WASHINGTON – This week, NACS joined more than 200 organizations on a letter to Congress in support of H.R. 4775, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act.

Late last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated new ozone standards, just months after states received final guidance on how to implement the 2008 standards. This unusual regulatory process has led to multiple standards, confusion and wasteful use of resources. NACS, along with a broad group of stakeholders, had urged the EPA to wait on finalizing new ozone standards until the 2008 standards had been implemented. 

Unfortunately, EPA chose to move forward with the new national ambient air quality standards, creating uncertainty on how states will try to simultaneously move forward on two implementation plans. There is concern that some states, in order to meet the new standards, may place new regulatory requirements on the retail motor fuels market.

Legislation is needed to bring commonsense to the regulatory process by streamlining implementation efforts, which is why NACS supports H.R. 4775 to resolve this issue. Specifically, the bill recognizes ongoing state efforts to improve air quality through a reasonable implementation schedule for the 2015 ozone standards, streamlines the air permitting process for businesses to expand operations and create jobs, and includes other reforms that bring more regulatory certainty to federal air quality standards.

NACS will continue to work with legislators and stakeholders to ensure that the need to improve air quality is balanced with the need to improve the economy and grow jobs.