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RALEIGH — A bill that environmental regulators say weakens North Carolina’s efforts to curb air pollution cleared a House committee Monday.

The measure approved by the House Environment Committee on a show of hands, would exempt from state review businesses building a factory that emits toxic substances into the air if it is subject to certain federal air-quality regulations.

“Let’s not make them do the same test twice,” said Rep. Pryor Gibson, a Wadesboro Democrat.

But environmental regulators and advocates say the measure would gut the state’s ability to head off air-quality problems before they arise.

“We strongly support the air toxics program as it currently exists, largely because it does give us the opportunity to assess the public health impacts of a new air emissions source before we issue the permit as opposed to having that analysis done later, after the source has already been permitted and constructed and is in operation,” Robin Smith, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources assistant secretary, told the committee.

North Carolina’s air-quality standards consider not only the pollution a new plant would emit but the pollution already in the area. Even a relatively clean plant could be a problem in a county with poor air quality, said Elizabeth Outz, who leads Environment North Carolina.
“Rep. Gibson’s bill would be a huge step backwards for public health and air quality,” Outz said.

But an industry spokesman urged the committee to pass the revised regulation. Preston Howard, president of the N.C. Manufacturers and Chemical Council, said other states have less stringent regulations and Tar Heel companies are at a disadvantage.

“When you look across the country, about half the states in the nation have no air toxics program — nothing,” Howard told the committee. “They rely totally on the federal program. Our companies have to compete with these folks every day. Has everybody else got it wrong and we got it right? I don’t know the answer to that question. I just know we compete with them, and they don’t have to deal with it.”

The House bill next goes to the House Commerce Committee, which is prone to approving measures considered business-friendly. And a similar bill is expected to be considered in the Senate this week.
Backers say it’s an opportunity to help the state’s businesses as the economy continues to struggle.

“I don’t think any of us here on this committee want to impose any undue burdens on business,” said Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat. “But at the same time, I don’t think any of us want to use an economic downturn to roll back health protections.”

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com