Clean Air
Background
The forest products industry is one of the most heavily-regulated industries in the United States, and yet new regulations are continually proposed that would alter or add to previously-imposed regulations and require additional costs on the industry. With new proposals being discussed for Boiler and Incinerator Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rules, regulatory options for a revised Wood MACT rule, and the Cluster Rule, an additional $1 billion in regulatory costs could possibly be imposed on the industry in the coming years. These costs could be very difficult for the forest products industry to manage when it is also dealing with the worst economy in decades and new costs of energy and climate policy changes.
Policy
The forest products industry has reduced air pollution by more than 50 percent in the last twenty years. AF&PA supports clean air regulations, such as Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which are cost-effective in achieving their statutory goals, use performance-based standards to encourage innovation, rely on sound economic assessments, and are implemented through market-based mechanisms.
Future air quality programs, such as residual risk, need to consider the risks posed to human health based on the best scientific and economic information and should be tailored to the areas where air quality problems persist.
In addition, long-term regulatory certainty could enable the forest products industry to make voluntary reductions of priority pollutants.