House turns away five Dem amendments to EPA/boiler bill

Members of the House on Thursday afternoon rejected five Democratic amendments to a bill that would delay pending Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules governing boiler emissions.

The votes on these amendments were the last of the week for the House, which means members will have to complete work on the bill, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2250), next week.

Before finishing its formal work, members rejected amendments from:

• Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), to direct the EPA to implement boiler rules if emissions from these sources are harming brain development and causing learning disabilities. Rejected, 167-243.

• Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), to clarify that the bill is intended to supplement the Clean Air Act, not supersede any requirement of that act. Rejected, 156-242.

• Janice Hahn (D-Calif.), to require the boiler MACT rules to stay in effect in the 10 metropolitan areas of the U.S. with the worst air quality, and to strengthen the rules in those cases. Rejected, 151-255.

• Lois Capps (D-Calif.), to add a finding that if the EPA rules were in effect, they would lead to $10 to $24 in healthcare benefits for each dollar in cost. Rejected, 153-254.

• Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), to require the EPA to establish compliance dates for the boiler MACT rules. Rejected, 147-251.