GOP House Oversight Chairman James Comer takes aim at EPA rule affecting American jobs

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability released a statement Wednesday regarding an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule, that could have a major impact on America's Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry, specifically in states known for manufacturing. 

"Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is raising concerns about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final rule banning non-refillable cylinders used to store and transport chemicals vital to heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning and its impact on the supply chain and American jobs," the statement began.

Comer sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, asking for "documents and communications, as well as a staff-level briefing from [the] EPA, regarding its actions in this matter." 

“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability writes regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) October 5, 2021 final rule banning non-refillable cylinders used to store and transport chemicals vital to the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry," Comer is quoted as saying in the statement. "By banning this particular cylinder in an effort to phasedown the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the EPA surpasses its jurisdictional authority, creates unnecessary industrial disruptions, and jeopardizes good-paying jobs." 

He then highlighted the delayed response from the EPA when it was petitioned on the matter over a year ago, specifically the effect the delay is having on rust-belt manufacturing states. 

"The Committee questions whether the EPA is ignoring stakeholder concerns related to the rule," he continued. "One such example is a Petition for Partial Administrative Reconsideration of the final rule, filed by Worthington Industries, which included a proposal for a new prototype cylinder. Since November 10, 2021, when Worthington Industries filed the petition, over 400 days have passed, and they have received no substantive response from the EPA, fostering uncertainty for the future of their employees and manufacturing facilities in Kentucky and Ohio." 

"EPA's nonresponse endangers jobs, decreases American business competitiveness, and increases reliance on foreign countries," Comer concluded. "Because Worthington Industries is the only domestic manufacturer of the non-refillable cylinder, the EPA's decision to ban non-refillable cylinders would make the United States exclusively reliant on foreign production capacity."

Just The News reached out to the EPA press office for comment, but has not received a reply to the request for comment. 

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