On the recordJuly 12, 2016
The administration has started the process to promulgate new air quality regulations for offshore operations with the intention of finalizing them by year's end; however, key studies are currently underway that will not be finished until sometime next year, in 2017. The administration wants to finalize these rules before these key studies are done. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has allocated nearly $4 million for the studies to determine if there are any impacts to a State's air quality from offshore operations. Section 127 of this bill instructs the Department to wait until these studies are finalized and to restart only if the findings indicate there is a need for rulemaking. This is one of those cases in which we say let the science be the science, and let's find out what the studies say before we make final decisions on this. There is a regulatory process which should be followed, and there is a scientific process that should be followed. That is coming from a Republican. The administration cannot circumvent one for the expediency of the other; so I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
