TCU sent a joint letter to the U.S. Senate urging support for S.J. Resolution 37, a Congressional Review Act resolution that would set aside and send back to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (UMACT) rule.
The joint statement from TCU, UTU and the Association for American Railroads stated, “Freight railroads carry goods America depends on, including coal that serves as the backbone of the nation’s electricity supply. On behalf of the nation’s freight railroads and their employees, we are writing to urge you to vote in favor of S. J. Res. 37 to set aside UMACT.”
“The UMACT will substantially affect freight railroads, which carry 70 percent of America’s coal. Coal represents over 43 percent of the rail tonnage originated last year. Many of the 175,000 high wage railroad jobs – as well as the 4.5 additional jobs supported by each railroad job – depend upon coal. Coal revenues also support the retirement benefits paid to approximately 580,000 railroad retirees.”
“Even EPA admits that few of the benefits of this rule will come from the reduction of mercury emissions. Virtually all of the benefits come from reductions in other emissions. A vote in favor of S. J. Res. 37 is a vote in favor of telling EPA that it needs to regulate smarter so households and businesses do not have to pay substantially higher electricity rates and risk jobs for a rule that does not deliver meaningful benefits.”
Click here to read the complete letter sent to each Senator.