AF&PA Praises Senators for Bills Prohibiting EPA from Tightening Air Quality Standards

WASHINGTON, DC—March 18, 2015—American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) president and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement supporting bills introduced yesterday by Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Representatives Pete Olson (R-TX) and Bob Latta (R-OH) that would prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from tightening national ambient air quality standards for ozone until at least 85 percent of the counties in non-attainment meet the 2008 standard.

"We applaud Sens. Thune and Manchin and Reps. Olson and Latta for introduction of these important bills. The science has not changed since the 2008 standards were set, making further tightening of the standards unnecessary at this time. Until the 2008 standards are implemented across the country, EPA should not engage in rulemaking that unnecessarily threatens U.S. manufacturing jobs."

About the American Forest & Paper Association
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative—Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures over $200 billion in products annually, and employs approximately 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states.

Source: AF&PA.