Congress moves to strip EPA air-quality rules for petroleum storage tanks
H.J.Res. 43 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "New Source Performance Standards Review for Volatile Organic Liquid Storage Vessels (Including Petroleum Liquid Storage Vessels)". · Filed by Andrew Clyde (R-GA) · Introduced Feb 12, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This resolution uses the Congressional Review Act to block an EPA rule that tightened pollution standards for storage tanks holding volatile organic liquids like petroleum. If passed, the rule would be nullified and have no legal effect, allowing storage facilities to continue operating under older, less stringent standards.
Why we flagged it
This is a straightforward Congressional Review Act disapproval resolution targeting a specific EPA air-quality rule. It uses the CRA's expedited process to block a regulation without substantive debate, effectively deregulating storage-vessel emissions standards.
What the text implies
- The rule being blocked (89 Fed. Reg. 83296, Oct. 15, 2024) was a review of existing New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for volatile organic liquid storage vessels. Disapproving it may prevent EPA from updating standards to reflect current science or technology, locking in older baselines indefinitely unless Congress acts.
- CRA disapprovals are difficult to reverse: a new rule on the same subject cannot be issued unless Congress passes new legislation authorizing it. This creates a structural barrier to future EPA action on VOC emissions from storage tanks.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
petroleum refining and storage companies; chemical manufacturers and distributors; tank storage and logistics operators