WASHINGTON, DC - Continuing her
office's fight against federal overreach, Louisiana Solicitor General Liz
Murrill will appear Friday before the United States Court of Appeals for the
D.C. Circuit to argue against the EPA's Risk Management Program (RPM) Rule -
a last-minute promulgation by former President Obama to supposedly reduce
accidental releases at chemical facilities and improve emergency response
activities for those releases.
Friday's oral
argument in Air Alliance Houston, et al v. EPA, et al comes
exactly one year after Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry led a
multi-state coalition against the RMP. Despite the support of EPA
Administrator Scott Pruitt, General Landry and his state partners were largely
ignored in their concerns. So Murrill will head to court this week to
ensure the RMP provisions that potentially threaten safety do not go into
effect until the EPA has a chance to address the serious concerns that States
raised before.
"As I have said before: the
ill-advised decision to finalize the RMP Rules not only subjected facilities to
even more burdensome, duplicative, and needless regulation; but it also makes
all of us more vulnerable to security threats," said General Landry.
"I am grateful Administrator Pruitt recognized this and granted our
review; and I am confident Solicitor General Murrill will represent our State
in the most judicious manner on Friday."
"Confusion is the enemy of
efficient emergency planning and response and heightens risk," said
Murrill. "The prior administration recognized that our States’ concerns
about confusion created by these ill-conceived rules were valid and increased
risk. The current administration pressed the pause button on certain provisions
of these rules to ensure we have adequate time to comment and contribute our
substantial practical experiences with emergency management response. The
result will be better rules, with better coordination and communication. That’s
what will ultimately prevent accidents, save lives, and protect property.”
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The argument will
begin Friday morning at 9:30 ET. You may listen to it live at https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/sixtyday.nsf/mastercalendar?SearchView&query=([EntryDate]%3E=03/16/2018%20AND%20[EntryDate]%3C=03/16/2018)&tab=1.
A copy of the Final Brief of Respondent-Intervenors States if Louisiana, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas,
Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin may be found in the More Resources box on this webpage.
