NW Houston News

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Dan Crenshaw has taken a stand against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest Risk Management Program Rule, which imposes burdensome reporting requirements on facilities working with hazardous substances.

In response to the EPA's rule, Congressman Crenshaw expressed his concerns, stating, "Yet again, EPA is creating a costly “solution” for a problem that doesn’t exist."

Supporting Crenshaw's initiative, Ryan Jackson, Vice President of Federal Affairs at the American Chemistry Council, praised the Congressman's efforts, highlighting the importance of the Congressional Review Act in overturning regulations that may have adverse effects on industries that have made significant progress in reducing incidents related to hazardous substances.

The American Petroleum Institute also voiced its support for Crenshaw's resolution, emphasizing the industry's commitment to safety and expressing reservations about the new EPA rule's potential impacts on workers and consumers.

Similarly, Leslie Bellas, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, commended Congressman Crenshaw for challenging the EPA's rule, raising concerns about the increased compliance burdens and lack of clear benefits in the revised Risk Management Program.

The EPA's Risk Management Program aims to prevent accidental releases of hazardous substances into the air, with facilities under the program demonstrating a significant reduction in incident rates over the years. However, the latest rule is projected to substantially raise compliance costs for these facilities, potentially affecting industries such as gasoline refining and petrochemical manufacturing.

Congressman Crenshaw's efforts to roll back the EPA's rule reflect a broader pushback against what some stakeholders view as unnecessary regulatory burdens that could hinder the progress made in ensuring safety in the handling of hazardous substances.