Pennsylvania Congressman Shuster: ‘EPA is running rampant’

WASHINGTON -- A day after his colleagues passed legislation to curb carbon regulation, Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Blair, took his own swipe at the Obama administration's efforts to beef up environmental regulations.

Mr. Shuster on Friday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for any new Environmental Protection Agency rules affecting domestic energy production.

The legislation is inspired by the closure of two southwestern Pennsylvania coal plants employing 380 people, and by Mr. Shuster's belief that the EPA is overstepping its authority.

"The EPA is running rampant," Mr. Shuster said at a conference call Friday.

In a recent speech on climate change, the president urged the EPA to work to reduce carbon emissions. To meet the proposed standards, the coal industry would have to invest billions in technology that isn't widely available, industry officials have said.

On Friday, Mr. Shuster said that increased regulation would translate into more plant closures, more job losses and, eventually, higher utility costs for consumers.

"This is about jobs. This is about Americans," he said.

The bill has more than 30 co-sponsors, including West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall, the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, which Mr. Shuster leads.

"Unprecedented regulatory steps have been taken by [the EPA] to advance its ideological agenda, and this bill is needed to ensure that the public has a voice in how these regulations are developed and implemented," Mr. Rahall said in a written statement.

Pennsylvania co-sponsors are Reps. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair; Charlie Dent, R-Allentown; Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton; Jim Gerlach, R-Chester; Tom Marino, R-Lycoming; and Scott Perry, R-York.

The House passed a similar bill Thursday that would require congressional approval for new environmental rules that have an economic impact of more than $1 billion. It's unclear whether the Senate will vote on the measure when it returns from its August recess.

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