Palmer slams EPA chief for making ‘false and misleading’ statements during testimony

—

August 14, 2015

WASHINGTON — Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL6), joined twelve other members of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee in signing a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy calling claims she made during testimony before the Committee in July about the impact of the EPA’s regulatory agenda “false and misleading.”

“During the hearing, Administrator McCarthy appears to have made false and misleading statements regarding the slate of new rules and regulations being pursued by the EPA,” said Palmer. “These statements underscore my concerns about the lengths that the EPA is willing to go to in order to justify regulations not supported by science, but that will have an enormously negative impact on individuals, families, and the economy as a whole.”

In her appearance before the Committee, McCarthy said that the figures in the final “Waters of the United States” rule proposed to be expanded this year by the EPA were based on sound science—a claim Palmer and the other authors of the letter say is contradicted by internal memos from the Army Corps of Engineers.

She also testified that states are not penalized for ozone emissions that are out of their control, such as background levels of ozone, saying that this would not be a compliance issue for states.

“Ms. McCarthy failed to mention that EPA has made statements to the contrary,” the members wrote.

Finally, the congressmen say the agency chief claimed the EPA has never taken action to withhold Department of Transportation funds from state and local governments for failure to comply with its regulations.

“The Evidence,” they said, “shows these sanctions have been imposed as many as 13 times.

Earlier this year Congressman Palmer had the opportunity to challenge the EPA rules mentioned above in a committee hearing.

“The EPA has not been able to identify how the proposed standards will be met. This sounds like ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ rule-making,” he said. “Should we be imposing this much burden on the American people when the EPA doesn’t even know how this rule can be accomplished?”

Every Republican member from Alabama voted in favor of blocking the EPA’s “Waters of United States” rule in May. A vote was never taken up in the Senate, and the rule is scheduled to go into effect later this year.