Sen. Bingman Says New EPA Mandates Will Hurt Oklahoma

Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) instituted new standards related to ground-level ozone just two years ago, the federal agency has already proposed revisions to those limits—revisions that could push every state in the country into non-attainment status.

On Tuesday, State Sen. Brian Bingman won approval for Senate Concurrent Resolution 51, which is an attempt to allow for further analysis before the EPA can change the standards yet again. Bingman said unchecked, the EPA’s new regulations would be devastating to Oklahoma, forcing additional costs for cities and private businesses already struggling because of the national recession.

“We’re already struggling with their current unfunded mandates and now they’re talking about placing an even larger burden on our state,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa. “Oklahoma is doing its best to comply with the existing standards. It’s punitive to our cities and to our private businesses—and it could ultimately force some companies to consider locating elsewhere.”

Bingman, who also serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and the Environment, said if the EPA’s proposed air quality standards are changed again without regard to cost-benefit for the states and additional necessary analysis, the end result could be to further hamper Oklahoma’s economic recovery.

“Ultimately, Congress has the power to stop the EPA from implementing these revised standards until we can further study the issue, including cost-benefit analysis. Only now are parts of the nation beginning to see some light at the end of this tunnel with small indications the economy may be improving,” Bingman said. “If this bureaucracy is allowed to shove through these new unfunded mandates, we could well see that light snuffed out.”