Stephanie Salmon, Artemis Strategies; Jeff Hannapel & Christian Richter, The Policy Group, Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON ALERT
Rules Affecting Metalcasters Under Fire A
LAWMAKERS ARE ISSUING SEVERAL BILLS FOR REGULATORY RELIEF TO CURB COMPLIANCE COSTS TO INDUSTRIES LIKE METALCASTING.
t the end of August, U.S. House Republican leaders issued a list of key regulations
they would like to roll back, citing administration estimates that seven key new rules would cost more than $100 billion a year. Te White House recently scuttled the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA) ozone standards but says it is holding firm on other air pollution rules. In addition to the repeal of specific
regulations, the regulatory relief agenda will include fundamental and struc- tural reform of the rulemaking system through legislation like the REINS Act and the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act and reform of the Administra- tive Procedures Act. All three bills are expected on the floor in late Novem- ber and early December. Other hearings and legislation concerning regulatory relief that lawmakers are focusing on this fall include: Protecting Jobs From
Government Interfer- ence Act (H.R. 2587).
ON THE HILL
Industry Urges EPA Action on Foundry Sand Reuse
The American Foundry Society (AFS) is urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to request the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) complete a review of the foundry sand risk assessment by the end of this year. The report “U.S. EPA Risk Assessment of Spent Foundry Sands in Soil-Related Applications: Peer Review Draft, 2009,” was released for peer review in 2009. Based on numerous positive com- ments received during the peer review process, EPA officials indicated they did not anticipate any major changes to the
conclusions of the risk assessment and the document would be finalized soon. It has been more than two years since the risk assessment was issued in draft form. AFS fears the nearly two-year-old research will be perceived as less significant if it is not finalized soon.
NLRB Posters Required in Businesses
Effective Nov. 14, metalcasting facilities and almost all other private sector busi- nesses must post notices to their employees informing them of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Among other things, the new notice will contain: • a summary of employee rights, with
examples of violations of those rights by either employers or unions, and an affirmation that unlawful conduct will not be permitted;
• information about the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the board’s contact information, and details on how to file a charge with NLRB;
• notice of the six-month statute of limitations for filing charges with the board.
The notice must be posted and main- tained where it can be readily seen by employees. A copy of the notice is now available at no cost from NLRB’s website at
www.nlrb.gov/.
October 2011 MODERN CASTING | 17
Te bill, which prohibits the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from ordering any employer to close, re- locate or transfer employment under any circumstances, was approved by the House in a 238-186 vote. Te bill is in response to the NLRB com- plaint against Boeing for the alleged transfer of an assembly line from Washington to South Carolina. Te bill will likely have little chance in the Senate, where Democrats control the chamber. But GOP senators, such as Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have promised to fight for a floor vote on the legislation once it passes the House. EPA Regulatory
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has vowed to fight for a floor vote for the Protecting Jobs From Government Interferance Act.
Relief Act (HR 2250). Te act, along with the Cement Sector Regula- tory Relief Act (H.R. 2681), was approved by the Energy and Com- merce Subcommittee on Energy and Power. Te bill aims to fix EPA’s boiler and cement rules to ensure they set achiev- able standards and allow for more reasonable compliance timelines.
Te measures were expected to win support of the Energy and Commerce Committee and be put to floor votes the week of Oct. 3. Transparency in Regulatory Analysis
of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act (HR 2401). Sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.), the bill would require a cumulative economic analysis for specific EPA rules and delay the final date for both the utility MACT and Cross-State Air Pollution Rules (CSAPR) until the full impact of the Obama Administration’s regulatory agenda has been studied. Te adminis- tration’s new utility MACT standards and CSAPR rule for utility plants will affect electricity prices for metalcasting facilities, customers and consumers. In total, 1,000 power plants are expected to be affected. Regulatory Time-Out Act (S. 1538). Te Republican Senate bill would establish a moratorium for one year on new federal regulations in order to give U.S. companies a “sensible breather” from what Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) calls job-stifling rules. Te bill would cover major rules costing more than $100 million per year and other rules that have been considered significant.
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