WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) report detailing steps the administration plans to take to reduce regulatory burdens on the energy sector. President Trump directed EPA to prepare the report through his March 28, 2017 executive order to promote energy independence and economic growth.

“The Obama administration’s overregulation hurt energy workers in Wyoming and across the country,” said Barrasso. “Now President Trump is cutting punishing red tape. The Environmental Protection Agency has identified several commonsense steps to roll back Washington’s burdensome energy regulations. I will continue to work with the Trump administration as they pursue these important reforms.”

This Congress, the EPW committee has held hearings that have highlighted the burdens identified in the report. These include: a full committee hearing on the Waters of the United States rule; a full committee hearing on Carbon Capture Utilization and Sequestration, which identified New Source Review as a key regulatory impediment worthy of further review; and a subcommittee hearing on ozone and National Ambient Air Quality Standards  reforms.

 

Background Information

On March 28, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order promoting energy independence and economic growth.

This executive order rescinded a number of the Obama administration’s initiatives. It also directed EPA, the Department of the Interior, and other agencies to review and, if appropriate, suspend, revise, or rescind regulations affecting the oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and electric-generation sectors of our economy. Barrasso attended the signing ceremony for the order.

On May 15, 2017, Barrasso sent a letter in support of efforts to review past burdensome regulations issued by the EPA.

On September 27, 2017, Barrasso sent a letter in support of the proposed withdrawal of the WOTUS rule.

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