According to the Wall Street Journal, the Environmental Protection Agency is easing its proposed regulatory rules regarding boilers used in refining and chemical plants and other industrial facilities. The change comes after numerous criticism from industry groups and Republicans who argued that it would cost companies billions of dollars.
The new proposal applies to less than 1 percent of all boilers in the U.S., with the remaining boilers being up to the standards already. Overall, the EPA's goal is to reduce toxic emissions, including soot and mercury, and the agency estimates the rules could prevent as many as 8,100 premature deaths per year by 2015. Here are some facts about the fight for and against the EPA's boiler emissions standards:
* The standards came in response from a September 2009 court order in which the EPA issued the initial standards in April 2010.
* After the release, the agency received more than 4,800 comments from the public, including businesses and communities, all over the country and used the feedback to draft the changes.
* The original proposal also covered boilers at both small and large sources of air emissions and solid waste incinerators and for every dollar spent to cut emissions from these sources the EPA estimated the public would receive between $10 and $24 in health benefits.
* Reuters reported that the relaxed rules will have significant economic impacts and will ultimately reduce the costs by $1.5 billion per year, dropping the costs to $2.3 billion from $3.8 billion.
* The new proposed standards would also help some companies by allowing them to perform maintenance on their boilers instead of completely replacing them or installing expensive controls.
* In May, the EPA delayed its boiler pollution regulations indefinitely following pressure from industry groups even after stating in Feb. that it would make changes to reduce the costs, noted the Huffington Post.
* Prior to the alterations announced this Friday, the rules would have impacted 13,000 large industrial boilers instead of 9,000.
* An article from Platts added the EPA's new rules will sustain the original intended health benefits by focusing regulations on the boilers that produce the majority of the emissions.
* The changes have not been received with favor by all industry groups and the National Association of Manufacturers stated that the rules will still pose a threat to job growth and investments by companies.
* The EPA also estimates that the standards will help avoid 5,100 heart attacks and 52,000 cases of aggravated asthma.
Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.
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