Sponsors (14)
Repeals the EPA's May 7, 2024 final rule that updated hazardous air pollutant standards for coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units and declares that rule has no force or effect and should be treated as if it never took effect. The repeal would remove the regulatory changes made by that EPA rule and restore the prior regulatory status for affected units unless and until the agency issues a different rule.
Repeals the final rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency titled "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review" (89 Fed. Reg. 38508 (May 7, 2024)), stating that the rule shall have no force or effect and shall be treated as if it never took effect .
Last progress June 10, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 10, 2025 by Troy Downing
Who is affected and how:
Owners and operators of electric generating units: They would no longer be required to comply with any new or revised limits, monitoring, or other requirements that were established by the May 7, 2024 EPA final rule. This can reduce short-term compliance costs and reporting obligations tied to that specific rule.
Electric utilities: Utilities that operate coal- or oil-fired steam units may see reduced regulatory obligations in the near term, which can affect planning for investments, retirements, or retrofits of older units.
Electricity customers and communities near plants: Changes in emissions rules can affect local air pollution and public health. Repealing the rule may delay reductions in hazardous air pollutants that could have benefited nearby communities and public health.
Workers and employers at affected plants: Repeal may change timelines or incentives for equipment upgrades, shutdowns, or operational changes that affect jobs and workplace safety.
EPA and state regulators: The agency loses an enforceable federal standard enacted by the May 2024 rule. EPA may need to decide whether to initiate new rulemaking, defend against legal challenges, or re-evaluate how to address hazardous air pollutants from these units. States that implement or supplement federal standards may need to reassess their programs.
Broader considerations:
Legal and administrative effects: Declaring a final rule void by statute is likely to generate legal and administrative responses. Stakeholders who supported the EPA rule (e.g., public health and environmental groups) may pursue other regulatory or legal avenues, while industry may push for further deregulatory steps.
Regulatory uncertainty: Removing a finalized federal rule without providing a replacement can create uncertainty for long-term planning by plant owners, investors, and public agencies.
Environmental and health trade-offs: Repeal removes federal regulatory pressure that could have reduced emissions of hazardous air pollutants; the net effect on air quality depends on subsequent agency or state actions, market forces, and other regulatory programs.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.