EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s decision to delay implementation of some Obama administration Risk Management Programs under the Clean Air Act Rule is supported by Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin and Sen. Jim Inhofe.
Pruitt is delaying the Accidental Release Prevention Requirements by 20 months, rules that apply to chemicals. The Obama administration proposed the public release of all chemical storage sites in the U.S. but was opposed by some in Congress who feared it would be too easy to put such information in the hands of terrorists.
“I fully support Administrator Pruitt’s decision to further delay the implementation of the EPA’s harmful RMP rule,” said Rep. Mullin. “The RMP rule is excessive and would actually make our chemical facilities less safe by oversharing sensitive information with anybody who asks for it, including bad actors.”
He said a delay of the rule until 2019 would give the administration more time to ensure the security of the nation’s chemical plants “without the overbearing and dangerous regulations that the RMP rule imposes.”
Sen. Inhofe fought the Obama-era rules when they were first announced last year and said Pruitt’s doing the right thing.
“The RMP rule is duplicative and therefore it’s delay will not affect the existing regulations that keep our facilities safe. I applaud the administration’s decision and look forward to EPA’s continued efforts in reassessing this unnecessary rule.”