Georgia has joined a group of 26 other states in pushing back against newly proposed regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would impose, for the first time ever, new pollution limits and pretreatment standards on meat and poultry processors. The EPA currently regulates approximately 150 meat processing facilities in the United States. Under the proposed rule, the EPA would increase that number to about 3,000 additional facilities.
“The massive costs associated with these unnecessary and unlawful regulations would undoubtedly result in decreased production or, even worse, facility closures throughout our state,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “Strains on the supply chain lead to higher prices for consumers and additional burdens for our business community. While the Biden administration plays politics with our state’s leading industry, we will continue fighting to protect Georgia’s farmers and families from these reckless federal requirements.”
As explained in a press release from Carr’s office, he and 26 other attorneys general sent a letter to the EPA arguing “that the proposed rule exceeds the EPA’s statutory authority under the Clean Water Act, grossly underestimates the burdens of compliance, and conflicts with federal efforts to strengthen food supply chains.”
“The proposal comes in response to a settlement agreement between the EPA and environmental advocacy groups, which raises serious concerns about due process and transparency in the regulatory process,” the press release added.
In sending the letter, Georgia was joined by the attorneys general of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
