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US S1610

US S1610
Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011


summary

Introduced
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

112th Congress

Bill Summary

Cement Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 - Provides that the following rules shall have no force or effect and shall be treated as though they had never taken effect: (1) the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants from the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry and Standards of Performance for Portland Cement Plants; and (2) the Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units, and the rule entitled "Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials that are Solid Waste," to the extent that such rules apply to the Portland cement manufacturing industry and Portland cement plants. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in lieu of such rules, to promulgate within 15 months (or such later date as may be determined by the Administrator) regulations for the Portland cement manufacturing industry and Portland cement plants subject to such rules, that: (1) establish maximum achievable control technology standards, performance standards, and other requirements for hazardous air pollutants or solid waste combustion under the Clean Air Act; and (2) identify nonhazardous secondary materials that, when used as fuels in combustion units of that industry and those plants, qualify as solid waste under the Solid Waste Disposal Act for purposes of determining the extent to which such combustion units are required to meet emission standards for such pollutants under such Act or the Clean Air Act. Requires the Administrator, after considering the costs of achieving emission reductions, non-air quality health and environmental impacts and energy requirements, feasibility of implementation, the availability of equipment, suppliers, and labor, and potential net employment impacts, to establish dates for compliance with standards and requirements under such regulations no earlier than five years after the effective date of the regulation. Sets forth guidelines for such rules and regulations, including requiring the Administrator to: (1) ensure that emission standards for existing and new sources can be met under actual operating conditions consistently and concurrently with emission standards for all other air pollutants covered by regulations applicable to the source category, and (2) impose the least burdensome regulatory alternative for each regulation promulgated.

AI Summary

This bill, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, would nullify existing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules concerning hazardous air pollutants from cement manufacturing and solid waste incineration, effectively treating them as if they never existed. Instead, the EPA Administrator would be required to create new regulations for the Portland cement industry within 15 months, or a later date if determined necessary. These new rules would establish maximum achievable control technology standards and performance standards for hazardous air pollutants and solid waste combustion under the Clean Air Act, and would also define what constitutes non-hazardous secondary materials when used as fuel in cement plants, determining their classification as solid waste under the Solid Waste Disposal Act for emission standard purposes. The bill also mandates that compliance dates for these new standards be no earlier than five years after the regulation's effective date, after considering factors like cost, environmental impact, feasibility, and employment. Furthermore, the EPA Administrator must ensure that emission standards are achievable under actual operating conditions and select the least burdensome regulatory approach.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (17)

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (on 09/22/2011)

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