|
H.Res. 487 - Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1633 – Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 (Rep. Noem – Energy and Commerce) The Rules Committee has recommended a structured Rule that provides for one hour of general debate equally divided between the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Rule allows eight amendments, equally divided between the offeror and an opponent. It also provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Lastly, it waives all points of order against the legislation.
H.R. 1633 – Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 (Rep. Noem – Energy and Commerce) The bill bars the EPA for one year from proposing, finalizing or implementing regulations that would modify current rules regarding the emission of coarse particulate matter (particulates with a diameter greater than 2.5 micrometers). The bill also creates a broad new category of pollution, called nuisance dust, and exempts it from the Clean Air Act entirely without any scientific evidence that doing so will not harm public health.
The Rule makes in order 8 amendments, each debatable for 10 minutes, equally divided between the offeror and an opponent. The amendments are:
Rep. Rush Amendment. Would clarify that nothing in the bill precludes the EPA Administrator from enforcing Air Quality Standards for fine particulates (PM2.5) and would delete section 3, which allows the EPA to regulate "nuisance dust" in areas where states and localities do not do so if it substantially hurts public health, and if the benefits of applying standards would outweigh the costs
Rep. Christensen Amendment. Would allow the EPA the authority under the Clean Air Act to step in and take action to reduce dangerous particle pollution if state, local, or tribal laws are not sufficient to protect public health
Rep. Crawford Amendment. Would direct the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture when modifying Air Quality Standards with respect to 'nuisance dust' under exceptions provided in Sec. 132 (b) of the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011
Rep. Markey Amendment. Would ensure that particulate matter containing arsenic and other heavy metals that are hazardous to human health is not nuisance dust and remains subject to the Clean Air Act
Rep. Waxman Amendment. Would require that particulate pollution produced from mining activities is not defined as "nuisance dust" and thus remains subject to the Clean Air Act
Rep. Flake Amendment. Would add sense of Congress language regarding an approach to excluding so-called "exceptional events" (like massive dust storms that are not controllable or preventable) from determinations of whether an area is in compliance with the coarse particulate matter standard
Rep. Schock/Capito Amendment. Would require the EPA to take agriculture jobs and the economic impact on the agriculture industry into account before they issue any new regulations relating to agriculture. If a proposed regulation was found to cause the loss of more than 100 agriculturally related jobs or a decrease in more than $1,000,000 in agriculturally related economic activity then EPA would have to give notice to the State's Congressional Delegation, Governor, and Legislature, and also hold a public hearing in the impacted State
Rep. Al Green Amendment. Would require EPA to provide a report of the increase or decrease in the number of jobs as a result of enactment of the bill
Bill Text for H.R. 1633:
Postponed Suspension Vote (1 bill)
- H.R. 1254 - Synthetic Drug Control Act (Rep. Dent - Energy and Commerce)
|
