Source: PRESS RELEASE, 5/23/14
 
U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R- Neb.) today continued his work to stop the Environmental Protect Agency’s (EPA) attempts to expand their regulatory authority, particularly in agriculture sectors, without proper Congressional authorization.

Johanns and other Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee wrote EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy seeking answers on a wide assortment of environmental regulations planned by the Obama administration. He also sponsored several pieces of legislation designed to create more transparency and accountability at EPA, as well as lessen the economic impact of agency rules.

“Being responsible stewards of our environment is a shared and worthy goal, but achieving it shouldn't devastate our economy and the livelihoods of those who feed the world,” Johanns said. “Neither this letter nor any of these bills prevent EPA from carrying out their mission. They simply put an end to overly burdensome regulations, force EPA to be upfront, and require an honest accounting of the economic impact the agency’s agenda is having on hardworking families and businesses.”

A copy of the letter to McCarthy is available HERE and a brief description of the bills Johanns sponsored is below:
•      S. 1363, Energy Consumers Relief Act: The bill would prohibit the EPA from finalizing certain energy-related rules that are estimated to cost more than $1 billion without first submitting a report to Congress detailing the costs and benefits of the rule, as well as the impact on energy prices and jobs. In addition, the measure prohibits EPA from finalizing any energy-related rule if the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with other relevant agencies, determines the rule would negatively impact the economy. 
•      S. 163, Require Greenhouse Gas Regulations Apply to China, India and Russia Prior to U.S. Implementation: This bill levels the economic playing field for Americans and aims to prevent manufacturers from moving facilities overseas in an attempt to find cheaper energy costs by preventing the implementation of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions reductions until China, India and Russian have implemented similar reductions.  The bill would also nullify any regulation, proposal, or action in effect before such certification is made that requires any carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
•      S. 714, Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2013: This bill addresses the “sue and settle” problem that results when interest groups sue federal agencies and then work with them to advance new regulations through settlement agreements.  If enacted, the bill would modify the process used to develop consent decrees and settlement agreements that require federal agencies to take specified regulatory actions. Complaints against federal agencies, the terms of the consent decree or settlement agreement, and the award of attorneys’ fees would need to be published and accessible to the public in an electronic format. The legislation would require that any proposed consent decree or settlement agreement be published in the Federal Register for a 60 day public comment prior to filing with the court.  The bill also would require that settlement negotiations be conducted through mediation or alternative dispute resolution programs.
•      S. 1324, National Energy Tax Repeal Act: If enacted, this bill would prohibit the head of a federal agency from issuing any regulation relating to global warming standards for power plants on or after June 25, 2013, the day the President issued his executive order on his global warming plan. The cost of such a tax would be passed on to every American family and manufacturer using electricity.
•      S. 1743, Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act: This bill affirms that states with established laws or regulations addressing hydraulic fracturing are the primary regulators. The Secretary of Interior would be prohibited from enforcing any federal regulations, guidance or permit requirement in these states.
•      S. 1988, Allow States to Waive Certain Power Plant Regulations Under the Clean Air Act: The legislation would allow a state to waive regulation relating to electricity generation issued by the EPA under the Clean Air Act if the state’s governor certifies that the generation is necessary for power reliability and affordability. 
These bills are in addition to a legislative package Johanns introduced earlier this Congress promoting greater transparency and accountability in the EPA’s regulatory process.

For more info, click here.