EPA Deadline Looms, Threatening Local West Virginia Economies

May 14, 2010

An end of May deadline is looming for EPA to decide if they are going to change ozone standards.  And although this may seem to be a minor regulatory change that benefits the public, in reality it is a potentially damaging economic setback to local communities with minor health benefits for the public.  Furthermore, most counties will be unable to comply with the new standards; threatening their ability to issue permits to allow businesses to develop new opportunities, or expand current enterprises that could bring new jobs to our state.

For counties in West Virginia this could mean: 

• West Virginia businesses and individuals would incur control costs of up to $1.5 billion.
• Restrictive permit requirements that discourage companies from building major manufacturing facilities in certain counties. These requirements include offsetting new emissions and installing the maximum emission reduction technology without consideration of costs.
• Loss of federal funding for highway and transit projects unless the state demonstrates that the projects will not increase emissions.
• Costly compliance that will make West Virginia businesses less competitive and thus lead to direct employment losses—resulting in larger overall losses through multiplier effects.

I encourage you to contact your Federal Representatives in regards to this very important issue.  And join us, so together we can stop the EPA from moving forward on this harmful regulation.

Sincerely,
Jim Cava
State Chairman