This hearing is just under three hours. [background noises] with the committee will come to order. You declare recesses of the committee at any time. Opening statements but before my Opening Statement id like to also request unanimous consent to submit chairman lucas Opening Statement for the record might not recognize myself for five minutes for an Opening Statement. I like to welcome everyone to this mornings hearing science and technology the Environmental Protection agency. I am pleased to welcome epa administrator Michael Regan for the very first time in front of the Science Committee. In fact this was the first time any epa administrators testified since 2019 so we certainly have a lot here to discuss. So thank you for coming. While ir appreciate you joining us today have to say her testimony was sent to the committee unacceptably late. Work are witnesses to share the written testimony no less than 48 hours ahead of our hearing. This is not an arbitrary deadline for our members the time to review your statement so we can fully prepare for these discussions and ask thoughtful inform questions. We invited you to testify in july said plenty of time to meet this deadline. While i know you have an internal review process, Previous Administration witnesses have had no problem getting us there testimony on time. Given the importance of science at epa, its my hope and chairman lucas us the administer will come before this committee regularly in the future. I expect the next time you will join us will have your testimony ahead of time so we could have we can have themost productive n possible. I anticipate that much of todays conversation will focus on the use of science and technology in epa regulatory. And when necessary the regulatory agenda. And although it has been a while since we have heard it, every epa administrator that has come before our committee has stressed the need for scientific integrity at the epa the importance of relying on the expertise of career staff and scientists in crafting the regulations and policies of the agency. That reliance on science is especially important today given the fact that the bite administration epa has a promulgated 1083 rules to date thats nearly 55 rules a month as the president took office. There is no industry exempt from the wide range of topics these rules cover from pesticides and agriculture to admissions for power plants, to chemicals and manufacturing regulations have the potential to hamstring our economy if not achievable based on science. Administrator epa to set Ambitious Goals reducing emissions from the power sectors by 80 having two thirds of the cars be zero omission nearly emy eliminating all methane emissions in the country just to name a few. Admirable as those may be we simply cannot set goals without analyzing the economic and social cost to achieve them. Switch off domestic fossil production list of reliable and affordable replacement. Otherwise hospitals and military bases would go dark, families would struggle to make ends meet. Businesses would close and live to be lost. We need to be realistic about what these goals require from the people we serve. Additionally todays hearing is odan opportunity to get an updae from the administrator on the wonder billiondollar influx of funding the agency has received into the ij and i are a pretty matter what side of the political spectrum is set on the space of spending a son. Deniable ebola for waste fraud and abuse. Thisis finding is that the potential to positively impact crucialt sectors of our economy also see potential to fund wasteful projectsca that line te pockets of select environmental groups and prop up technology that will never achieve success on their own in the market. We must carefully examine the agency processes and set up new programs, get money out the door and monitor the progress of projects well into the future. I want to thank the administrator for being here today. Ill end with a sentiment testifying is a lot like a doctors appointment. While purposely looking for things that are wrong you will hear criticisms on how things look it is because he went to prevent actions and turning into unfixable problem. Everyone here was it effective smoothly running Environmental Protectionwhlo agency. Today is a necessary step to ensure that part i hope we can Work Together to ensure epas doing things or people are not two people. I now would like to recognize the rankingfr member of the judgment from california for her Opening Statement. Thank you veryst much. Thank you administrator at reagan for being here with us today. Before saying anything else i just want to sayay how delightei am to see chairman lucas back here we are wishing you continued success on your recovery but wehi stand ready to do whatever we can to assist and its just really terrific to see you back. I also want to discuss the epa research and development work. The epa has a unique and Important Mission to but human and Environmental Health at the center of everything they do. The office of research and development serves a crucial role in that mission. Drives the science officers depend on to ensure they help set protective standards. Puts out stateoftheart assessments that state, local, tribal governments rely on to protect the residents. Epa laboratories across the country monitor effort pollutants, foil for soil for contaminants and water to track viruses including covid 19. All americans, whether they know it or not, depend on epa to deliver on its clear mandate