AF&PA denounces regulatory uncertainty

Donna Harman.

As boiler operations are crucial to paper and wood manufacturers' ability to generate energy, American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement in response to the District of Columbia (D.C.) Circuit Court decision to vacate key parts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule.

“We are disappointed that after years of back-and-forth the D.C. Circuit Court has ruled against reason in vacating certain key standards and remanding other portions of rules that, by most accounts, are reasonable and achievable despite the extensive technically sound information and test data provide to and relied upon by the EPA. We will continue to provide sound information and data to the EPA as it responds to the remanded and vacated portions of the rule.

“Unfortunately, this continues the atmosphere of regulatory uncertainty that is harming U.S. competiveness on a global scale. Americans deserve a smarter, more cost-effective regulatory process that ensures agencies do more good than harm. We urge the Congress to act on regulatory reforms that will prevent this type situation from occurring in the future.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy.