Bill 4067

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       4067
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19970423
Primary Sponsor:                   Sharpe 
All Sponsors:                      Sharpe 
Drafted Document Number:           egm\18609djc.97
Residing Body:                     Senate
Current Committee:                 Agriculture and Natural
                                   Resources Committee 01 SANR
Subject:                           National Ambient Air Quality
                                   Standards, Congress requests to
                                   ratify amendment to U.S.
                                   Constitution, Conservation

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________
Senate  19970507  Introduced, referred to Committee        01 SANR
House   19970506  Adopted, sent to Senate
House   19970430  Committee report: Favorable              24 HIMR
House   19970423  Introduced, referred to Committee        24 HIMR

COMMITTEE REPORT

April 30, 1997

H. 4067

S. Printed 4/30/97--H.

Read the first time April 23, 1997.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4067), memorializing the Congress of the United States, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.

MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PASS AND PROPOSE FOR RATIFICATION TO THE STATES AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO RETAIN THE EXISTING NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS.

Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new standards for ozone and particulate matter; and

Whereas, these new standards significantly impact South Carolina by expanding the number of nonattainment areas from zero to more than eleven, resulting in emissions controls in additional areas, and thus imposing significant economic, administrative, and regulatory burdens on more citizens, businesses, and local governments; and

Whereas, there is little, if any, monitoring, or speciation data available for fine particulate matter in the range proposed by EPA (2.5 microns or smaller). The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has stated that it would be extremely difficult to identify major sources of emissions, and propose successful control strategies without this data; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control asserts that there are uncertainties in the medical significance of protection gained by the proposed revision to the ozone standard. There may not be an appreciable amount of health benefits realized by selecting the proposed standard than currently experienced from the existing standard; and

Whereas, EPA has projected that the implementation costs associated with the proposed rule changes would outweigh the health benefits realized; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control believes that a level of protection, equivalent to that proposed by the proposed standard, for at-risk populations, can be achieved using voluntary measures such as use of enhanced communication and outreach; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Department of Transportation has determined that the new nonattainment areas resulting from EPA's proposed changes to the ozone standard would have significant difficulty in obtaining approval of transportation plans, and programs in South Carolina; and

Whereas, various federal agencies have also raised concerns relative to EPA's proposals, including the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U. S. Department of Energy, and the Office of Management and Budget. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly memorialize the Congress of the United States to take whatever action is necessary to retain the existing standard for ozone to allow sufficient time to assess the impact of the current pollution control programs before imposing more stringent requirements; retain the existing PM standard, and require EPA to conduct the additional PM2.5 monitoring, and scientific research needed to address the issue of causality, and other important unanswered questions before a proposal for a new PM2.5 standard, or a revised PM 10 standard is made; and require EPA to identify, and remedy any unfunded mandates, or other administrative, and economic burdens for state, or local governments, or agencies that would derive from changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone or particulate matter.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the administrator of the USEPA, each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, the Office of Management and Budget, and the White House.