Mining association head criticizes EPA regulations

National Mining Association (NMA) CEO and President Hal Quinn released a damning statement today on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxics (MATS) rule and proposed Clean Power Plan.

"As the nation's governors weigh signing up their states for EPA's Clean Power Plan, they should consider the damage EPA has already done to the states' ratepayers, manufacturing base and electric grid," Quinn said.

The MATS rule, which took effect today, has stirred up controversy with industry some groups, including the NMA, protesting its effectiveness and questioning its costs.

"Today, the most costly and unbalanced regulation in EPA's history takes effect and guarantees Americans will pay substantially more for their electricity for years to come,” Quinn said. “With an annual price tag of almost $10 billion, EPA estimates that its MATS rule will return at most $6 million in benefits — with most of the costs attributable to regulating emissions the agency found pose no danger." 

He went on to decry the Clean Power Plan, which has inspired similar reactions among some states and energy sector stakeholders. The Ratepayer Protection Act was introduced in response to the proposed regulation and would prevent the EPA from enacting the rule before legal objections to it are settled.

"EPA assured members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the agency will address cost and reliability concerns in its new costly power plan,” Quinn said. “Skepticism should rule the day, however. When EPA issued the final MATS rule, it declared that while it could consider costs, it was also free to ignore them. And ignore them it did, with a rule demanding consumers pay $1,600 in exchange for $1 in benefits.”