WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) praised the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to halt a costly rule proposed by the Obama administration under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). The proposed rule would have imposed duplicative financial requirements on America’s hardrock mineral producers.

“The EPA has made the right decision to scrap another punishing midnight regulation proposed by the Obama administration,” said Barrasso. “This mining rule would have cost jobs and hurt Wyoming’s economy. It was duplicative and unnecessary. States and the federal government already impose similar requirements on America’s hardrock mineral producers. I am pleased that the Trump administration decided this rule was not needed.”

 Background Information:

On Jan. 11, 2017, nine days before the Obama administration left office, the EPA proposed the rule.

On Feb. 10, 2017, Chairman Barrasso wrote a letter to Acting EPA Administrator Catherine McCabe questioning the need for the proposed rule. Read the letter here.

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