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Eco-Groups Oppose Bills: Changes in Clean-Air Laws Would `Cripple' EPA, They Say, but Agency Not Worried About Proposals

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 March 2006, 09:00 CST

By Bob Downing, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Mar. 21--A coalition of Ohio environmental groups on Monday blasted two bills in the Ohio Legislature that it contended would cripple the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's ability to control toxic chemicals in the air.

In a teleconference, the Ohio Environmental Council, the Sierra Club and the Ohio Public Interest Research Group said the bills also would block neighbors from suing industry for releasing the chemicals.

"This is the biggest rollback of state clean-air laws I've ever seen," said Bruce Buckheit, director of the U.S. EPA's Air Enforcement Division from 1999 to 2003.

Substitute Senate Bill 265 and Substitute House Bill 496 would block the EPA from requiring that all industrial facilities use the best available technology to reduce emissions.

The bills would exempt small Ohio businesses with less than 10 tons of emissions a year from undergoing state reviews and would exempt small businesses from installing air-pollution controls when expanding or building. And Ohio would be prohibited from imposing state rules that are stricter than federal limits.

A committee vote is scheduled on the Senate bill Wednesday, with full Senate action also possible. The House bill will be the subject of a committee hearing on Wednesday.

The bills have the support of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Manufacturers Association, the Ohio Chemical and Technology Council, the Ohio Petroleum Council, the Ohio Paint Council, the Ohio Cast Metals Association and the National Federation of Independent Business -- Ohio.

Linda Woggon, vice president of government affairs for the Ohio chamber, said the legislation is necessary to provide more predictability for Ohio industry and is a needed economic tool.

She disputed the environmental coalition's contention that the state's clean-air rules would be weakened and said the legislation would streamline and synchronize Ohio's rules instead.

The Ohio EPA had expressed concern over the initial legislation but its issues have been resolved, said agency director Joe Koncelik.

He said he does not foresee the changes causing major environmental or health concerns.

Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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