Washington, D.C. – Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is moving forward with new standards, known at Tier 3, that will require the sulfur content of gasoline to be cut by two thirds. This unilateral action by EPA is not required under the Clean Air Act.
Chairman Smith: “The Obama administration is once again moving forward with costly new regulations that are based on secret science. Even the EPA admits that its new fuel and vehicle standards will cost the economy billions of dollars and raise the price of gasoline and new vehicles. A majority of the agency’s claimed benefits for these standards are derived from taxpayer-funded studies that are hidden from the public and cannot be validated by independent scientists. The Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 (H.R. 4012), of which I am an original cosponsor, prohibits EPA from proposing regulations based upon scientific information that is not publically available. Americans impacted by these costly regulations have a right to see the data and determine for themselves if the agency’s actions are based on sound science or a partisan agenda. Next week, the head of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation will testify before the Science Committee about the agency’s regulatory actions.”
Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, will testify before the Committee on Wednesday March 12, 2014.