to Prioritize Health and safety above all else. Under your leadership the cpa has made incredible efforts to bring this mission to Environmental Justice communities. These communities have on the front lines of devastatingth pollution by industry and sometimes by the federal government itself. Some bear an incredibly high risk of cancer due to unfettered dumping by chemical companies. Others were environmental contaminants and anemic government responses will have irreversible impact on their childrens development. They have been neglected in programs that have prioritize clean water, Energy Efficiency and Climate Resilience and other better resourced areas. Epat. New office of environmentl justice and external civil rights plays an important step in addressing these needs and connecting these communities with muchneeded information and resources. Im proud of the work we did in the last congress to fund this effort. The Inflation Reduction Act provided 41 billion to the agency to advance Environmental Justice. The bipartisan infrastructure law included 50 building to include Water Infrastructure and quality. Aclook forward to hearing how congress can continue to support this important work. I would be remiss not to note the larger context of this meeting today we are hurtling towards a Government Shutdown. There is infighting taking priority over the function of the government and by consent of the health and wellbeing of all americans. Of ministry at reagan is the perfect witness to put this into perspective. Weve seen at least 20 feet weather and climate related disasters with losses exceeding 1 billion. In the thick of her contusion how will epa determine it is safe to drink the water following the next devastating storm. Epa provides Rapid Response to manmade disasters as well. What theres another catastrophic Train Derailment like we saw earlier this year in ohio . Epa can effectively respond and form evacuation orders if their hands are tied by this manufacture crisis. I hope your testimony can inform the largeref body of just how my serious consequences of the shutdown we face would exist. As you know from my previous comments i also want to raise the issue of the last leaded fuelel and transportation. That is leaded fuel in general aviation airlines. We have a situation where children are being poisoned by the lead in these fields. We have a study out of my own county showing the Airborne Partnership particles from emissions in small planes i have actually elevated the lead in the blood level of children near that airport to rival flint michigan. We to do something soon and aggressive about this healthle problem im hoping you can talk further about that as the this yeargoes on. But that mr. Chairman i look forward to our witness testimony in ourth opportunity to ask further questions and i yieldu back. Thank you to the Ranking Member pronounced interest term of the full committee mr. Lucas for an Opening Statement regrets think it mr. Charbonneau my official Opening Statement has been entered into the record. I would like it thank just a moment for thanking the member and the subcommittee chairman who handled terms what ive been on that matter the memberd shod up on both sides of the room. This committee is a very productive committee. We are very focused. Your ability to accomplish thing in my absence and very appreciative of. While i may move a little slower for a little bit longer i have Great Expectations about what we are going to accomplish in the rest of the session and again thank you to all my college youve been wonderful. I yield back mr. Chairman. Thank you it mr. Chairman i would now like to recognize the gentlewoman from North Carolina to introduce our witness. Correct thank you, mr. Chairman. Again it is wonderful to see chairman lucas back. We have missed him he has been such a great leader of this committee. It is a privilege introduce my friend and fellow north carolinian administrator Michael Regan. Hisea distinguished service at e North Carolina department of Environmental Quality set a strong example for other states around the country. Now we are sharing him with the whole country. He has been a real champion in addressing contamination. Y. Might North Carolina calling congressman rouser and i have seen the worldclass Water Treatment facility on the river and our state and local government would not have gotten to this point without administrator reagans outstanding work in this work. He and his staff are working tirelessly to tackle the contamination problem and many others. He recognized us we have a duty at the federal level to protect the health and safety of our people. Our communities and our environment in order to move this country forward. Thank you for your leadership administrator regan and i look forward to hearing your testimony. Thank you, mr. Chairman and i yield back up. Thank you. Minister to reagan you are now recognized for five minutes to present testimony. Good morning everyone and interment lucas thank you for personally invited me in april at the House Agriculture Committee to join you today. I am glad to be a great Ranking Member lofgren and members of opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the role of science at the Environmental Protection agency. Protecting Public Health and the environments epas privilege and greatest responsibility. As a science based agency sound and reliable science who all of our work. Epa continues to uphold the Bidenharris Administration commitment to rely on