In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to reduce the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons issued a scathing statement.
Timmons expressed deep concern over the impact of the new standard on manufacturing investment and job creation, stating that it directly contradicts President Biden’s goal of bolstering manufacturing across the country.
“The Biden administration’s new PM2.5 standard takes direct aim at manufacturing investment and job creation, in direct contradiction to the president’s stated goal of strengthening manufacturing in communities all across America,” Timmons remarked.
He further criticized the EPA’s decision, highlighting the short 60-day implementation window and its potential to exacerbate an already strained permitting system. Timmons argued that the stringent standard would hinder manufacturers’ ability to make long-term investment plans domestically, especially considering more lenient standards set by global competitors like the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Timmons also raised concerns about the impact on new manufacturing investments envisioned by recent legislative acts, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act. He warned that the new standard could force communities to make difficult decisions regarding investment priorities, ultimately hampering economic growth.
Moreover, Timmons disputed the EPA’s assertion that the majority of particulate matter comes from nonmanufacturing sources, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive approach to address natural contributors to air pollution.
Concluding his statement, Timmons vowed to explore all options to reverse the EPA’s decision, asserting that manufacturers have a duty to oppose policies that impede the country’s progress.
The EPA’s decision to lower air quality standards has sparked intense debate, with stakeholders across industries weighing in on its potential implications for economic development and environmental protection.