Congress moves to block stricter coke-oven pollution rules
S.J.Res. 66 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coke Ovens: Pushing, Quenching, and Battery Stacks, and Coke Oven Batteries; Residual Risk and Technology Review, and Periodic Technology Review." · Filed by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) · Introduced Jul 22, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This is a Congressional Review Act resolution that would block an EPA rule tightening air-pollution standards for coke-oven facilities (industrial plants that process coal into coke for steel production). If passed, the rule would be nullified and have no legal effect, allowing coke-oven operators to continue under less stringent emission limits for hazardous air pollutants.
Why we flagged it
This is a straightforward Congressional Review Act disapproval resolution targeting an EPA air-quality rule. It uses the CRA mechanism (5 U.S.C. ch. 8) to nullify a regulation, which is a standard deregulatory tool. The bill's function is transparent: block the rule, revert to prior standards.
What the text implies
- Coke-oven workers and residents in industrial areas will face continued or increased exposure to benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known carcinogens. The EPA rule was a residual-risk review under the Clean Air Act, meaning it was designed to address remaining health risks after initial standards.
- If passed, this resolution would set a precedent for using CRA to block EPA residual-risk reviews, potentially opening the door to disapprovals of similar rules for other industrial sectors (refineries, chemical plants, foundries).
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
coke-oven operators and integrated steel mills; coal-to-coke processing facilities