science of Public Health and environmental challenges the Climate Crisis, lead, air quality, Water Quality, wild fires, threats to Childrens Health and many others. As we give this important work we are guided by the fundamental belief the health of, people of our environment and our economy go handinhand. Weve a golden opportunity not only make committees healthier and safer but deliver lifechanging programs in these communities that can catalyze local Economic Growth and good paying jobs. We are committed to scientific integrity to help us achieve our ambitious climate and economic goals. Our dedicated talented staff or consummate Critical Issues and im looking forward to sharing some of our work with you today. Overie the past two years weve taken strides to ensure all people of access to clean and safe Drinking Water. Paid for fartoo long Communities United states have been exposed to harmful. That is why in october 2021 epa released its strategic roadmap. According strategy to protect the public and environment from this deadly chemical compound. As continue to develop we note more now than ever. How it can cause Adverse Health impact can devastate entire communities. Earlier this year epa proposed firstever legale limit informd by the hard work in the coming months. While scientists help us make significant progress was still a lot of work to do. To increase our understanding. Scientists are focus on methods to detect and measure the environment and under sink the e risk it has on our health or ecosystem and on ways we can reduce in the already in our environment. Epa will continue making progress and other stakeholders including congress to enact and implement the false solutions of all the science and stand the test of time. Science is not just about finding problems its about fixing them. That is why im grateful to congress for providing 10 billion for the bipartisan infrastructure ought to address emerging contaminants which we have begun distributing. I am hopeful and optimistic science will lead to a cleaner and healthier future for all. Epa is using science help address many of the issues wildfires present her health into our. Environment. Over the past 20 years the numbers of acres burned annually due to wildfires in the United States has doubled. Wildfires are major source of air pollution and omissions can travel thousands of miles. Impact of the health of millions. This past summer we saw smoke from wildfires encountering dangerous airir pollutions to te midwest and east coast and last month we saw how wildfires and mauind brought on immeasurable loss to families, homes, and businesses. Each year scientists to develop new ways to model and monitor thosee emissions and are workig to understand what additional toxins might be present in the smoker particular from wildfires across into urban areas and burnet man made structures but less like to speak about the work our agency is done involving lead exposure science is clear there is no safe level of exposure to lead. Epa is and has been a leader and present by the whole of government approach to protecting families and children from lead exposure. To date this industry has funded the removal of over 100,000 lead Service Lines. That number will significantly increase thanks the bipartisan for structure law. Our scientists will continue to research and develop new ways to reduce lead exposure until we meet present by its goal of replacing one 100 of lead Service Lines. Epa is committed to taking actions that are backed by sound quality peerreviewed science. From our actions to address and biclean up pfas to providing information to help people during wildfires. Two decision help the nations ranking and recreational waters, science is the backbone of all we do at epa. One part of the foundation we have laid, theres so much more work to do to ensure allng of or children have safe Healthy Places to live, learn, and played with thank you for the opportunity to be here and submit testimony for the record forward to our continued partnership and to achieve these ambitious yet necessary goals. And i welcome all questions thank you. Quick to think administered a first testimony think again sir. The chair recognizes himself for five minutes. Chemistry companies in ohio generate roughly three and a billion in earnings 1. 3 billion in taxes and exports in the production plants exceed 6. 5 billion. As im concerned by the epa proposed updates thefo neurochemicals regulation under the toxic subsidy control act. Tsca particularly as it relates to pfas the manufacturing of semi conductors for the Semiconductor Industry as far as saying this proposed action would have a devastating effects u. S. Competitiveness and result in the Semiconductor Industry being unable to manufacture devices in the usa. Administrator regan has epa measured the economic consequences of theseuc actions and has the epa sought input from the department of commerce which is investing 50 billion in the u. S. Semi conductors your agency might completely shut down . First i would like to say during my time a state regulator ive spent time with families, mothers and children who have been poisoned by pfas prefacing it first hand with that being said about that experience to epa. I believe we are developing very responsible regulations but yes i have both the leadership of the National Association of manufacturers. Ive met with the American Chemistry Council prep met with industry. There is a way we can do this but we protect the environmen