Charleston Leader

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, have jointly expressed their concerns to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan regarding the potential impact of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Lime Manufacturing Plants Amendments (“Lime NESHAP”) on the lime industry in West Virginia.

In a letter addressed to Administrator Regan, Capito and Manchin highlighted the importance of lime in various industries, stating, "Lime is a necessary input for steel production, power generation, and road and other infrastructure construction funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)… If finalized as currently proposed, the Lime NESHAP would have destructive economic consequences for the American lime industry with negligible environmental benefits, imposing significant costs that far exceed any potential benefits to the public."

The senators urged the EPA to reconsider the proposed amendments to the Lime NESHAP, emphasizing the potential negative impacts on small businesses within the lime manufacturing sector. They pointed out that the EPA's regulatory impact analysis estimates compliance costs of the Lime NESHAP to be between $2 billion and $2.4 billion, with questionable benefits to justify such expenses.

Despite acknowledging that current lime emissions standards are effective in protecting public health and the environment, Capito and Manchin expressed concern over the EPA's push for new, potentially burdensome regulations. They emphasized the need for the EPA to consider the cost-benefit analysis carefully and ensure that any regulatory changes are justified and do not unduly harm small businesses in the industry.

The letter from Capito and Manchin also called for the EPA to adopt regulatory flexibility alternatives identified by the Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel and make necessary adjustments to the proposed Lime NESHAP to minimize the economic burden on businesses already meeting established standards.

The senators concluded their letter by urging Administrator Regan and the EPA to address the concerns raised and work towards a balanced and fair regulatory framework for the lime manufacturing industry.