forestry Association
Louisiana Pacific Corporation
The Maine Pulp & Paper Association
Masco Corporation
McFarland Cascade
MeadWestvaco
Metalcasters of Minnesota
Michigan Sugar Company
Mid-Atlantic Community Papers Association
Midwest Free Community Papers
Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
Minnesota Free Paper Association
Missouri Forest Resources Association
National Association of Manufacturers
National Oil Recyclers Association
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Solid Wastes Management Association
Nevada Wood Preserving
NewPage Corporation
Nisus Corporation
North American Die Casting Association
Northwest Pulp & Paper Association
Ohio Cast Metals Association
Ohio Forestry Association
Ohio Municipal Electric Association
Oregon Forest Industries Council
Oregon Women in Timber
Ormet Corporation
Pacific Wood Preserving of Bakersfield
Pacific Wood Preserving of Oregon
Paper Recycling Coalition
Page and Hill Forest Products
Pellet Fuels Institute
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Pennsylvania Foundry Association
Port Townsend Paper Corp.
Portland Cement Association
PPG Industries
Rayonier
Resolute Forest Products
Rock-Tenn Company
Sidney Sugars Incorporated
Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates
Southeastern Advertising Publishers Association
Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association
Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative
Southern Pressure Treaters’ Association
Southwestern Association of Community Publications
Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida
Texas Cast Metals Association
Texas Community Newspaper Association
Texas Forestry Association
Treated Wood Council
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Verso Paper Corp.
Western Sugar Cooperative
Wisconsin Cast Metals Association
Wisconsin Community Papers
Wisconsin Paper Council
Wyoming Sugar Company, LLC